EDUCATION BILL

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 108, 10 May 1938, Page 12

EDUCATION BILL

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

CLAUSE POSTPONED j

CONFERENCE TO BE

CALLED

It is the intention of the Minister of Education (the Hon. P. Fraser) to postpone consideration of the clause in the Education Amendment Bill dealing with religious instruction in schools, and to call a conference of churches and other organisations with a view to arriving at a solution of the problem. Addressing delegates to educational conferences today, the Minister said that the main provisions of the Bill constituted an honest effort for educational reform. "I am disappointed that I have not found it possible to embody the election of the boards in a Parliamentary franchise, but the difficulties are greats as is also the expense which would be involved. The need to expend every available penny wisely on education makes me hesitate to spend a larg9 amount on the machinery of elections. Then the dangers of unduly mixing up education with national and local politics require earnest consideration and thought. Taking all things into consideration, it seems better at the moment to adhere to the Soviet system of election, which New Zealand adopted for its educational administrative bodies long before Russia ever dreamt about it or the name became familiar. (Laughter.) It is not so good or democratic as popular election, but it has served fairly well on the whole, and we will manage with it for some time yet. At the same time I will endeavour to introduce election for education boards on an adult franchise as soon as it appears practicable and beneficial," MANY AMENDMENTS. The Minister said that many of th® provisions of the Bill would ba amended by the Education. Committee of the House of Representatives. The question of control would be made definite. Alterations might be made in the election of education boards and in the powers of the school councils. Among the important features to be maintained were the election of representatives by the teachers, the appointment of education officers, the right of appsal against non-appoint-ment, the raising of the school age to 15 years, and the clause dealing with the employment of married women as teachers. He said that it was not desired to take away from school councils powers that could be left with them without endangering unification. There would be no deviation from the right of the teachers to elect anyone they chose from their ranks as their representative on education boards. (Applause.) The Government might have to agree to education officers being officers of the Department as far as continuity and employment were concerned, but the officers would be seconded to the boards. Personally, he would like to feel that the officers were not connected with the Department but with the boards, "and we are working in that direction at the moment," he said. RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. Dealing with religious instruction in schools, the Minister said that he liad intimated to the Education Committee that the present methods were an infringement of the privileges of Parliament, and he had stated that he intended to have the matter discussed by Parliament. However, in view of the controversial nature of the subject he proposed to recommend that consideration of the clause be postponed, and an effort be made to arrange a conference with the churches and other organisations when an attempt could be made to arrive at a solution which would be acceptable to Parliament and to the people. "I hope it will be possible by the exercise of good will and Christian forbearance and brotherhood to avoid a controversy on a question that arouses feelings out of all proportion to the part it plays in our educational system," he said.

He' gave each side credit for sincerity in the views held, but he believed that with common sense and tolerance a solution could be found without embarking on a bitter and acrimonious discussion.' (Applause.)