SCRIPTURE IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19201, 15 December 1925, Page 13

SCRIPTURE IN SCHOOLS.

REFERENDUM AT THAMES. NELSON SYSTEM FAVOURED. BOARD'S APPROVAL AWAITED. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] THAMES, Monday. There is a probability that the Nelson system of Bible reading will shortly be introduced into the schools of Thames. On December 3 a deputation from the Ministers' Association waited on the District Schools Committee and explained the system in detail. Briefly the system provides for the reading of selected biblical passages in the classrooms between 9 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. by ministers once weekly. The deputation claimed that the system had been successful wherever introduced. Attendance) by scholars and teachers was voluntary though a member of the deputation stated that tho assistance of teachers would be needed as tho ministers could not do all the work. It. is understood, however, that no compulsion of any kind is allowed by the system. The result of tho deputation was a decision by tho committee to obtain information and advice from tho Education Board on tho system as practised at Nelson and Rotorua. Tho board forwarded full information but proffered no opinion as to the merits or demerits of the system. Permission was then given the Ministers' Association to tako a referendum of parents and guardians. Tho children were giveu voting papers which when returned and counted showed a large majority in favour of the introduction of the system. The figures including the Kopu school returns were: For, 341; against, 72. Majority for, 269. Tho Ministers' Association then asked tho committee to forward their request to the board which intimated that before considering the matter tho Thames Committee would be required to state its views on the question. This was done at Wednesday's meeting when it was decided to inform the board that in view of the favourable vote of parents and guardians the committee had no objection to the system being given a trial in the Thames schools. The final decision, therefore, now rests with tho board.