AMERICAN LAWS CONCERNING BIBLE-READING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Evening Star, Issue 15495, 18 May 1914, Page 4

AMERICAN LAWS CONCERNING BIBLE-READING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

TO THE,EDITOR. Sir, —I visited America two years ago and noted that the Bible-in-public-schools question was a very live one there. In the majority of the States some provision is made for a simple reading from the Bible by the school teacher. Last year (1913) the State of Pennsylvania, whose population numbers 6,000,000, passed a law “requiring teachers in public schools to read every morning ten (10) verses from the Bible without comment.” Any teacher objecting to be dismissed. Roman Catho lie schools do not receive State aid.

The following are States in America where the Bible is read in the public schools (the comments are supplied by the superintendents of public instruction): — Maine: Bible daily read in school for 270 years. blew York: Read daily for 250 years. New Hampshire; Read daily since 1623. Vermont: Wo encourage Bible-; cading in schools. District of Columbia: Bible read and Lord’s Prayer repeated. Kentucky: Generally read. Tennessee: The Bible is onr rock of public safety. Alabama: Custom in our schools neither enjoins nor forbids. Illinois : Ditto. Mississippi: The Bible is not excluded and is generally read. Michigan : Ditto. Arkansas: Read in part of our schools. Texas : Read in some schools. Oregon : Ditto. West Virginia : No law prohibiting Bible-readiug. Florida: Ditto. Delaware: Bible-reading universal. Pennsylvania: The Scriptures must not bo omitted. New Jersey; Read in nearly all schools. Georgia: The Bible cannot be excluded. Connecticut: The Bible has always been read. Massachusetts ; Bible has been read in schools for 278 years. Maryland : Read daily in our .schools. South Carolina : Generally read. Rhode Island : Universal custom to read the Scriptures. Indiana; The Bible shall not be excluded. South Dakota: May be read without sectarian comment. Virginia : Read in nearly all schools. Ohio : We thoroughly believe in it, as it has a good influence upon our children. .Missouri • Optional; character-building is an important factor with us. Nebraska: Encourage moral culture; generally read. Kansas: Read in part of our schools. Wyoming ; Left to local boards to decide. Colorado: Read in some schools. New York City • Rule observed for nearly three centuries; in New York all schools are opened by reading the Bible. As the Bible-in-public-schools question is looming large in the political horizon, I thought the_ above would be of interest to my fellow New Zealanders,—l am, etc.. S. Pe.vej.ok. Wellington, May 15.