THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22659, 14 March 1939, Page 6

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

ANNUAL REPORT OF LEAGUE “INSTRUCTION BEING GIVEN TO ABOUT 100,000 PUPILS” “In about 900 schools in all Education Board districts, half an hour of voluntary religious instruction is given once a week, and in between 350 and 400 schools in seven out of nine education districts there is a daily use . of the Bible in observances of worship at the beginning of the school day. In these two ways more than 100,000 pupils in. the primary schools are reached. This statement is contained m the report presented to the Dominion Council of the Bible-in-Schools League by the secretary (the Rev. E. O. Blamires). , ~ Now that 1938 had closed, said the report, the Bible-in-Schools League found its work more firmly established than at the close of 1937. At that time the daily observances were being subjected to severe criticism by Government and educational authorities. Their legal standing was questioned, and it was anticipated that the Education Bill, when introduced, might not prove favourable to their continuance. This anticipation was realised early in 1938, and when it .was definitely known there was an intention to stop them by law, steps were taken to modify this intention. The question of the legality of the daily exercises was thoroughly examined, and it was shown beyond question that daily religious teaching had been clearly provided for in the act of 1877, and that a difference of view between the Upper and Lower Houses at the time was resolved by compromise providing that religious teaching could be given by the various denominations; and the school committee was empowered to grant the use of the buildings for the purpose whenever they were not required for secular instruction The Minister . for Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) had decided that the status quo should be maintained pending a conference with church and other authorities. Acknowledgement was made of his courtesy throughout, especially in his readiness to arrange for evidence to be given by teachers from a distance, and full recognition was made of the fact—in spite of the intention to close down , the daily observances —that more direct statutory provision for the Nelson system had been proposed for two days in the week than had ever been granted previously. , , The proposed conference would be held at the will of the Minister for Education, but would take place before any legislation dealing with. religious teaching was enacted. The Presbyterian Assembly, the Methodist Conference, and other church organisations had recently expressed, by official resolutions, their strong support of daily observances. Their value to the children was clearly shown and could not be lightly estimated. It was gratifying to find them growing in favour with staff teachers, where they had been tried. For example, in Dunedin, after two years’ experience, a meeting of about 300 teachers of the New Zealand Educational Institute voted about nine-to one in favour of tt\e retention of the facilities. Secondary school teachers, likewise, • .upheld the . system at their annual conference of headmasters, said the report, , . -. ,