BIBLE LESSONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 14, 16 July 1937, Page 11

BIBLE LESSONS

"ADMISSION OF FAILURE"

Bible instruction in secular schools was attacked by Dr. I, L. Kandel, of Columbia University, an eminent American educationist, when he was discussing aims and methods of education with teachers attending the New Education Fellowship Conference in Christchurch yesterday (states the "Star-Sun"). He contended that the giving of such instruction was an admission of failure by those whose task it was to look after religious education.

"I should be the last to minimise the importance of religious education, but at the same time I think that it is preposterous—nothing less than nonsense—that the great religious influences of the home and the churches should be equalled. by five minutes' Bible reading in schools every day," he added.

The best religious instruction, except in schools definitely set aside for the purpose and where there was no break, was given in the home and the churches, he continued, in apologising for embarking on a subject which was a matter of contention in this country.

"This attempt to restore in the schools something of religious instruction by Bible reading without comment is, to my mind, an admission of failure by those whose task it is to look after their religious education," the lecturer .commented.