ETHICAL TEACHING IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS. (TO THE EDITOR OF THE
"SPECTATOR.') Sin, —In your notice, in the Spectator of the 3rd, of my article in this mouth's Contemporary on "Ethical Teaching v. Religious Teaching in the National Schools," you say that I strive to show
that "compulsory ethical teaching might be successfully given to all children in common, in schools where religious teaching is for- bidden ;" whereas, in fact, so far from asserting or admitting this, I emphatically deny that ethics separately can be "taught compulsorily to all children" in the common schools. I point out that many parents may, with yourself, object to the separation ; and to meet this difficulty I present the alternative of the schools of the Churches, in which moral instruction will be given in com- bination with religion. Whatever merits or demerits my sugges- tion may have, this alternative is of its essence. To secure con- ciseness, I abstained from indicating this in the title ; but it is, I think, clearly set forth in the body of the article, and kept in view throughout. For example, I say :—
"Probably, the objection on the part of the sects to a severance [of morality from religion] is all but insuperable, and therefore, at this point, it is necessary that the State should submit to a compromise with the Churches, in order that it may not seem to set up the school as a rival or hostile institution. The nature of this com- promise is, I think, obvious, viz., that the attendance of children at an ethical lesson should be compulsory indeed, but compulsory under a limitation. It should be obligatory that the children should be taught morals, but optional whether that teaching be obtained in the common schools or in the Church schools. In other words, a certificate of attendance on religious instruction in the latter should be accepted as a dispensation from the ethical class in the former."
Again,
"What I say is, not that they ought to be taught separately, but that they may be taught separately, by way of compassing a great object. And I also say that morality is only to ba taught in the common schools alternatively with religion in the schools of the Churches."
There is much to the same effect in the article. I rely on your accustomed candour to do um the justice of inserting this letter in your colutuns.—I am, Sir, &c.,
[We do not see that in a short review of Magazine papers it is needful to state their substance at such length as to avoid all possibility of misconception. We quite understood Mr. Mackin- tosh's position, and did not misrepresent it.—En. Spectator.]
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