THE MINISTER TO BE INTERVIEWED.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XXXII, Issue 91, 26 April 1898, Page 2

THE MINISTER TO BE INTERVIEWED.

• At to-day's meeting of the Education Board, the Chief Inspector (Mr Harkness) presented his report on the now vexed question of religious instruction in the town schools. The report stated that ho (Mr Harkness) had found that by resolution of the Committee the ordinary school hours had recently been shortened to 21 J hours weekly, and that the teachers' time tables aro arranged accordingly. The timo of opening school varies in the different schools on different days. The usual time is 9.30 a.m., but on Wednesday morning, at the Central, Brook street, and Toi Toi Valley schools, on Thursday at Hampden street school, and on Friday at Haven Road and Tasman street schools, the ordinary sohool work does not begin till 10 o'clook. In the half hour thus deducted from the ordinary school hours, on the days and at the schools mentioned, religious instruction is voluntarily given by four clergymen of different denominations or their friends. The parents of the children who attend the Bible classes havo given written consent to suoh attendance. The Board's teachers do not give the religious instruction, though some of them voluntarily attend to maintain discipline.' At.the Haven Road school all the children on the roll attend tho Bible classes, and at Hampden street all but two, and these do not present themselves till 10 o'clook, when the school teaohers begin the ordinary lessons. Ateach of the other schools those who do not attend Bible olass are allowed to sit in a separate room under supervision and prepare lessons, etc. A few children do not present themselves till 10 o'clock. The only inducement offered to children to attend for secular instruction at the times mentioned is the knowledge that they, will receive tuition if they desire it, and in the case of many they think they must attend the secular olasses at that hour. |On the other hand the Committee contend that the parents aro perfectly awaro of the arrangements made, and that it is entirely optional whether they send their |children during the half hour or not. Tho Chairman said it was now a question whether the Minister would be satisfied with the report. Mr Franklyn said he thought the toaohers should absent themselves altogether when the Scriptural lessons were being read. After, however, hearing the Inspector's report, he thought that the matter was not so serious as had been represented. Of course in (matters of religion people did not exercise common sense, but simply blindly followed one side or the other. As a deputation was going to Wellington in connection with the High Bohool question, he suggested that they should lay the matter before the Minister for Education, and inform him that tho Act was not being violated. , Mr Phillips thought the best places for imparting religious instruction wero the churches. The instruction in the sohools : should be ko'pt strictly secular. j Mr Lock remarked that in some of the schools SBeoular instruction was being given ot the same time that religious in struotion was . imparted. As to the minimum of four hours a day for sohool work that was no doubt intended to apply to the country where the roads were I bad and the children had long distances J to walk. He believed the action of the Committee was illegal, but he agreed ' that the matter should go before the j Minister ac Mr Franklyn suggested, '

""-""' n "'"- ' -■■■'J—'-- ■ The Ohairman thought the Board should give eome expression of opinion. It was a difficult matter to deal with, but be did not think the Committee had gone beyond their powers, although he thought the hours for the Scriptural instruction should be the same in all the schools. Mr Baigent agreed that the teachers should not be present, but Mr Bailie differed from him. The Minister's letters on the subject were re-read. Mr Beuke moved that the deputation wait on the Ministor and hand him the Inspector's report j also that the Board should inform the Minister that in their opinion religious instruction was not given in school hours. It was pointed out that when the Education Aot was first passed clergymen were not eligible for seats on committees. Mr Maginnity said that in regard to secular instruction the committee were giving 4_ hours more a weok than required by the Aot. The committee were not breaking the law and he moved the following amendment : "In reply to the Minister's lettar, the Minister be informed that the Board, through its executive officers, have made careful inquiry into the question, and find that the committee have not exceeded the powers conferred by section 84, sub-section 3 of ' The Education Act, 1877.' The Board find that I the school hours are in excess of those required by the Aot, and that religious instruction is not given in school hours, and that where religious instruction is given, the attendance of neither children nor teachers is compulsory." Mr Franklyn said that the Minister hold the strings and if he were not satisfied the Board's .explanation he oonld stop the capitation. Mr Lock Baid he had heard that other committees in tho ,'oolony were watching the course of events in Nelson, and that it was being regarded in the light of a test case. The first part of Mr Beuke's motion, (that the deputation should wait on the Minister and submit the report) was carried, but that part providing that the Board should express its opinion on the matter was lost Mr Maginnity'3 amendment was then carried. Mr Franklyn thou moved that the committee be informed that the Board considers it undesirable that the teachers should be present when religious iustruetion is being gitren. After disoussion.the motion was withdrawn and the subject I dropped. |