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Methods Of Teaching
Religion Criticised
Current methods of teaching religion in State
schools in Western Australia were criticised by the
president of the Methodist Conference (the Rev. A. G.
Howse) yesterday.
He was preaching at the
Derby-road, Subiaco, Methodist
Church at a Sunday school
teachers' dedication service.
World authorities in educa-
tion, he said, recognised that
the child's adjustment to God
was as important as his ad-
justment to his environment
and his community.
Western Australia, fearful of
sectarianism, had decreed that
State education should be
secular in content, but allowed
a weekly visit from neighbour-
ing clergy to impart denomi-
national instruction.
This system had many dis-
advantages.
Mr. Howse said that the
necessity of dividing the
classes on the basis of their
denomination must confuse the
child whose immature mind
could not grasp the reasons,
theological and otherwise, but
only was aware that religion
divided rather than united.
British System
The British system seemed to
him to be far preferable, Mr.
Howse said. There a broad
knowledge of the Bible and the
Christian faith based on a syl-
labus approved by the various
denominations was taught in-
ternally by members of the
school staff who were sympa-
thetic.
Mr. Howse commended the
policy of the principal of the
Teachers' Training College
(Mr. T. Sten) in encouraging
regular visits of qualified clergy
to give help to trainee teachers.
He (Mr. Howse) would like
to see opportunities given to
undergraduates at the Univer-
sity to receive lectures on the
subject of religion. Much was
being done by the Australian
Student Christian Movement
but again this was extra mural.
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