Committees’ Federation Opposes State Help For Private Schools

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27912, 8 March 1956, Page 15

Committees’ Federation Opposes State Help For Private Schools

The Dominion School Committees’ Federation has “reaffirmed support for the existing system of free, compulsory and secular education, with the proviso that it approves the Nelson system of voluntary religious education, and that it recommends to the Minister of Education (Mr R. M. Algie) that the act be altered to allow morning assembly where Scripture reading may be given and the Lord’s Prayer said, subject to the consent of the school committee concerned.’’

It has also “reiterated its opposition to the granting of any further financial assistance by the State to schools operating outside the national educational system, because it believes it is in the best interests of the nation that children should not be segregated into different schools according to the religious beliefs of their parents.” Mid-Canterbury delegates abstained from voting on the ground that the issue was political, although they said they were “100 per cent, behind the motions.’’ All other delegates at the federation’s conference yesterday were unanimous in their opinion. “Once there is any weakening of the free, compulsory and secular provisions of the Education Act, we are handing over to the advocates of State aid to private schools a very substantial argument,’’ said Mr W. J. Wilson (Wellington), who presented the resolutions. “The first remit allows for religious instruction as desired, and there is no objection to any church, including the Roman Catholics, from giving their particular form of lesson. But the Roman Catholic people would be delighted if the secular provisions of the act were abandoned.’’

The first remit was then carried, the only discussion being on the claim of Mr W. J. D. Allan (Horowhenua) that the latter part about morning assemblies weakened the stand.

“The question of State aid to private schools is the most vital of the lot,’’ said Mr Wilson. “It seems that our Roman Catholic friends in particular have changed their tactics because they feel this will bring them nearer their goal. Over the years they have pleaded, and then demanded; in 1954 they threatened; and now thev have a petition to Parliament. The object is to drive a wedge between the parties in an endeavour to force a compromise through the voting strength of the Catholics.’’ The petition would presumably be presented during the next session of Parliament, as he understood the re-

quired number of signatures had been obtained, Mr Wilson said. Parliament might refer the question to a special committee, which might take evidence in public. “This thing has got to be faced resolutely,” he said, “and if this conference is still of the same mind as it has been since 1948, it will be necessary to appoint a committee to draw up our case and perhaps appear before the Parliamentary committee. “The Roman Catholic section of the community is determined by every conceivable tactic to gain its objective,’’ Mr Wilson said. Other denominations still said they did not want State aid, although the claim might be made by a few individual schools. They knew perfectly well that once the national system, which had stood since 1877, was undermined, noone knew where things would finish. “If any section of the community wishes to establish schools for the teaching of its own religious dogmas, in addition to ordinary education, they should pay for it,’’ said Mr Wilson. “We all know our policy,’’ said Mr S. R. Heppleston (Wellington), seconding the motion. There was only one other point which needed thought, said Mrs M. A. Tiller (Wellington). Some parents sent their children to private schools, not only because of religious beliefs, but also because they felt the national syllabus was not flexible enough. The conference should make sure that the State schools provided the best in education.

Although his association was new and was 100 per cent, behind the State system, it felt that the federation should be non-political, and that this was a political question, said Mr E. S. Ayres (Mid-Canterbury). “There is an enormous difference between political and party-political.’’ said Mr K. J. Cohen (Auckland). All the federation’s business was political,; because education was administered politically.

“We are the direct representatives of parents, and as such safeguard the interests of all their children,’’ said Mr V. Wilson (Timaru). “One of the dangers is that a lot of people send their children to private schools, not necessarily Roman Catholic, and think it would be a jolly good thing if they could get more State aid.” said Mr W. J. Wilson. He would not say this was a political question, but one of the highest principle in which the federation was in the position of being trustees and guardians of the national system of education.