RELIGIONS EDUCATION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 24, 23 October 1907, Page 7

RELIGIONS EDUCATION.

HJSI'AItATE ENDOWED SCHOOLS BILL . ~ CRITICISED. Auckland, October 22. The following passage occurs in,the report of-tho General Trust Board to the'.Anglican Synod:—Tho Miiiistor■"■for Education had stated that lie did not propose to introduce tho .Separate Endowed I Schools Bill during tho presont session, but ":tho Board -woro of opinion that tho utmost- vigilanco won''' havo to bo. exercised by, everyy friend of religious education in.any. sort of school with regard to any future Bill which might ho introduced. It was- intended .by, tho'.Bill, to : defmo auow "separate ondowed schools" so : that tho torm would embrace "'any educational institution maintained wholly or in. part 'by grants from tho public revchuo by tho proceeds of public endowments granted by the Govor othorwiso." ■ This definition was . f far-reaching and ' be considered a sorious; innovation imiajrach as tho one clause recited' "thero shall bo regular instruction in-tho school in accordanco with tho trusts." Another'declared that scholars might bo - withdrawn from religious observance .or instruction, need not attend any Sunday school or any . placo: of religious, worsfiip, or any religious observance, or instruction in tho school or elsewhere. The Board quoted with ontiro approval tho woighty words of tho committee of tho General Synod on tli'o Bill." ' It is scarcely nccessnry to point out tnat although tho educational endowments directly assailed in this Bill belong to tho Church of England, yct.tliis onormous' power, if granted, would jeopardise tho' endowments of every denominational body in New Zealand.