RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23649, 5 November 1938, Page 19

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

THE OPENING EXERCISES HOPE FOR CONTINUANCE PRACTICE OF NELSON SYSTEM The hope that nothing in the proKosed overhaul of the education system 1 New Zealand would do anything to interfere with the continuance of the opening religious exercises which are being carried out in schools in the Dominion was expressed by speakers during a discussion on the report of the Public Questions Committee at last night's session of the Presbyterian General Assembly. A resolution on those lines was carried, and it was also decided to urge ministers to take full advantage of the Nelson system and to express the hope that more teachers and qualified laymen might see their way to take part in the weekly Bible lessons. The Rev. J. Thomson Macky, convener of the Public Questions Committee, said that the opening religious exercises in the schools were growing in popularity, but unfortunately they did not meet with the approval of the minister of Education (Mr P. Fraser) and a certain section of the teachers. The Minister had promised to hold a conference with the religious bodies before making a decision. The church could only wait for that conference, and reaffirm its belief that the exercises met a real need and express the hope that nothing would interfere with their continuance. Momentum of Movement The Rev. Dr E. N. Merrington said the assembly would be acting in consistency with the strong convictions and principles of many parents by urging that the exercises should be allowed to continue. Many persons felt some months ago that it would be a serious and undemocratic step if the closure were placed on that movement which had justified itself by the great support it had received. "When it was mooted that there was a likelihood of action being taken to curtail these activities," Dr Merrington said, "protests were sent to the Minister from all over the country. Since that time nothing has been done of which I am aware, but as the bdu cation Bill is still being prepared and k likely to be introduced at an early date it is hoped that the conferences the Minister has promised will be fruitful in enabling childern in the State schools to have the same opportunities of religious observance as the boys and girls in the high schools. The movement has gained such momentum that out of nine education board districts in New Zealand there are only twoNelson and South Auckland—in which it does not operate. There are now more than 400 schools which are opening each day with simple religious exercises, and who can estimate what effect they will have on the hearts and minds of our children? Unless, in these pagan times, the religious ■ onscience is developed in the children we can only look forward to a secularisation and paganisation of the people of New Zealand." Value of Nelson System Speaking to the resolution urging ministers to take full advantage of the Nelson system and expressing the hope that more teachers and qualified laymen might see their way to take part in the weekly Bible lessons, Mr Macky said that although that system was far from ideal, it was the best available and the greatest possible use should be made of it. He would like to see the Theological Hall do something to fit students to do more effective work in taking the lessons in the schools. The assembly then appointed as its representatives on the Dominion Council of the Bible-inrschools League the Revs. J. T. Macky, D. M. Herrus, A. C. Watson, J. L. Robinson and Dr J. D. Salmond, and Mr C. T. Jeffreys. A Teaching Order Mentioned " The committee will have ■ a very important duty to perform," said Dr J. D. Salmond, "because during the next year there will probably be sweeping changes in the education system of New Zealand. I, as it member of the committee, intend to take a definite line of action. If the clauses dealing with religious education are in the Act I shall attvocate that we set up an organisation of this voluntary system on a national scale, with a national council and branch councils in every education district, and shall suggest that we take the long view and try to create something in the nature of a teaching order. "In the larger centres, where the ministers are very busy," Dr Salmond added, "I hope we shall employ fulltime workers who can go into the schools fully trained'to do the work. I do not think the principles of our State education system will be changed for many years, but I do thiriK a great step forward can be made. vVe must tackle this question in a spirit of Christian co-operation with the State."