CORRESPONDENCE. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11762, 24 February 1919, Page 4

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

To The Editor. SIB,—In the last number of tIW Dacville “Normal Instructor,” New York, which is one of the leading State School teachers’ journals in America, the following extract appears:—‘‘la nearly every part of the broad British Ewpire provision ij made in the official syllabus issued by the various educational departments for the children to learn m school hours the Ten ments. Many of the State Schoef authorities encourage the displaying of the laws on the walls of the - schoolrooms, Onr attention is called to this by a circular from Wellington, New Zealand , sent out by the ‘‘Decalogue Committee,” urging that the laws of that State be made conformable with those of other parts of the Empire, and provision be marie for the repetition or memorising of these in the school. They T urge that a knowledge of these laws is in the interests of characterbuilding and good citizenship, and is also an aid to good government.” As the children in the State schools of New Zealand are not taught the Ten Commandments,which are the foundation of our British laws, I beg to suggest that parents and school committees «t ome petition their own members of Parliament (and also candidates for same) to urge that the Government Printerbe instructed to print, and supply FREE to all State School Committees sufficient copies of the Ten Commandments for each of the class rooms, with a recommendation that they be learned by the scholars.— I am, yours truly, A NEW ZE ALAKDER.,

t’.S.— Nearly all New Zealand Education Boards allow School Committees to display the Ton Com* mandment Charts, out unfortunately these Charts are unprocurable in New Zealand.