The Press. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1913. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14600, 26 February 1913, Page 8

The Press. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1913. THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

The demonstration by the Bible-in-Stato-Schools League last night should do much to stimulate local interest in a movement of great importance and of growing strength. In its way it was ono of the most impressive demonstrations that Christchurch. has witnessed, for tho' speakers included leaders of the Anglican, Presbyterian, and Methodist • Churches, who havo sunk all their differences of doctrine and polity in an effort to secure the restoration of tho Bible to tho schools of New Zealand. The objects of the Leaguo have been referred to on previous occasions in our columns, but in view of the activity cf tho League's opponents and the widespread misunderstanding of the purpose of tho League, arising from their campaign of hostility, it may be well to remind our readers of what is actually proposed. The League contends that every Church should havo the opportunity of sending ministers or accredited representatives into the schools during school hours, to instruct tho children of their respective denominations. It holds that scripture lessons, prepared by tho Education Department, should be read by tho children under tho supervision of their teachers. And it finally demands that the electors shall be given an opportunity, by means of a referendum, to say whether or no such lessons and such teaching shall be permitted in the schools. There Ls absolutely no trace of sectarianism in tho proposal; each and every denomination would have tho fullest liberty to take advantage of the facilities offered for the religious instruction of its young members, and by means of a "conscience olauso" equal liberty would bo granted te any parent to withdraw his children from religious instruction. The League lias not th. slightest desire to force anybody's conscience in this matter; all that it asks is that those who wish their children to learn something of the Biblo in schools shall bo afforded the necessary opportunity. Much has been said by opponent- of the scheme as to the distressing consequences which would follow tho admission of tlio Bible to th© schools. Their sentiments are

dictated, wo believe, in many cases, by ignoranco or prejudice, possibly by both. In any cei.se. since an ounce of fact is worth a ton of theory, it is worth while to note how the system works in thoso Australian States that havo adopted it. Within the last few weeks three visitor.-* troni as many different States have given their views on tho question. We had first a Miss Halstead, who for twelve years has boon a teacher in a Brisbane school with an average attendance of ICOO children. Speaking to a Wellington interviewer she admitted that she had some fears as to the difficulties that might follow tho introduction of the Bible into the Queensland schools, but in a week cr two she found that they had been groundless. Asked if tho "right of entry emphasised sectarianism, sho replied that it certainly did not. "In my school the ministers come together on tho samo morning of the week, the whole school is assembled as usual, and the only difference that morning is that the headmaster calls out 'religious instruction,' and the children, instead of coming to mo or their other ordinary teachers, go to their religious instructors, and see no more difference in going to them than they would in coming to us for some other lesson." Tho cases in which children wero withdrawn by their parents could bo counted on the fingers, and as for tho teachers not ono of the thirty in tho school, belonging to various Churches or to none at all. found the least difficulty with the Bible lesson books. Such was the experience of a teacher in tho latest .State to place the Bible in the schools. Another visitor, 31 rs Attwater, had taught for somo sixteen years in Now South Wales, where the system has been in force since IS6G. Two thousand children attend the Model School in Sydney, where she was on tho teaching staff, and religious instruction is given twice a week, one hour for tho primary school on ono day, and an hour for the more advanced departments on another day. " This instruction is given by acknowledged religious instructors, representing tho different denominations, " and if tho parents of the children do " not wish them to attend these lessons "they are sent into another room and "tako somo other branch of their cur- " riculum. They are never compelled "to attend them." Mrs Attwater said that tho only ones who did not attend tho classes wero the children belonging to Roman Catholics. But as a matter .of fact, official statistics show that during the seven years 1905-11, Roman Catholic priests paid nn annual averago of 930 visits to State schools in New South Wales, and instructed on these occasions an annual average of 31,423 children. Of the working of the system in West Australia, where it has been in force for eighteen years, Mr Ffoulkes, a visitor from that State, snoke at last night's meeting, and his remarks are worthy the attention of all. , It has been urged that if we admit tho Biblo in tho schools of New Zealand, it,will lead,to endless trouble. It is easy to predict woe, but tho solid fact remains that in the four States of Australia which authorise the uso of the Bible in tho schools, thero is virtually no opposition to it. The existing system of secular education has not been destroyed by tho recognition accorded to tho Bible, and so far. as can bo learned from those engaged ; n teaching, no friction, either with parents or among teachers, has taken place. Thero is no such vital difference between New Zealanders and Australians as to justify a fear that what tho latter regard as an essential part of their school system would causo infinite harm if adopted in the Dominion. As wo havo previously explained why wo think no system of education is completo without a knowledge of tho Bible, wo havo preferred on ,tho present occasion to emphasise tho experience of Australia, which surely should dispose of tho fears and dispol the prejudices of the opponents of the Bible-in-schools movement. At the least, it is difficult to see how they can opposo tho request of the League :or a referendum on the subject.