SCHOOL DEVOTIONS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 26, 30 July 1937, Page 7

SCHOOL DEVOTIONS

LABOUR COMMITTEE'S REPLY

The Labour Representation Committee replies as follows to Colonel 1. W. McDonald's criticism of its resolufa°The statement of Colonel T. W. McDonald in 'The Post' of July 26 is not very convincing, and it is not me intention of the Labour Representation Committee to answer it in detail. It is correct to say that the Education Act of 1914 gives the power to school committees to allow religious training in schools, but Mr. McDonald does not state that bylaw No. 47 of the Wellington Education Board states how that power can be exercised and the time limited. I£ the Education Board were not the restraining influence, and did not have power to confer on the school committees, why was it necessary for the Bible-in-Schools League to deputise the board firstly? Why was it necessary for the board to waste time in the discussion of the league's representations if it had no power to grant or facilitate the request made by the league? Furthermore, if the board had not the power and it was already in the hands of school committees to grant the request of the league, why did Colonel T. W. McDonald find it necessary to move (a) That the board's bylaw No. 47 and all other bylaws, if any, that deal with religious training in schools be revoked? "Sub-section (b) goes on to state how many hours' instruction are to be given daily, and how school committees can, if they-so wish, allow of religious instruction, or devotional exercises, in schools, the hour of instruction being so amended to make provision for whichever system is decided upon. Irrespective of Colonel T. W. McDonald's explanation the Labour Representation Committee still contends that this very controversial matter has now been passed on to the school committees, and if the board had not passed the motion moved by Colonel McDonald they would not, under the Education Board bylaws, have been able to have granted the request of . the Bible-in-Schools League. "The point raised in respect to teachers umyilling to undertake devotional exercises not being forced to do so may be quite satisfactory in the city or larger schools, but the position becomes far more complicated in the smaller country districts. The teacher JJ'ho objects is going to be in a very Unfavourable' position, and it must in some cases-prejudice his or her opportunity for engagement, irrespective of Colonel McDonald's-statement to the contrary, because this will be one of Ihe qualifications required for certain Schools. ; We can anticipate something like this: 'Teacher required, grade —. 'State if prepared to take devotional exercises.' Upon the answer to the latter, question will depend the success or otherwise of the applicant.

Z: "Much of Colonel McDonald's statcflncnt is irrelevant and in some cases misleading, but.the main points, are covered by the above statement, and it remains, for the future to prove the extent of the controversy that will be n roused in the various school committees."