MORAL TEACHING IN SCHOOLS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 112, 2 August 1927, Page 8

MORAL TEACHING IN SCHOOLS

Sir,— When “V.V” tries to indicate what religion is, he suggests an excursion into the separate fields of cosmogony, speculative philosophy and eschatology. His observations on the relation of morality to religion are a little difficult to follow; but I think his point is that while moral standards vary with their associated religious types, there are certain fundamental moral ideas which are common to all. If that is what he means, I agree with him so far. This common basis of morality, however, is referred by your correspondent to two sources—seven of the Ten Commandments, and the uncoded impulses of “generosity, kindness and self-sacrifice.” The question at issue is the source or authority for that important element in education, namely, “how to live.” Are the Ten Commandments, after all these centuries of Christianity, the best available summary of moral conduct for children at school? I think the comprehensive summary of Jesus, with the many fine illustrations which the Gospels afford, provides the best available text and comment for the teaching of morality in our schools. C. G. M.