BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 114, 10 April 1930, Page 7

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

THE NELSON SYSTEM. (By Telegraph—Special to Standard.) AUCKLAND, April 9. The new conditions introduced into the Nelson system of Bible instruction in schools have led to difficulties which are exercising the minds of school teachers, parents and the clergy. “The new conditions introduced into the Nelson system of Bible instruction in schools, make it a' farce and quite unworkable,” said a minister when interviewed concerning the effect of the instructions recently issued by the Education Board that all Bible instruction must be carried on out of school hours. “How can we induce an interest in the children being taught while lower classes of those whose parents exempt them' are playing football outside. The children will soon realise also that they do not have to attend unless they want to. .Even now in many schools the visiting ministers have to do the marshalling of the children.Any system that depends on the free volition of the children, ns the new instructions seem to provide for, will be a failure. It appears to many of us that the conditions existing before the rationalists intimidated the Education Department with threats of illegality will have to ‘be reverted to or the ministers will have to give the training up as a bad job.” The Association of Anglican Clergy discussed the matter on Tuesday and passed a resolution that it would be advisable to stop the lessons unless the former conditions were allowed by the Education Board. The meeting derided, however, that no definite action would be taken until the Council of Christian Congregations had met. It was stated that it was useless for one denomination to drop out before the others as the case would be only weakened.