NO OBJECTION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXI, Issue 28, 3 February 1941, Page 8

NO OBJECTION

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

The New Zealand Bible in Schools Leagues standing committee recently reviewed the position arising from differences of opinion among educational authorities as to the use of the Lord's Prayer in primary schools. While hot directly implicated in this special matter the committee, after obtaining legal opinion, has issued the following pronouncement on the general religious practices widely in use in New Zealand primary schools:—

From whatever angle the matter recently at issue between the Education and the various education boards may be viewed, it can be stated definitely that no objection has been raised by the Department to the weekly half-hour of religious instruction or the short daily period for devotional observances which have been so widely adopted. The authority for these >is gained, firstly, by the exercise by the education board of its power to reduce the time of compulsory secular instruction, and, secondly, by the action of school committees in making the necessary ararngements for religious activities during the time thus deducted. Such provision harmonises both with the statements of the Director of Education and with decision made by various education boards.

The voluntary principle applies throughout, and the arrangement is by statute placed in the hands, not of any teacher or body of teachers, but of boards and school committees. " All teachers are free to participate in both the instruction and the observances as they may desire once t the school committees have given their sanction.