BIBLE INSTRUCTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 257, 29 September 1932, Page 11

BIBLE INSTRUCTION

TEACHING IN SCHOOLS BILL INTIIOUCED. WELLINGTON, Sept. 29. Notice to introduce the Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill was given in the Legislative Council yesterday by Sir James Allen. The measuro is practically the same as the one before Parliament last year, and it will later be introduced in the House of Representatives by Mr H. Holland, Government member for Christchurch North.

This year’s Bill, it is understood, will not embody any radical changes from that which was approved by the Bible-in-Scliools’ League and introduced into Parliament last year. That Bill provided : Each school day shall bo opened with religious observations, and religious instruction shall be given in school hours.

Teachers may secure exemption by notifying the chairman of the school committee, and a parent or guardian may secure exemption for a .child by a written notice to the head teacher. Any denomination may obtain a general exemption for teachers and children by application to the Minister of Education.

Exempted teachers and children are required to spend the time in educational work. A limit of two hours a week is placed upon the religious observances and instruction.

No catechism or formulary distinctive of a particular denomination shall be taught, nor any attempt made to attach children to a particular denomination.

With the approval of the senior inspector and after consultation with the head teacher, a school committee may authorise persons outside the staff to assist in the event of an insufficiency of teachers. Provision is made that no additional expenditure beyond that which would have been payable in the absence of the Act aimed at shall be made out of public funds. The Bill also required that the Minister should convene a committee to prepare a syllabus, and no syllabus or manual may be used until approved by him. The constitution suggested for the committee was one representative for every church having 0000 to 100,000 * adherents, and churches having an excess of this should have one representative for every 100,COO and a further representative if the excess of the round figure was not less than 50,000. The New Zealand Educational Institute might elect two representatives.