“MAM AND HIS WORLD”

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23014, 4 October 1944, Page 7

“MAM AND HIS WORLD”

Use Not Compulsory

In Schools

Work Discussed In House (F.0.P.R.) WELLINGTON, Qct. 3. A good deal of attention was given in the House to-day during the dis- ' cussion of the Education Department estimates to Dr. Mainwaring’s muchdiscussed ' religious book for schools, “Man and His World.” Mr F. W. Doidge (National, Tauranga), who raised the subject, said he hoped sincerely the book would not be introduced into schools. He thought many people would agree with Bishop Liston’s views that the book should be regarded as anti-Christian. The Minister of Education (the Hon. H. G. R. Mason) reminded members that New Zealand’s system of education was secular. Those who did not believe in the secular system would readily apply to the book the severe expressions heard from those who complained of it. It was definitely not anti-Christian. After all the tone of a school depended on the teachers, among whom there was a strong disposition to teach religion in some such way as the Nelson system or other legal means. He could not understand the fear which had been expressed regarding this book, which was accepted by a very wide circle which was not anti-religious. Mr Doidge: Clerics of all denominations have roundly condemned it. Members: No, no. The Minister suggested that if ’r Doidge would read the book he would be in a better position to judge it. There was only one unfortunate word in the book which was likely to create a wrong impression, and that was the use of the word “rumour.” The word was often used in a slang sense in such a phrase as “It’s only a rumour,” or in an ironical sense to suggest unreliability, but he had seen the dictionary definition that rumour was a widespread story. Mr R. M. Algie (National, Remuera): Based on fact or imagination? The Minister replied that there was npthing suggesting falsity in the word. Everything depended on the teacher. The book was simply listed with others as a guide in a financial sense in securing a supply of suitable books. It had not been subjected to censorship, and as it was a well-reviewed publication it was included in the list as one which could be used. This list was periodically reviewed', and would be due for attention in 1946. The books proposed to be Included in the list were indicated beforehand to representatives . of the profession, and the list always consisted of a generous allowance of alternative books. Meaning of a Word Mr T. C. Webb (National, Kaipara) said he thought too much might have been made <(? the word “rumour.” The original meaning of the word was a widely circulated report of a favourable nature. It had since acquired the meaning of an unconcerned report and later still it seemed to have acquired the meaning of a report of a doubtful nature. Mr J. Thorn (Govt., Thames): It has also been defined as a lying jade. Mr Webb said that that was so, but he thought people, and especially clergy, when they were criticising a book should be charitable enough to credit the .author with using the word in the way it would have been used in the period of which he writing. “We are on the horns of a dilemma,” declared the Rev. Clyde Carr (Government, Timaru). “We have a system of education which, according to the Act, is secular. At the same time we have a great many people urging that some element of religious education should be introduced into the schools. Well, you can’t have it both ways. Unless the Gospel narrative is to be excluded, well, then, you must have some book of reference at least such as this. ‘Man and His World’ is not a text book ” Apparently, continued Mr Carr, some church dignitaries were insisting that dogma should be introduced into the schools, but that could not be done, because school children came from families possessing many different creeds. In his opinion the book treated the Gospel story ■with reverence and in such a way as to encourage further research and stimulate a child’s interest in the Bible story. It was only an- outline. “I think,” Mr Carr concluded, “that Dr. Mainwaring has held the balance fairly and reverently so as not to offend the susceptibilities of anybody, but to encourage any children who desire to make themselves familiar with the original Gospel story, from which I would suggest they are more likely to learn truth than from anything else."