RELIGION IN EDUCATION

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24401, 30 October 1944, Page 4

RELIGION IN EDUCATION

♦ NO PRONOUNCEMENT BY CONFERENCE INSUFFICIENT UNITY AND AUTHORITY Insufficient representative authority on all aspects ol the question, and insufficient growth of unity in the community, were the reasons stated in a resolution why the Education Conference could not make any pronouncement or recommendation on the subject of religion' in education, which was carried by the conference on Saturday morning at its concluding session. A committee of interested parties had been formed at the close of the main debate on Wednesday to draw up a schedule of clear Issues oh which the conference might express its opinion. Sharp divergence in opinion was shown in the report presented. The National .Council of Churches favoured incorporating religious teaching in the school curriculum to be carried out by accredited persons who might be members of the staff. This was opposed by teachers’ representatives on the committee because they felt it was not a matter for schools. Legalisation of the Nelson system for clergy to enter schools to give instruction at certain periods .each week was also mentioned. Religious observance in schools was also a subject on which there was disagreement. The Catholic Church and Rationalist Association were also represented on the committee. The conference did not vote on any of these proposals, but received a new motion from the Federation of Labour that the conference support the present system of free, secular, compulsory education in New Zealand. An amendment from the National Council of Churches that the Minister of Education set up a consultative committee .to investigate the* place of religion in education received equal voting of 40 on the first vote, but on a new count was lost by 39 to 37. A further amendment which became the resolution of the conference was then moved by Mr M. Fraser (Crippled Children Society) and carried without discussion.