"CONTRARY TO LAW"

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 128, 26 November 1940, Page 13

"CONTRARY TO LAW"

PRAYER IN SCHOOL

PROFESSOR'S OPINION

The opinion that by introducing the Lord's Prayer into primary schools, the Wellington Education Board had clearly broken the law, was expressed by Sir Thomas Hunter, M.A., ViceChancellor of the University of New Zealand and principal of Victoria University College, in an address to the Wellington Rationalist Association on Sunday. Sir Thomas said that for the past 40 years the churches had been petitioning Parliament for the right to do what the Wellington Education Board had now done without going to Parliament. The board had clearly broken the law. So far as he knew, the introduction of religious education into the primary schools had never been part of the planks of any political party. Furthermore, after inquiry Parliament had decided that the Nelson system gave adequate -provision for religious instruction in schools.

It seemed to him there was an absence of principle among those who supported religious training in primary schools, and .that those who fought for its introduction were mainly concerned in getting their own religious beliefs taught/

For instance, the Wellington Education Board had ordered the recitation of the Lord's Prayer, but which Lord's Prayer, he asked. Sir Thomas quoted from the argument raised by Dr. Cleary, when Bishop of Auckland, on the views of Catholics, and to the fact that in the English language there were widely different versions.

There were some people who believed that the basis of, morality was religion,.but if that were true it would be true of all religions. Here again there was the conflict that many people believed that only in the acceptance of their religion lay the road to salvation.

The true basis of morality, however, rested on social relationships. He also considered that if religious training were introduced into schools, injustices would be perpetuated. He quoted from leading education and religious authorities opinions favouring secular education in the primary schools.

"I feel that from tho education, democratic, social, and moral points of view, there is everything to be said in favour of those who hold that this country would be wise to keep its school education secular." This did not mean that people should not teach religion: He strongly supported religious training in schools designed for this purpose.

The real issue in.this instance was whether the law was to be observed. If democracy allowed its laws to be flouted then it was on the down grade.