READING OF BIBLE IN SECULAR SCHOOLS

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 249, 17 July 1937, Page 12

READING OF BIBLE IN SECULAR SCHOOLS

Dr. I. L. Kandel’s Attack Bible instruction in secular schools was attacked by Dr. I. L. Kandel, of Columbia University, an eminent American educationist, when he was discussing aims and methods of education with teachers attending the New Education Fellowship conference iu Christchurch yesterday. He contended that the giving of such instruction was an admission of failure by those whose task it was to look after religious education. “I should be the last to minimise the importance of religious education, hut at the same time I think that it is preposterous-—nothing less than nonsense—that the great religious influences of the home and the churches, should be equalled by live minutes’ Bible reading in schools every day,” he added.

The best religious instruction, except in schools definitely set aside for the purpose and where there was no break, was given in the home and the churches, he continued, in apologising for embarking on a subject which was a matter of contention in this country.-

“This attempt to* restore in the schools something of religious instruction by Bible reading without comment is, to .my mind, an admission of failure by those whose task it is to look after their religious education,'' the lecturer commented. AUCKLAND TEACHERS Vote in Favour of BibleReading By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, July 16. The question of Bible-reading in schools was viewed favourably when a vote was taken at a meeting of the Auckland branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. The meeting was not very well attended, owing probably to the large number of meetings and lectures held during the week in connection with the New Education Fellowship conference. The question was fully discussed and a vote was taken on the motion “That this meeting of the Auckland branch of the Educational Institute endorses the policy of the central executive regarding the question of Bible in schools.”

The motion was defeated by 38 votes to 20.