RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22877, 4 November 1937, Page 15

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION

TEACHING IN THE SCHOOLS AUCKLAND BOARD RETURNS A total of 26.860 pupils attending 236 schools in the Auckland Education Board's district receive religious instruction under the Nelson system, according to a report presented at yesterday's meeting of the board. Only 325 pupils attending five different schools receive instruction under any other system. Teachers taking part in Bible-reading and instruction number 51, the number of schools involved being 33. No outside persons take part in devotional exercises, which are' conducted at 129 schools during the first five minutes of the morning session. At 53 schools devotional exercises are taken in addition to Bible-reading and instruction. Instruction is given once a week at 201 schools, once a fortnight at 30 schools and once a month at nine schools. At one school only, is instruction given twice weekly. The total number of pupils attending the 718 schools in the board's district at the close of the second term was 67,482. The attendance of both teachers and . pupils at devotional [ exercises or religious instruction classes is entirely voluntary.