RELIGIOUS TEACHING

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30364, 13 February 1964, Page 12

RELIGIOUS TEACHING

Times For Each Year

With the opening of another school. year, the Canterbury School Committees’ ■Association will remind all its members that committees should approve each year the tames set aside for religious instruction.

When the new act on religious instruction in schools was passed, the association noted with satisfaction that committees were given the right to approve arrangements.

At-that time it .decided all committees should not fail to exercise the right in case, some day, it was withdrawn. Relevant sections of the act read last evening said headmasters must advise committees of the times set aside, that attendance of pupils during this 30 minutes a week was not compulsory, and that parents wishing to opt their children out of the scheme should inform the headmaster.

Mrs M. Rae, who raised the matter, said technically the school was closed during this period. Most schools fixed the 30 minutes before a day's class work began, either side of the lunch hour, or in the last period. Mrs M. Metcalf said her committee insisted on this so that children not taking part could arrive later or leave early and so not be embarrassed.