BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

Press, Volume LXII, Issue 18676, 27 April 1926, Page 11

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS.

HOUSEHOLDERS' DISCUSSION. Considerable discussion. ensued at last night's meeting of Richmond householders on the advisability of introducing Bible teaching into State schools. Mr Scholfield, in introducing the discussion, said that immediately .they, brought the Bible into State schools there was going to be trouble.- Tbe present system of secular education had produced in New Zealand a moral standard not to bo surpassfffl -ianywhere in the world, and to introduco religion was to destroy one of the gems of the Dominion's.administration.> .lie was not. against the teaching* of religion, but the State school was not the'place to do it. He moved: "That this meeting of Richmond householders protest against .any attempt to impose Bible reading in, State schools." Mr W. Eountree said that the Bill introduced into Parliament by 1 Mr Isltt advocated that no discussion should ensue on the topics read. At'present there was a. lot of noise being 1 made about the question, but Bible reading had been going oh for years, and nothing had been said. The fact' that the Bible was not being read in State schools resulted in hundreds of pupils •being sent to church schools. In reply, Mr Scholfleld said that there was considerable difference between primary and secondary schools in that many of the latter were boarding schools, .where the staff _ took, the plg.ee of parents to a certain extent. Women members: "No, No, No!" Mr Scholfleld went on to say that the child only attended schools for five hours a day, and that was not the time to get religious instruction. Moreover, a State servant, should not be compelled to become a parson. The motion was lost by 40 votes to 30. " . .