Other formats

    Adobe Portable Document Format file (facsimile images)   TEI XML file   ePub eBook file  

Connect

    mail icontwitter iconBlogspot iconrss icon

The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 68

Preface

page break

Preface.

It has long been felt that the secular character of the Education System should not debar lessons of Morality and Duty from being taught. The want of a text book on these subjects, at once simple and comprehensive, has prevented any steps being taken to teach the Duties of Life in the schools. This Catechism is intended to supply that want in such a manner as to lit in with the secular system of education.

The author has endeavoured to lay down broad and noble principles for the instruction of the scholars. The Catechism teaches the dignity of all honest labour; and enumerates the duties attaching to the various relations of life, as parent and child, master and page iv servant, and as a citizen. It also includes the general range of duties we owe to our fellow men.

These are matters which all will agree should in some form or other be taught to every child. At present these subjects are ignored by the educational systems, and to the absence of this teaching may be attributed the lack of reverence and respect for their superiors, and of a due appreciation of their duty to others—in some cases oven to their own parents—which so many of the youth of the present day display.

No doubt what is termed the "religious difficulty" has had a good deal to do with Morality and Duty being excluded from the teaching in the schools; and it would appear that in adopting a secular system the error has been fallen into of excluding teaching on these subjects under the belief that Morality and Duty are necessarily inseparable from Religion. The writer dissents from this, and thinks that the lessons taught herein will be page v acceptable alike to those who believe in a religious system of education and to those who believe in a purely secular system. The clergyman's functions are not invaded, whilst the thoughtful parent or earnest teacher will find in the questions and answers so many pegs on which to hang fuller instruction on the subjects dealt with, and illustrations of them culled from history and every day life.

The catechetical form has been used, so as to secure that both questions and answers shall be committed to memory. Thus the benefits of the instruction will be felt in after life, even though only an imperfect grasp of the lessons and duties taught may be obtained at school.

The learning of the poetry is regarded as a most important factor. Poetry is the natural and best means of conveying noble thoughts, and any child who learns the selections contained herein will have implanted within his or her breast the seeds of noble thoughts and actions.

page vi

That this Catechism may assist in developing a noble type of boys and girls, who will help to

Ring out the false, ring in the true,

is the fervent wish of the author.

G. W. Russell.

Cambridge, New Zealand, 1888.