Institute Bans Religious Instruction By Teachers

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28894, 14 May 1959, Page 16

Institute Bans Religious Instruction By Teachers

(New Zealand Press Association)

WELLINGTON, May 13. The New Zealand Educational Institute’s annual meeting today decided that teachers should not be permitted to give religious instruction in schools. A motion: “That teachers who volunteer may take part in giving (religious) instruction,” was rejected by 125 votes to 17. Under the present Nelson system operating in schools, teachers who volunteer may give instruction. The meeting, which was in committee throughout the discussion on religion in schools, also rejected an amendment to the motion which merely “advised teachers not to take religious instructions.” It was decided instruction should only be given by instructors “accredited by responsible authorities.” An amendment to have instructors also approved by headmasters divided the meeting. Seventyone votes were cast for the •amendment and seventy-one

against. The institute’s president, Mr R. D. Blyth, used his casting vote against the amendment. Support was given to a system which would allow each class one half hour either between 9 and 9.30 a.m. or 11.30 a.m. and noon a week for religious instruction. It was agreed that parents who wished should be able to have their children ‘‘contracted out” for instruction and that ‘‘the institute is not opposed to opening devotional exercises in schools.” Subject to the provisions agreed to, the meeting decided that “secular instruction alone should be given in State schools.” Mr Blyth said, after the meeting, that the decisions made would henceforth be institute policy and would be put before the Royal Commission on Education. The institute would “fight to the last” rather than have teachers give religious instruction but “what is done in the schools in the last analysis is. of course, up to the employing authority—the Government.”