BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1419, 22 April 1912, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

A NEW CHAPTER IN THE MOVEMENT. THE AUSTHALIAN SCHEME. (By Telegraph.-Spcci.il Correspondent.) Christchurch, April 1!). The decision of tho representative Bible in Schools Cojifprencp, held in Cliristcliiirch yesterday to favour tho iiitroilucliou of tlm system of religions instruction now (ibtniuing in New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, and Western Australia, is generally regarded as opening a new chapter in the history of the movement. Tho lieu- lengno does not anticiparo that it will achieve it.s objects without carrying through ;i vigorous educational campaign. Its leaders feel tlmt the general public view tlio proposed alterations to tho national system of education with a good deal of suspicion, wind one of the objects of the 'league will be to satisfy tho public that its requests aro legitimate and proper. Some interesting remarks wero niado to-day to a "Press" interviewer by tho Rev. J. " Mackenzie, who was appointed secretary of the league. "There will, no doubt, be a certain amount of opposition nt the beginning," ho said. "Even in our own churches tho people aro by no means unanimously in favour of religious instruction being given in State schools. This, howovor, is very largely due to a misunderstanding of what is being asked for, and our hope and expectation is that when they realise how satisfactory the proposed systom is, they will be with us. The league will probablv appoint an organiser, who will be familiar with the workings of the Australian scheme, and lie will endeavour to educate tho people on tho subject. At present there is a widespread feeling that large numbers of children aro growing up, not only in ignorance of Scriptural truth, but nlso very largely in ignorance- of great moral principles." Mr. Mackenzie explained that under the Australian system the religious toxt books were prepared by tho Education Department, and the Scripture' lessons wore taught in school hours oy the teachers in the' samo way as other eubjects were taught. The instruction so given did not include the teaching of any distinctive tenets or doctrines of any denomination. A "conscience clause provided that no child should be compelled to receive Scriptural lessons should its parents or guardian object, but experience had proved that a very small proportion of tho children had been withdrawn from the classes. The "right of entry" during school hours was given to ministers to instruct the children of their own denomination in tho of their faith. The text books prepared by the Queensland Education Department were highly satisfactory, and there was no reason why similar text books should not be prepared by the New Zealand Department. As to the "right of entry," the conditions under which thaf should be allowed would be largely a matter for tho Department. Regulations could be drawn up. That, however, was n detail which need not be discussed until the general principle was conceded. "It ought to be emphasised," Mr. Mackenzie said, "that tho advocates of this system stand solidly for the maintenance of our national system of education. Many of them hold that the only way to preserve that ujstera is to broaden the definition of >ecular education so as to include Bible teaching, and to give entry to ministers under conditions that will 'preserve unimpaired tlie high cducatiopal 'Standard of cur State Schools."

A teacher in one of the city schools, ivho takes some interest in religious and social work, offered some comments on the mpvement. He expressed the cj.inion that the movement in favour of Bible teaching in schools was essentially an ecclesiastical and not a popular one. It would be rather interesting, lie said, if ministers first took a referendum of the office-bearers in their churches, and ascertained how many of them read the Bible to their families. They wculd probably find that this was done by a very small minority. If the referendum were extended to communicating members of the churches the minority Touid bo shll more pronounced. The movement was a mechanical, rather than a spiritual, one. School attendance being compulsory in New Zealand there would be an ekment of compulsion in the religions instruction, the conscience clause nohvitlmanding. His own impression was that proper use was not made of the Sunday schools, and a great deal could be dime in that direction. Children attending Sunday schools got a good knowledge of the Bible, J and imbibed a strong religious | That fact could be testified to by ninny families who had passed through the Sunday schools. Ho did not car© in the meantime to discuss the attitude which teachers generally might adopt, wiwpt to say that in some cases teachers of a particular denomination might he penalised. On the other hand, the leaguo quotes the opinion of Mr. Cecil Andrews, In-spector-General of Schools in Western ■iustralia, to the effect that "no sectarian difficulty has been found by the i.ippaitm«nt in tho working of the system. The State school teachers find no difficulty worth mentioning in giving the nonsectarian religious teaching. Less than 5 per cent, of the children have been withdrawn from the non-sectarian religious instruction."