BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 15

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

yiEWS OF TEACHERS

EMPHATIC REJECTION

At the eleventh hour of its deliberations, the conference of the New Zealand Educational Institute yesterday afternoon' gave brief consideration to that hardy annual —Bible in Schools. I During recent ; years the conference has consistently, voted against the introduc-1 tion of the-Bible into the schools, and the decision yesterday afternoon was I more emphatic than ever. Two remits —one suggesting the religious training of every child, and the other suggesting a plebiscite of tho teachers on the question—were lost on the voices. On behalf of the Masterton branch, Mr. P. J. Goldsman formally moved: — That, as the chief aim of educa- j tion is the building of character, which can find completion only in its religious and moral aspects, the Institute affirm that it cannot be satisfied unless provision is made for the religious training of every child. Mr. F. A. Garry (Auckland) said the remit was very incomplete. He found himself in agreement with it, but the remit did not say how it was proposed to give religious training. Without further discussion the remit was lost on the voices. Miss E. Andrews (North Taranaki) then moved:— ■ . That in view of the vexed question of the introduction of the Bible into tho schools the New Zealand Educational Institute be requested to take a plebiscite on the- question '/■":.. among the teachers of New Zealand. The mover said it would be a good thing to find out what the majority of the teachers of New Zealand felt about the matter. On several v occasions the question had been heatedly discussed at the conference, and her branch thought that a wider vote would give an indication to the executive concerning the feelings, of the teachers throughout New Zealand. The remit, was seconded by Mr. T. ■Taylor (South Taranaki). • .-■' :! Mr. H. J. Jones (Horowhenua) , sup- * ported the remit.'. It was a subject he ;had had close'to'his'heart-, for many, many years, and he' th'onght the teach- '; ers should be ; given a .chance of rer -cording their votes. .. He did not think, "the conference was competent to decide the question, and he did not think ■ they would be'doing their duty if they .: • did not allow, the teachers as a whole Vto have a say. .- - > . ..-'.' : ■; PLEBISCITE WORTH NOTHING. , ■ ■ Mr. C. W.: CHfford (Hawkes Bay), 'did not think that any opinion they ; .got as a result of a plebiscite would be worth anything. Their machinery; 'was sufficiently democratic to allow ,of the proposal being adopted if there -.was any great feeling in favour of it. •; Mr. P. M.' Jackson (Wellington) :aaid many people would not under: stand" what they were voting on. How ; many teachers knew what the Act provided ? Th"c taking of a. plebiscite was jiot the best method of deciding ques--tions of that kind. v-• ■ : S Mr. E. P. C. Harrison (Auckland) jaid the remit was, not sufficiently ex-: :*>licit to allow of his voting one way ■gir the other. •.. ■ ' ' . 7: Mr. M. Goldsbury (North Taranaki) .slid there were hundreds of members '".bf the Institute who had no opportunity of giving expression to their views oa the question. Miss F. Hind (Wellington) considered it would be dangerous to pass the ; remit in its present form as -there kwas no indication of the form the. ■questions would take. '■■'-' Mr. L. F. Pegler (North Canterbury) said the plebiscite was a very ."dangerous weapon. The Institue had consistently voted against the introduction of tie Bible into the schools, 'and those in favour of it could quite easily ascertain the views of the teachers by means of circulars. Miss J. G. Park (Wellington) said the Christian ideal was the-highest ;she knew, and if the teachers as a "whole were followers of Christ there "would be no need to concern themselves . about the question. If they imbued the young people in the secondary ■ schools and the training colleges with -athose high ideals they would go a Jong way towards revolutionising the • /world. , .'. ■ . The remit was lost on the- voices.