RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23033, 10 May 1938, Page 15

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

Sir. —lt is with amazement that I read in your newspaper of the attitude of the clergy toward the proposed Education Amendment Bill anent the periods set aside for religious instruction in our primary schools. Far from being a curtailment of time I. think any intelligent person would understand that the two half hours per week is much in excess of the five minutes per day. In my opinion it is not so much the curtailment of time as the fact that the clergy are expected to give the instruction themselves (and not as at the present time put their responsibilities on the shoulders of the teachers) in these two half hours to which exception is being taken. There are numerous churches and Sunday Schools and plenty of clergymen. Why it is that they cannot organise their profession more efficiently so that these churches "and Sunday Schools are full? It is an indictment against them that they should want the right to intrude religion into our primary schools where the State has organised the children. Surely the proper place for religious instruction is in the churches and Sunday Schools. The Bible in Schools League went behind the Act in the first place and having done so, whether legally or otherwise, they now demand it as of right. 1 am opposed to this system on principle and not on religious grounds. Jt tends to emphasise the schisms between the Protestant, .Roman Catholic and Jew. Is this a desirable thing and can any clergyman with honesty answer in the affirmative? Why put the onus on the Government? Past Governments havo stood for secular teaching in our primary schools, there was no hue and cry then, so why now? If the clergy were fully alive to their responsibilities they would not need the help of the State to administer religious instruction to our children in our primary schools. The onus is on the clergy and them alone. Perhaps it will mean a little extra work or a little extra trouble for them to have to go to the schools for the two half hours |K?r week. When 1 read the clause in the proposed Education Amendment Bill I felt sure that the ministers of religion would welcome it. If the various societies and leagues who are passing resolutions and sending petitions to the Government were really sincere in seeing tbat our children receive religious instruction, they would cooperate with the clergy in seeing that this instruction wis given in the proper place. Sunday is the da}* set aside for religious worship and the churdhes and Sunday Schools the proper places. 1 would ask with all sincerity that the clergy shoulder their responsibility as the instructors of religion and leave the teachers .to teach the subjects they are employed to teach in our schools. Doiiothy Stuart.