RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXXII, Issue 15557, 6 March 1911, Page 6

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

It is evident from a statement made to ns by the director of tho Christchurch Technical College that the parent who wrote to the Board of Governors, complaining that religious instruction was being given at the institution contrary to the spirit of the Education Act, was labouring under a misapprehension. Tho religions exercises that take place at the College do not in any way interfere with tile secular teaching. Tho classes begin at 9.45 a.m., and at 9.40 a,.in. those pupils who have not expressed a wish to be excused assemble in the main hall, and a few verses, usually from three to six, aro read from the Bible and tho director repeats the Lord’s Prayer. Tho selected passages are taken from the Gospel of St Matthew in tho first term, tho Psalms in the second and the Gospel of St Luke in the third. The exercises do not take place on tho first day of tho session, when, tho director explains, “the custom is announced to tho new pupils, and any of these who wish to be excused aro invited to give in their names.” We should think there could bo very little objection to this simple service out of school hours by even the most ardent secularist, but we should like to suggest to the director that instead of asking for tho names of those who wish to be excused lie should ask for tho names of those who desire to attend. Tho present practice may suggest to some sensitive minds a suspicion of compulsion, and may be, indeod, responsible for the parent’s protest- Of courso we are assuming that the pupils who do not care to attend tho servico liavo access to some other room while it is going on, and that they suffer no sort of disability on account of their absence. With these provisions no ono should have any reasonable cause for complaint.