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.