PROGRESS MADE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 46, 24 February 1937, Page 10

PROGRESS MADE.

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

PERMISSIVE WAY. FACILITIES BY BOARDS. Satisfaction with the headway that is being made in the Bible-in-schools movement was expressed at- the annual conference of the Methodist Church of New Zealand yesterday. The public questions committee reported that since January, 193G, the Bible-in-Schools League had been working under a new constitution, and that increasing efficiency had resulted. It was being more widely admitted that to relate a system of education to the child necessarily involved religious teaching. A deputation had waited on the Minister of Education during the year, and had emphasised the need of a Christian system of education in a Christian land. A new Education Bill was to be prepared by the Government, but how far it would accord with Christian principles would depend in part on the pressure exerted by all the churches. The league was considering approaching the Government with a request for a referendum. Co-operation by Board.

Proceeding, the report stated that under the provisions allowed by education boards much was being done to atone for weaknesses in the State system. Every -board granted some facilities by reducing the hours for secular instruction where committees consented. In this way at least half an hour each week could be used for religious instruction. Under several boards, Canterbury, Wanganui, Otago, Hawke's Bay and Auckland, a daily religious observance was arranged. It was likely the other boards would follow suit in the permissive arrangement. In Otago, where the board granted the additional facilities, the greatest use was being made of them, and over twenty schools were opening with religious observance xinder the supervision of the teachers, even in the assembly of the whole school. Thus in the last few months some thousands of children had been provided with the opportunity for daily recognition of God and use of the Bible. Testimonies from the teachers as to the smoothness of working, and improved tone of schools, had been most encouraging. There was comparatively little use of the full facilities possible in Canterbury, and much more could be done in inducing teachers in the Wanganui education area to arrange foi opening observances. Continuing, the report stated that there were still some school committees which refused to grant permission to ministers and others to give a weekly lesson on the Bible. There were exceptional cases, and rather indicative of the sentiment of the community as a whole. The conditions obtainable under the boards made it difficult in certain cases to carry on the work, even when local sympathy was in evidence. There was gradual development, and hindrances were gradually being removed. Tho committee recommended that where a school committee refused to permit any religious teaching a request should be made for the taking of a referendum of the parents. Great Opportunity. The Rev. E. O. Blamires said that they now had a great opportunity in the primary schools, and in the Otago schools more than a quarter of the boys and girls were receiving instruction. Now that a big portion ©f the North Island was open to them, there was a great field for service. The Bible-in-Schools League was still doing its best to bring the subject before the notice of school committees and teachers, and the co-operation of every mii.l'iter and layman was sought. The Rev. P. R. Paris said that there was a school at New Plymouth where they had relused to open the doors and he considered that the parents should hold a plebiscite. The report of the committee was adopted, and the conference by resolution thanked the Rev. E. 0. Blamires for his work in connection with the Bible-in-schools movement.