CANADIAN LAWS CONCERNING BIBLE READING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Grey River Argus, 29 May 1914, Page 6

CANADIAN LAWS CONCERNING BIBLE READING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

. .+» (To the ' Editor.) Sir, — I walked into a puplic school in Vancouver City, 8.C., and asked' tihe teacher if any religious instruction was given; his reply was that the school was always opened by a repetition of the Lord's Prayer. As we New Zealanders are, seeking for information on this question of religious instruction in State Schools the following- Canadian laws on the subject, 'are worthy of note : — } * Ontario' Province.-7-(population _2, 510,002 in 191 1 ) "The Scripture's shall be read daily and systematically ; the portion used may be taken from the book of Scripture selections Adopted by the Department for that purpose. »r from the Bible, as, the trustees by resolution ' may direct. The Ten Commandments ~ire s repeated once a week." 'Quebec Province. — (population 2 000 697 in 191 r) "There are Roman Catho lie State Schools ami Protestant State Schools, each supported out of taxation on their own respective propeities and Government grants. T,he Bible is read oom-pulsorilv in Protestant Public Schools/ New Brunswick — (population 351, 815 in 191 1 )• "It shall be the privilege of every teacher to open and close the daily exercises of the school by reading a portion of Scrirjture (out oF the Common or Douay Version as he may prefer), and by offering the Lord's Prayer. But no ,teacher shall compel any pupil to be present at I these exercises against the wish of his I parent or guardian, expressed', in-- WTitxng" to- the Board of (school) > Trustees." , " I Saskatchewan^ Province-^(pop t u]ation 453,508 / i ft ioi'i),"The local' Boards may permit religious instruction in schools.' 1 ' , Manitoba Province — (population 454, j 691 in iqii}. "Religious exercises! in public school** shall be conducted j according to the regulations of the Ad ) visory Board. . . " Such religious tsx- 1 ercises shall take place just' before the dosing ihour in th« " ->. If the parent or guardian of any pupil notifies the teachef ' that he does not wish *uch pupil to ' attend such , exercises, then such pupil shall be dismissed be, fore such exercises take p^lace. . Such J religious teaching shall take ' place, and shra.il be conducted 03^ any Chris- 1 tian clergyman ■or hv any person duly authorised by such clergyman, or by a teacher when so authorised. . • • Where the school-Toom accommodation at the disposal of the (school) trustees permits, instead of allotting different days of l the week to different •denotmnations for the purpose of relijfious teaching, the pupils may De separated when the hour for religious leaching arrivrs, 'and placed in different rooms-" ' ' \ <Vt the Scripture reading there is n.o instruction given* just a simple reading without comment. — t am etc.,. .~ . ' S. PEARSON, - . 253° Cuba St f Wellington, May 26th, [ *9M.