BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20538, 12 April 1930, Page 14

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

INTERPRETATION OF LAW

IS NELSON SYSTEM BARRED?

"A SHAMEFUL DISTINCTION."

Continuing the controversy regarding tho legality of the Nelson system of Bible reading as conducted in some city schools, tho Rev. W. Lawson Marsh writes:—

Throughout New Zealand tho Nelson system, wherever introduced, has approved itself to all the parties concerned: to parents and scholars, to headmasters and their staffs, and also to the ministers who carry it out. It offends no one, it inconveniences no one. It is an arrangement carried out with the mutual consent of all concerned. It is forced on none. Whether it is an adequate system is not the point. It certainly meets tho wishes of great numbers of people. Yet it seems likely that tho wholo scheme is going to be scrapped through the mischievous machinations of an insignificant minority.

Reasonable citizens may well ask, why ? Tho answer is that the Education Board of Auckland area have issued a circular letter to tho local committees which bears all tho marks of having been dictated by tho Rationalist Association. Some of the instructions arc quite clearly foreign to the intention of tho Act and tho letter is based on an ex parte interpretation of the Act. Even if we suppose Ihe present practice of the Nelson system goes beyond tho intention of tho Act, why should tho board impose unnecessary conditions over and above the strict interpretation of the law ? They appear to have been panicstricken by tho terrifying "haka" of a few "Rationalists." With all due respect to tho members of the board I venture to say that their complete and hasty capitulation is an unedifying spectacle, unworthy of the position they hold. By all means let us keep within the law. But, in spite of the recent utterance of the Minister of Education, I challenge the view, too easily accepted, that the Act prohibits the local committees from making provision for Bible reading within school hours. The Act demands that four hours daily be devoted to teaching of "an entirely secular character." It does not lay down what shall be taught in tho additional hour which headmasters arrange for in order to have some margin to work in. If tho local committee uses tho powers given to it to prescribe such instruction "as it deems fit" (section 49—7), it is at least questionable to conclude that this instruction must be secular. A fair and strict reading of the Act would seem to leave it open to the local committee to determine whether Bible-reading might find a place once a week. And why not ? How long is the Christion sentiment in this Dominion going to stand brow-beating? It is high time to stop this fooling. If the Act does make room for the Nelson system let us have it, and have it under the conditions which make it workable. If it should be proved that Bible-reading within school hours is as illegal as. say, bookmaking or theft, then, in the name of all. we live for, let the Christian forces unite to remove this shameful distinction, shared by no other people in the Empire. THE RATIONALIST CLAIM. LEGAL RULING URGED. Mr. G. A. Rawson, organising secretary of the New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Rationalism, writes: In the opinion of the New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Rationalism, the ingenious interpretation of Rev. ' Lawson Marsh docs violence to (he plain provisions of the Education Act, section 56, sub-section 4. He argues in effect that because the section stipulates a certain minimum period of instruction that therefore tho provision following applies only to that minimum. There is nothing in the sub-section to indicate such a conclusion. It simply specifies tho minimum requirements for tho guidance of boards and gives them the power to prescribe a longer period, and further provides that the "teaching shall bo entirely of a secular character." Section 49, sub-section 7, also quoted, states, "Provided that nothing in this section or in any by-laws of the board shall provent the committee from granting, as it deems fit, tho use of the school buildings as aforesaid for tho purpose of moral and religious instruction. "Plainly tho uso of tho school buildings is a far cry from tho semi-compulsory assemblage of the school children. The general intention of the Act is not to provide for religious instruction, but to_ make facilities for voluntary classes. This association is so well fortified by eminent legal opinion that it would welcome a Supreme Court ruling in tho matter. As things stand it is in the hands of Rev. Lawson Marsh and his associates to move in this direction.

SECONDARY SCHOOLS CUSTOM.

DAILY SCRIPTURE READING

Tho Rov. J. Farquharson .Tones writes: —One is amazed at all the fuss and opposition. Tho law insists upon two hours' consecutive instruction in the morning and two in tho afternoon. Therefore it must, be quite legal to read tho Scriptures in tho schools, say from 9 to 9.30, leaving 2i hours of consecutive instruction in tho morning and two in the afternoon. Tho Ministers' Association in Invorcargill used to read tho Bible and offer prayer in tho schools as long ago as 1895, and before that, from 9 to 9.30. In all our secondary schools, the day's work begins with Scripture reading and prayer. Apart from anything olse, this habit has a fino steadying effect, on the day's work. When I was at homo in Britain at school, the Bible reading was a prominent feature, both morning and evening. In tho Otago Boys' High School, old boys will remember Dr. Macdonald's impressive reading of tho psalm and repetition of the Lord's Prayer in the hall before proceeding to the day's work. All history shows that moral excellence of character is worth more to a nation than oven intellectual keenness, if tho two essentials must bo contrasted. Wisdom is worth moro to a people than mere knowledge. Wisdom is tho art of directing knowledge aright. And in New Zealand wo are far too prono to lay an undue stress on mere intellectuality. The Duke of Wellington, whoso knowledge of men was, no doubt, unsurpassed, said: "Educate a man without the fear of "God and you make him , a refined devil"—the inference probably being that that is tho worst kind of devil.