RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22135, 3 July 1937, Page 19

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

SYSTEMS IN USE IN UNITED STATES

ITHE PRESS Special Service.] DUNEDIN, July 2. Interesting commentary on the development of religious education in the United States was given by Professor W. E. Powell, of Phillips University, Enid, Oklahoma, to-day. Professor Powell, who was educated at Otago Boys' High School, left Dunedin 22 ago for the United States, where he completed his education. Graduating from Yale University he joined tne faculty of Phillips University a church institution corresponding in some respects to a theological hall and made the subject of religious education a special feature oi his work. The Bible-in-schools controversy, which had for a number of years been under discussion in New Zealand, nad been to some extent solved in the United States, Mr Powell said, for there an excellent co-operative scheme existed between many of the State-con-trolled schools and church institutions. Under this scheme parents who desired their children to receive tuition in religious subjects as part of their ordinary training could give the necessary authority to allow their children to transfer from State to church schools for an hour each week for that purpose. By this means the problem of religious education under the authority of the State was to some extent overcome. In the city of Enid, where Phillips University was situated, another system which had proved highly satisfactory, had been inaugurated for the provision of tuition in religious matters as part of the high schooj curriculum. Under this system a building adjacent to but apart from the high school, and under the control af a teacher whose sole duty it was to impart religious learning was built and maintained by the churches, so that, although it was to all intents and purposes part of a State-controlled high school, it was free from State jurisdiction.

The whole question of religious education in the United States was under the control of an interdenominational organisation which embodied a majority of the 40 different denominations in the country. This enabled religious text-books to be free from any denominational bias. for. before their issue, they were scrutinised and passed by denominational representatives in the organisation.