OBJECTIONS MET

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

OBJECTIONS MET

ALTERNATIVES PROVIDED

END OF" SECULAR SYSTEM

Yesterday, the Dominion Executive of tho Bible-in-Schools League settled finally the form of the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill for.presentation to Parliament. V On, a sub-committee's recommendation it. was unanimously decided to entrust the, measure as a private, member's Bill to Mr. H. Holland, M-Pv for Christchurch North, who has introduced a^ Bill for the league on former occasions. - '.' ''..'.. . ' ■•. 'i. ■ ! The Beeretary of the league, the Rev. E. O. Blamires, made the following statement to-day:— , "It is not the desire, of the.execu-' tive that the Bill should be viewed in any, way as a party nieasure. "The policy has been followed, during the past eighteen months, of discovering by round table conferences with previous opponents, as well as supporters, ' methods and means by which the Bill could be made as practicable and acceptable as possible: in consequence, many criticisms levelled at former Bills have no point when [used against this one; As an example, the conviction of many educationists that a teacher's comment should not be limited to a mere verbal explanation,of a passage of Scripture, has been met, and.the opportunity,given for definite, though- non-sectarian, instruction by teachers *ho desire to participate. , THE VOLUNTARY PRINCIPLE. •'The voluntary principle is more widely recognised than before, The religious ..exercises and instruction are an alternative with other;, general secular instructioiL Both for teachers and pupils the system ramains secular for those who •want it secular,, but It Is -religious for those who want it religious, v •■ Not even a conscientious reason is required for-exemption. The alternatives are a matter of preference. "In addition to, the right to secure individual exemptions . granted to teachers and the parents or guardians of the pupils, the right is given to Churches to secure a general exemption for all'teacherß and pupils belonging to them: in New Zealand. : The responsibility' of' arranging for' notification ' o£ teachers and pupils thus exempted rests on the head of the Church, thus removing the need for any declaration of special .denominational allegiance within the school. ■ . ; . , "No additional expenditure incurred directly as tho result of the introduction of religious lessons will bo. paid other than by voluntary contributions given for this special purpose. Thus the question of. taxation is not involved! "The clauses dealing with general exemptions ana expenditure involved are,in part due to an agreement made with the. Boman Catholic leaders iv April-May of 1930, and publicly r announced by the league *<jxecuttve and by Archbishop Redwpod on 25th July, 1930, and it is in all good faith and with tho understanding that, according to-the- terms of, the agreement the opposition of the Roman Catholic-lead-era will bo withdrawn, that'the BUI will be presented to the House. While Roman Catholics are specially concerned, other religious bodies are equally protected, in harmony with the same terms. • •, l.":'; ". ,' ; "-" ■/• "' .•' ■■ '■•:'■ : THE NELSON SYSTEM. "The Nelson system, by chbiee of the school committee, may be, continued wherever it is in vogue, initiated in any school, either in lieu 0f,.0r in addition to the.system authorised,by the Bill. "The whole measure thus provides options calculated- to meet the chief objections' previously raised. i : The league contends also that it meets the chief objection of all, to remove which the league exists, ■ namely, that of compelling those -who by law and force of circumstances must send their children to State schools to receive'education under a system 'entirely seciilar' ■'■_ , when they in all conscience "disapprove such a system. It also gives the most influential Book in existence a recognised place in the daily, education of young Christian citizens." ■'