CONCERNING BIBLE READING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Alexandra Herald and Central Otago Gazette, Issue 931, 10 June 1914, Page 5

CONCERNING BIBLE READING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir, —I visited America two years ago and noted that the Bible in public ScJtoAi question was a very live" one 4HSth. In the majority of the States some provision is made for a simple reading from the Bible by the school teacher. Last year (1913) the State of Peunyslvania, whose population numbers .6,000,000, passed a law " Requiring teachers in public schools to read every morning ten (10) verses from the Bible without comment" Any teacher objecting to be dismissed. Catholic schools do not receive State aid. The following are States in America where the Bible 13 read in Public Schools: The comments are supplied by the Superintendents of Public Instruction:—Maine, ' Bible daily read in school for 270 years'; New York, ' Read daily for 2fo years'; New Hampshire," 'Read daily since 1623,; Vermont, 'We encourage Bible-reading in schools'; District of Columbia, 'Bible read and Lord's Prayer repeated'; Kentucky, 'Generally read'; Tennessee, 'The Bible is our rock of public safety'; Aiabana, 'Custom in our schools neither enjoins nor forbids'; Illinois ditto: Mississippi, 'The Bible is not excluded and. is generally read'; Michigan, ditto; Arkansas ' Read in part of our schools'; Texas, 'Read in -some schools'; Oregon, ditto; West Virginia, 'No law prohibiting Biblereading'; Florida, 'ditto; Delaware, 'Bible-reading, universal'; Pennyslvaui.i, ' The- Scriptures must not be omitted'; New Jersey, 'Bead, in nearly all schools'; Georgia, "'The Bible cannot be excluded'; Connecticut, 'The Bible4as always been read'; Massachusetts, ' Bible has been read in school for 278 years'; Maryland, 'Read daily in our schools'; South Carolina, 'Generally read'; Rhode Island, ' Universal custom to read the Scriptures'; Indiana, 'The Bible shall not be excluded'; South "Dokato, 'May be read without sectarian comment'; Virginia, Read in nearly all schools'; Ohio, 'We

thoroughly believe in it, as it has a good influence upon our children'; Missouri, . ' Optional; characterbuilding is an important factor with us'; Nebraska, 'Encourage moral culture; generally read'; Kansas, 'Read in part of our schools'; Wyoming, 'Left to local Boards to deeidc'; Colorado,. 'Read in some schools'; New York City, 'Rule observed for nearly three centuries: in New York all Schools are opened by

reading tbe Bible.' As the Bible in question is looming large in "*lhe political horizon I thoaght the above would be of interest to my fellow. New Zealanders. —I am, etc,, S. PEARSON". 253, Cuba Street, Wellington, 25th May, 1914.