BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18077, 29 April 1922, Page 11

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

DISCUSSION IN SYNOD. • CANON JAMES* MOTION. INSTRUCTION BY TEACHERS. The question of Bible in Schools was ini troduced at the Anglican General Synod ; yesterday afternoou by Canon P. E, James, who moved. " That the synod, being per- j suaded that the greater part of the aiti-1 zens of the Dominion regarded the lack of provision of religious instruction in the. State schools as a grievous loss to the, children and to the community, calls for | such amendment of the Education Act that j bible instruction, according to the Lon- \ don County Council or other agreed | syllabus, shall be given in the State schools during the ordinary school hours by the" school-teachers, subject to the conscientious i objections of parents or teachers to this j instruction being always respected, and j that there be no statutory ' right of entry' j to ministers of religion or others to give ; religious teaching in schools where the j proposed provision is made." Canon James spoke of the general and • growing dissatisfaction with the religion | given to children. A change with respect ; to the early training of children had come | over the temper of the people, as was | evidenced by the support being given to ; the Young Citizens' League. If religion I j were purposely kept out of the schools, I. I children would be deprived of the most j important portion of their early training, i; If they could rind the right scheme—one '; not giving rise to any suspicion.?—they would in time be able to arouse a great ; citizens' movement and make it the law of i j the land. He thought .that they could ' have had the Bible in schools long ago if tho ordinary person could have been ' I convinced that it meant the Bible I' I and not the pastor in tie schools. He !. ! thought that the right of entry was j • I such a poor thing that it was not worth ,' ■ bothering about, and reminded tho synod I that if tlie right of entry were granted ' : all denominations, and tlie " fancy roii- j gions " would lave a right to enter !' the schools, and it would be utterly . wrong to parade their denominational ; differences before the children. This conld : ' only make for sectarian friction. He felt , that any objection to his proposed scheme i' would not come from tie teachers, of j' whom the Dominion had a right to be,' proud. (Applause.) Teaching," he said, j was an art, and so few ministers were j, qualified in that direction t&at the Bible |' instruction so given would prove so unintellirible, unattractive and poor that it . would suffer in comparison with such ! subjects as- geography or history. Ho ' ' Quoted the syllabus adopted by the Lon- j, j don County Council, showing that it pro- i j vided for the reading of a portion of the j scriptures. which waa afterwards es- j plained, while provision was also made far | tie singing of a hymn. Certainly, he j j continued, the syllabus was not enough. , j and other denominations would also think , I so, but it provided a good solid fotmda-1 j i tion, and every church must build ite own j, | superstructure upon it. ' The motion was seconded by Mr. N. E. 11 I Burton, who stated that the right of j, ! entry was opposed by the teachers. He j , ■ emoted from communications, which j, I showed that the system proposed by I] i Canon James was workine very success- j. ! fully in London, and had gone a long j j **rav toward inrpvovinu the tore of the j , ! schools. No system of education was com-1. 'plete that could not find room for re-h i ligion. . j 1 1 At this staeo the synod went into com- |, mittee and reported protrress at 5.30 p.m., , when the debate was adjourned. | - 1