PROVISIONS OF BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 9, 10 July 1931, Page 8

PROVISIONS OF BILL

SUMMARY OF CLAUSES

Qwpxamliis 6£ «*e Boligiowi, ■Infraction to Schools--Enabling Bill is as follows:— ' ' "Whereas tke". present law, is not a accordance with the conscientious conactions of those parents -who affirm •ghat their children attending public schools are entitled to receive religious instruction as an integral part of their day school education, but is inl accord with the -wishes of only those who desfc« that the education .of then childsen'in school should be of, a'; wholly secular character; and -whereas it is expedient and just that all. parents of ehildrenattendingpublic schools should he placed on an equality in regard to tJieir conscientious convictions on this Matter, be it therefore enacted by the General Assembly of New; Zealand in Parliament / assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:— Clause 1 is the title, and clause 2 is ■f&e. interpretation clause. ,-■ '..-.- Clause 3 provides that:—"ln every pnblia. school in, which, and to\the extent, to which, there are teachers not exempted under section 6 or section 8 of this Act, or persons authorised under section 9 of this Act, or both, each school day shall bo opened with religious observances, and religious instruction shall be given in school* hours, in the manner and subject to the conditions prescribed by this; Act, and subject to the use of the syllabus and manualb hereinafter referred to." Clause 4 makoa provision for the appointment of a committee to diaw'up jie syllabus and manuals, which syllabus and manuals must, under clause 5, fee approved by the Minister. lln clauses 6 and 7 provision is made Bwr the exemption of individual teachers land pupils. THE EXEMPTION CLAUSE. General exemptions of teachers and S.pils are provided for in. clause S in' o following terms:— .', "In addition to the .lights-conferred foon teachers, parents, and guardians uy sections 6 and 7 of this Act, any , church,/-viewed in its denominational totality in New Zealand, upon application- in that behalf in writing to the Minister signed by the person within New Zealand in whom ecclesiastical authority in such church shall for the time being be vested,' shall have the Sight to Obtain'a general exemption for all teachers and children belonging to Bach church from participation in such religious observances or religious instruction, or in either. The responsibility of arranging fof the notification of such teachers, or the parents or guardians of such children, of the right so obtained to withdraw from j Such participation, Bhall rest lip on such ecclesiastical authority. "the Minis•dpr shall cause to be gazetted a notice! p£ every general exemption obtained jitnder this-section. "In the event of exemption of teachB«a under sections 6 and 8, resulting in an insufficiency of teachers to conduct Such religious observances ov to give Saeh religious instruction in any public school, the school committee shall I»*skwkMo &* .the jpM.pp.so: of assisting

in such religious observances, and in such roligious instruction, or in either, one or more persons from outside the school staff, after consultation with the head teacher and with tho approval of the Senior Inspector, , j During tho time given to such religious observances and religious instruction all teachers and children exempted under sections 6 3 .7, and 8 shall bo engaged in other educational work, The total amount of time given to the said religious observances and religious instruction. shall not exceed two hours in any one week. No religious catechism or religious formulary which is distinctive of any particular denomination shall be taught, nor shall any attompt be made to attach children to.any particular denomination, in the school iv school hours. NO ADDITIONAL EXPENSE. Under clause 13, no additional expenditure shall/ fall on public funds. "Additional expenditure means expenditure beyond that which would, have been incurred or payable had this Act not been passed." Clause 14 provides: "Nothing in this Act shall prevent the use iii any public school, at tho discretion of the school committee, of any system of religious observances or religious instruction, or both, authorised under subsection 7 of section 49 of Tho Education Act, 1914, in lieu of or in addition to tho. system authorised by this Act." ' . . . ■ , ' The schedulo provides for the churchls having at leasi; 5000 adherents in New, Zealand being represented on a standing committee, together, with two representatives of the New Zealand Educational. Institute, and representatives of the Education Department, for the purpose of drawing up or amending the syllabus and necessary inanuuals of Biblical selections, etc.