BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 47, 19 November 1936, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Referendum of Parents

The recommendation that where a school committee refuses to permit any religious teaching or Bible reading a request be made locally for the taking of a referendum was adopted yesterday at the annual synod of the Wellington district of the Methodist Church after considering the report of the New Zealand Bible in Schools League. The Rev. E. O. Blamires, Dominion secretary of the league, said the chief aim of education was the development of the child’s character. If a sound system of education were formulated to harmonise with the nature of the child, it must include religious elements, he said. With that realisation much of the strong opposition so marked in the past was decreasing. The report stated that since January 1, 1936, the Bible in Schools League had been working under a new constitution and increasing efficiency had resulted. A permeation of the community with the educational principles on which the league is based was steadily proceeding. It was more widely admitted that to relate a system of education to the nature of the child necessarily involved religious teaching. A deputation which waited on the Minister of Education during the year was cordially received, and emphasised the need for a Christian system of education in a Christian land. A new Education Bill would shortly be introduced by the Government, and how far it would accord with' Christian principles would depend in part on the pressure exerted by all the churches. The league was giving consideration at. present to the policy of approaching the Government with'the request for a referendum. “There are still some school committees which refuse to grant permission to ministers and others to give a weekly lesson on the Bible,” continued the report. “Fortunately they are exceptional cases rather than indicate e of the sentiment of the community as a whole. The conditions obtainable under the boards vary greatly, and in certain cases make it difficult to carry on the work even when local sympathies are in evidence. A process of general development is seen, however, and hindrances are gradually but surely being removed. As difficulties arise'under one hoard, reference to the experience under another board reveals the method successfully “adopted there and there is seldom any difficulty that has not previously been met and overcome.” Recommendations were adopted reaffirming previous conference resolutions. and urging all preachers to make special reference to the question of religions education in day schools during May.