The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 79

Secular Education Defence Leag

Secular Education Defence [ unclear: Leag]

Object.

The object of the League is to maintain a purely [ unclear: secul] system of education in the State schools of the Dominion.

Methods.

The League proposes to attain its object by:—
(a) Educating public opinion in the principles of [ unclear: t] League.
(b) Securing the co-operation of societies formed [ unclear: a] the same purpose.
(c) Defending teachers when their position is [ unclear: unji] rendered insecure by reason of religious [ unclear: diffei] or sectarian influence.

Membership.

Anyone can become a member of the League by paying [ unclear: the] minimum annual subscription of one shilling.

The League's Affirmations.

The League affirms:—
(1) That it will resist any attempt to interfere with [ unclear: o] purely secular system of State education.
(2) That in matters of religion strict neutrality is [ unclear: the] only just attitude that a State can assume tor its citizens.
(3) That to introduce any form of religious [ unclear: instruction] into our State system of education would be [ unclear: debut] mental to the best interests of the schools, [ unclear: leadi] to sectarian strife among the children, and [ unclear: imp] ing a religious test upon the teachers.
(4) That to determine the question of religious [ unclear: instru] tion, or Bible-reading, in schools by means [ unclear: of] referendum would be absolutely subversive of the neutrality of the State in matters of religion.
(5) That the Nelson system, even if it be within [ unclear: the] letter of the Education Act, is an ingenious [ unclear: evas] of its real spirit and intent, and that the [ unclear: League] will oppose this innovation.
(6) That the League is strongly opposed to the [ unclear: introduction] of the New South Wales text-book into [ unclear: the] State schools of the Dominion.

Officers of the League.

President: John Gammell, Esq., B.A., Seatoun [ unclear: Heights] Wellington.

Secretaries: Dr. T. A. Black and Henry Joosten, [ unclear: Esq] [ unclear: E] Wellington.

Treasurer: Professor Mackenzie, Wellington.