Notes

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11, 19 March 1908, Page 23

Notes

Catholic Claims One 'does not (as a quaint Irish" proverbial saying bath ity go to thfc goat's house for wool. Nor would one,, at first blush, think of going to the ' Rationalist Review ' for sympathy with the educational claims of Catboliics. But the natural sense of justice ha 1 ? moved Mr,. F., J. Gou'M to write as follows in the course of a leading article in the ' Review ' :—: — . & ' To tell the honest trtith!, I have a good deal of s\m_ patihy for the position of the Roman Catholics in "+lu present struggle as to Sta4te-aided education. They thoroughly believe in their religion. Not only so, but they' are convinced that no school discipline is worth tlu name of education unless it is strongly influenced by the Catholic atmosphere. That atmosphere is a very re? I thing. I Wave been in a few schools attached to this - veneralble cult, and I can testify? from" observation The moment you enter you perceive its reality, expressed ivi v th(e dress of the nun who' teaches the pictures and. i mages on the walls. As soon as the clock strikes noun " the children place their hands together, incline their Heads, and- repeat a series of prayers, includito© the

'Hail Mary." Externally the school buildings . may be inferior, and: the -social .status of the children mean and sordid , but there is an .air of reverence, and even of dignity, in tobss. institutions which is perfectly distinct;.' - The tribute, to the elevating • influence of religious, education, and to the reasonableness* of the , Catholic -claims, * applies with as -much force to New Zealand as it does toEngland. ' - ' . ' Bible in Schools ~ The following Press- Association message' from papier, under .date March 17, appeared J-n the daily papers of Weidneshay : — •' ' j < The question of. the Bible m schools was, discussed^t the meeting of the Education Board, last night. The matter was brought up by the inspectors, who asked ■ for the Board s actual intentions in respect to the' following :— ' - . ' 11 Does teaching cover secular instruction only, an<l mi the subjects enumerated in sectttons 135 and 170 of the Education Compilation Act ? 2. Would th 3, regulation be met by taking out of five hours on each day a week half an hour .for religious 'instruction, say, from 9to 9.30 /a.m. "' • ■ L S.fAs the preparatory classes are limited to a school (lay pf four hours, is it competent for a school • committee to extend the school day for these classes for relic- " ivus instruction, and would teachers be justified in tell1113 their pupils t 0 -attend school for such instruction ? The Board, after a lengthy discussion, answered " tHa first question m the affirmative and the - second " ■ and third in the negaiave. ,