RELIGIOUS TEACHING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18224, 18 October 1922, Page 7

RELIGIOUS TEACHING.

SYSTEM IN STATE SCHOOLS.

APPEOVAL BY ANGLICANS.

CONSCIENCE CLAUSE PROPOSED.

The question of religious teaching in State schools was debated by the Anglican Synod yesterday. A motion was carried supporting the action of the bishops in their recent conference with the representatives of other religious bodies, and approving the united platform adopted by that conference for securing religious instruction in the State schools. In moving the motion, Canon Percival James said the Government, which was entrusted with the grave responsibility of the education of the child, had no right whatever to defraud the child of religious education. (Applause.) Not only was it defrauding the children, but also the teachers, because it partly deprived them of influence in the primary concern of character. He expressed ad- . miration of the very fine body of men , and women teachers in the State schools. (Applause.) The system which synod I was q.sked to support provided for tho : giving of religious instruction by the teachers themselves for 15 minutes daily from an approved text book, opening with the Lord's Prayer. Conscience clauses were provided for teachers un- I willing to give Scripture instruction and for parents not desiring their children to ! attend such instruction. There was no claim to the " right of entry " to schools in tho declaration. That had been sought fcr "years without success, and even ro it obtainable he doubted its value. The training of children was a very difficult matter, and few clergymen were accustomed to teaching small children. There was also the difficulty of multiplicity of schools; one clergyman he knew had 17 schools within his parish boundaries. Other Church people, continued Canon James, advocated an extension of Church schools throughout the country in an attempt to smash the secular system. Ho did not think they would be able to raise sufficient funds to pay their teachers the same salaries as State teachers were receiving, or to provide such a fine pension scheme as was now in existence, ine alternative was to call upon the State to fulfil its duties and complete the education of the child. Only thus could they prevent children being brought up virtually pagans, absolutely ignorant of the Word of God and the teaching of the Bible Attempts to govern on a secular principle had been flhm-an downright failures (applause), and would continue to fail while the neglect of the moral education of the people continued. He believed the people would weicome an assurance that their hoys and gms would grow up in the knowledge and love of Jesus Christ- (Applause.) The motion was seconded by Mr. > JStanton, who declared that education was not at its best until it incorporated something of the word and ideals of Jesus C The' Rev. W. Beatty said he believed the Government was alive to the efforts that were being made to propagate ideas of atheism and anarchism among the children. If oarried, the motion might help to provide a valuable corrective to the fearful attempts that were being made to ruin the character of the children. The Rev. W. C. Wood said he was certain the Cabinet was favourable to the desired change. He was sorry the plank advocating "right of entry had been abandoned, but hoped that any regret of that nature on the part of members would not encourage a policy of dr The Rev. C. H. Grant; Cowen snid that 70 per cent, of the people demanded "right of entry" at tho time the war broke out. The matter was not pressed then because it was felt that everything should be subservient to the national call, iWhile supporting the motion, he regretted the claim was now dropped, lie trusted the effect of the motion wotilci not tie their hands in their own schools. He advocated! an extension of Church schools in" every district so that their children might not only he. gi*en Bible instruction, but might also bo taught to love and serve Christ. * Archdeacoft Mac Murray, the Kcv. Jasper Calder, and Mr. Norman Burton spoke in support of tho motion. The motion was carried unanimously and with acclamation.