BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 61, 8 February 1933, Page 4

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

PRINCIPLES OF AIOVEMENT. SECULAR. EDUCATION SYSTEAI. Religious instruction in the schools, with particular reference to the principles of the Bible-in-schools movement, was dealt with by Hon. L. AJ. Isitt in an address delivered to a large audience in the Alunicipal Hall at Palmerston North last evening. The Alayor (Air A. E.- Alansford) presided, and emphasised that Air Isitt took a I keen interest in the social and spiritual | welfare of the people. He said while [all might not agree with the views expressed by Air Isitt, they had to admire him as a man with the courage of his convictions, a hard but fair fighter, a clear thinker, keen debater, and forcible speaker. , All' Isitt recalled that the last time he had spoken in Palmerston North was as a member of the “Liberal Flying Brigade.” He had decided to give the remaining life and time after his 78th year in working for the child-life of the Dominion, but far from being wearied and nauseated with constant repetition of the subject, he had never felt a more intense anxiety for the removal of the present evil in the education system. There was only one foundation on which could he built character and business probity, otherwise the community would suffer not only moral injury, but economic injury. To let a huge proportion of children grow up without religious instruction was to create a very great evil in the future. New Zealand had been fortunate in having in its last three GovernorsGeneral men who were not only able representatives of the King, but were not ashamed to confess themselves as servants of the King of Kings. However. they had been muzzled by officialdom in the expression of their views. Children were growing up in heathenish ignorance of religion. The State’s secular system of education threw into the fierce temptations of life at their most plastic period children who were unarmed and spiritually blind. No argument reaching the dignity of reason had been brought against the Bible-in-Schools Bill. Its acceptance did not mean forcing religious opinions oil children whose parents were devout believers in their own faith, hut ft was impossible to subsidise one denomination’s schools without setting a precedent for claims by all other churches. Boys and girls could not be exposed to a vicious environment without religion. The Bible-in-Schools Bill had been improved and amended until there could be no rational objections to it. There had been one big mistake made when the Bill wa.s first framed, and that was the omission of a “conscience clause” for teachers. Every teacher had absolute freedom to follow the dictates of his own conscience so far as participation in the movement- was concerned. On the other hand, teachers were eager to give religious instruction.-It had been agreed that only the fundamental truths of religion should be taught to the children of parents who wanted them to receive religious instruction. The catechism or tenets -of any particular religion would not be taught. Secular education had claimed that the move-

ment was intruding upon its domain. Admitting some justice in that claim, it was merely asked that twice a week there should'be non-sectarian teaching on an approved basis for half-a.n-liour within school hours. It was proposed that both the scope of the instruction and the hymnal should be determined by the churches in unison and on lines approved by the Education Department. The Nelson system of religions instruction as a substitute was ineffective. The. speaker could give the names of a. string of places where there | were religious services held perhaps once every three months, with no Sunday schools, and the teachers of the schools in such places were debarred from uttering a word. The absence of religion must seriouslv lower the moral | standard. Even magistrates had been compelled, on the Bench, to throw aside habitual restraint and express themselves in no uncertain manner upon the ignorance shown bv many voung parents of fundamental religions truths. It was absolute madness to expect the policeman or parson to dra" tbo'e people back aga.in. The bogey of sectarian strife had always been raised in opposition to the Bible-in-schools movement. For years past there had lieen in the secondary and technical schools a larger measure of re'igion than was asked for in the primary schools. Yet it was 1 asserted that this smaller measure introduced to “fierce theologians” ranging from five to twelve years of age would rekindle the fires of the religions bitterness of centuries ago. The Bible-in-schools movement was strongly opposed to force in carrying out re- 1 ligious instruction. It was a miser- j aide shuffle, too, to say it was not the i province of-the State to teach reli-1 gion. Widespread secular ignorance I was a menace, and, recognising that. | spiritual ignorance was an even greater menace. The Bible-in-sclioo’s movement entailed no cost to anybody so far as tire State system was concerned. The churches were prepared to meet all additional expenditure incurred. The greatest heritage God j could give to any man was the in-1 spiration and teaching of Christ. Nothing unfair, nothing unreasonable 1 was being sought, merely the right to give by voluntary effort to children that which God would have them possess.

Subsequently, on the motion of Air AY. Blair Tennent, seconded by Air G. H. Bennett, a resolution was passed that a Palmerston North branch of the New Zealand Bible-in-Schoots League he formed as soon as possible; that all enrolled Palmerston North members of the league the membership of the Palmerston North branch; that a small committee, consisting of all ministers who are enrolled members of the Central League, together with a nominated lay representative of the Church of Enghand. Presbyterian. Baptist, Congregational, Methodist, Church of Christ and Salvation Army, he formed. whose business it shall he to asspeedily as possible obtain all helpful information and prepare a, draft league; that such proposed league should be as speedily as possible sub-

mitted to a meeting of all enrolled members and by them discussed and adjusted, either as it is, or in an amended form, by the majority vote of such meeting; that Air T. R. Hodder be now appointed as convener.