BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 78, 29 September 1924, Page 11

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

SUCCESS OF NELSON SYSTEM VIEWS OF TWO LABOUR MEMBERS. Messrs. D. G. Sullivan, M.P., and J. M'Combs, M.P., who visited Nelson recently in connection with the "No More "War Campaign," have made an interesting statement io "The Post" regarding the Nelson syetem of Bible in schools, which has worked so satisfactorily for 30 years and more. The State's connection with the Nelson system (states the members) begins and ends with the loan of the school buildings at a suitable time for one halfhour each week. The Education Department is in no way responsible ■ for the Bible lessons which are given. The schools usually assemble at 9 a.m., but on one morning of the week the schools officially open at 9.30, and between 9 a.m. and 9.30 \on this morning Bible lessons are given. The attendance is purely voluntary, and practically 99 per cent,, of the children attend. The teaching staff includes almost all the Ministers of the various churches in the city, the officers of the Salvation Army and a number of Christian work--1 ers in the churches and Sunday schools. "Under the Nelson system there is nothing to prevent the State school teachers from voluntarily joining- the Bible classes teaching staff. Everybody lin Nelson seems to_ be satisfied. "The Bible lesson's are given outside the school hours, and the school system remains 'free, secular, and compulsory,' and as the g Rev. Mr. Laird (who was secretary of the association for six: years, to whom we were largely indebted for the details of the working of the Nelson system), said: —'Jews, members of the Roman Catholic Church, could attend and give such teaching as they desired at the same time. All we really get is the use of the school buildings for one half-hour per week.' 'Mr. Laird was of opinion that there ought to be a definite clause in the Education Act granting the use of the school buildings for one morning in the week between 9 and 9.30."

After their investigations into the Nelson system, Messrs. Sullivan and M'Combs are convinced that the whole question of Bible in schools could be easily settled on a free and voluntary basis. With a slight alteration of the' Education Act definitely granting the use of the school buildings^ at a. suitable time outs'ido tho official school hours, and with a definito provision in the regulations that any school teacher could voluntarily co-operate in the Bible classes, if he or she so desired, then every reasonable requirement could be met. The teachers would bo volunteers," and no teacher would have to become a "conscientious objector." The ministers^ the teachers, and others co-operat-ing in each district could draw up their own syllabus of Bible lessons. The State would thus neither directly nor indirectly bo responsible for teaching a State organised religion. The Education Department would not oven draw up the syllabus, and the teachers who did not,, wish to co-operato would not even be compelled to become "conscientious objectors." All that could be accomplished under Mr, Isitt's Bill could be accomplished with a greater amount of freedom, and wjtli less objection under tho Nelson systom with proper safeguards, and with provisions definitely ensuring th o , Ise 0 { t,| lo sc i, oo i build', ings at suitable, times and with definite provision made to allow Stato school teachers to voluntarily co-operate. Messrs. Sullivan and M'Combs both said that while certain of. the members of tho House, who hadkbeen pledged to a "free, secular, and compulsory" syslom of education, liad voted for Mr. Isitt's Bill, others similarly pledged felt that they could not conscientiously ■■ do so. With tlio Nelson system properly safeguarded, and with the use of the schools at suitable times guaranteed and the Stale Department not being responsible /or drawing up the syllabus or .framing a text book, and with tho school teachers acting aa volunteers under definito departmental permission, the objection that tho State should not tench a State religion would be done away with.

It was stated to tho visiting M.P.'s whilo in Nelson that such a scheme would to somo extent meet the Roman Catholic objection to Mr. Isitt's Bill, as stated by Bishop Cleary, in that neither parents nor teachers would bo placed in tho humiliating position of having to become "conscientious objectors." It was contended that under Mr. Isitt's Bill, conscientiously objecting teachers would be subjected to a serious measure of moral pressure and constraint, fiat tho "protection" offered in Mr. Isitt's Bill would bo illusory. It would result in imposing- tho practical equivalent of religious tests for teachers. Messrs Sullivan and M'Combs said that some might not agree with that criticism of Mr. Isitt's Bill, but tho very fact that the objection was raised showed that there were those who regarded Mr. Isitt's Bill as introducing a religious test for State school teachers. In mattors of conscience, said, the members, it was not for the majority to decide, and anyhow, why should the State force the position even to tho extent of tho moral pressure involved of forcing those who object to beeomo conscientious objectors more especially as all that could bo accomplished under Mr. Isitt's Bill could bo accomplished in a better atmosphere and with perfect freedom for everybody under tho scheme outlined. "Personally wo think that whilo such n scheme would not meet the wishes of everybody a Bill drafted on these lines would go through the House flying. No matter what scheme is adopted, it will have to bo in the nature of compromise. Even the present system of education is a compromise."

■ £- s Y 6ra careful te state that in this matter they were only expressing then- individual opinions, and that the? had carefully avoided stating all the pros and cons. Their only desire was to get down to a workable proposal, which would preserve the utmost freedom for everybody concerned. They also stated that, providing the Government granted laciiities, there was nothing m the landing Orders. which would prevent an entirely new Bill, along the lines suggested, being passed this session.