INSTRUCTION IN RELIGION.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20612, 30 July 1932, Page 17

INSTRUCTION IN RELIGION.

WORK IN THE SCHOOLS. A ' " V' 1 ; v CLASSES AT ST. "ALBANS. ■ Commencing next week six ministers, who have volunteered their' services, 'will visit the St. Albans School for half hour on "Wednesdays to give religious instruction. This is the result': of permission being given by the school committee to a deputation, representing:.the various Churches; which waited on it recently, and the instruction, whiejh ; :«?ll ! be of a purely non-sectarian character, will be imparted by ministers of *ll denominations, including the Salvation Army. The, instruction will, for a time, be confined to Standards 1V.,. V., and VI., until more qualified instructors can .be obtained. The parents of the children have been circularised regarding -the scheme and so far no objections _ have been received. ' Mr C. D. W. L. Sheppard, chairman of .the. committee,, stated, last, evening that the West Christchureh School pupils had been receiving religious instruction ■for about 12 months at the; sehooL It was in vogue at Woolston and the Eftst Christchureh School would start in September; He expressed the opinion that it would not? be long before all schools fell into line.. Mr Chas. Kirk (secretary of the Canterbury Education Board) stated that any school committee had power ;to allow religious instruction to be given in its school for half an hour, eitlier before or after school hours.

A woman complained -to the Magistrates at Bexhill, Sussex; lately, that she was unable to gcjb ■ local' trwoffWKP to :send' in' their. biHs.- She' ewight the-, advice «£'. the Bench.. It;'### .declared by the woman that she-wanted to pay "on the spot*" -but- her requests for bills had fidled." The Bench said that the subject was beyondtheir jurisdiction* - - -