BIBLE IN SCHOOLS
Annual Meeting Of League Council ‘‘The present year, 1935, is a fourth centenary of the authorising of the general reading of the English Bible, a significant event in British history. The Bible is read and taught in the public schools of New Zealand to-day more than at any time since 1877, yet only half of tiie school children are beinj reached,” said the Rev. J. T. Macky to the annual meeting of the Dominion council of the Bible-in-Scliools League, held at Wellington this week. The meeting was attended by members from all parts of New Zealand. In the absence of the president, Archbishop Averill, the Rev. Mr. Macky presided. In the report, which was adopted, a year of progress was outlined. “Eleven years ago about 20,000 children were receiving Biblical instruction under the Nelson system,” the annual report states. “In 1932 the number had risen to 60,000. In December, 1937, the number returned under the Nelson or similar systems was 91,444,” the report stated. “The support now given to tbe Nelson system, where previously there was marked opposition, could bo interpreted as a partial admission of the validity of the league’s claims with respect to the need of Biblical education. “Twelve months ago tiie support of five of the nine education boards for the system of daily worship at the opening of tiie school day was announced. Two of these had initiated this method some years previously, in addition' to tiie half-hour of tiie Nelson system. Three other boards adopted the scheme in 1936, and in 1937 two more, making seven in all. Only in Wellington was strong opposition encountered, tiie resulting by-law, instead of granting facilities both for weekly instruction aud daily observances if desired, limiting school committees to a choice of one or the other, lu the whole of the North Island schools may now arrange for daily observances, subject to school committees’ consent, and in the whole of the South Island, except Nelson and Southland areas, tiie position is the same.
Reference was made to the large number of testimonies received from head teachers throughout New Zealand. They showed most convincingly that a reverential approach to the school day was made, and the effect on the school life was uplifting. . . “School committees have made splendid response, ami the Federation of School Committees’ Associations at its annual conference gave unanimous support to tiie scheme. It is enheartening to note that any opposition finds its strongest champions where tiie daily scheme lias not been tested, while a trial usually results in approval. "The League Council lias been careful to discountenance any appearance of coercion with teachers, believing that die voluntary helper will do the most effective work, but is consistent in claiming that freedom from coercion should apply equally to the many hundreds of teachers who, without desiring t<> be disloyal to (heir own organisation. heed the higher call to religious service among the children in their classes. Such give evidence of a real apprehension of the principle of education embedded in the constitution oi the New Education Fellowship, which aims at the full and harmonious do velopment of tiie whole personality oi the child.”
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Bibliographic details
Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 136, 5 March 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)
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529BIBLE IN SCHOOLS Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 136, 5 March 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)
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