BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18528, 15 October 1934, Page 11

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

ROTARY CLUB DISCUSSION

A brief round-table discussion on the subject of Bible in Schools occupied the attention of members of the Rotary Club at their luncheon to-day. The subject was introduced by Mr. F. H. Forge, who contended that the spiritual development of child life was equally necessary to the physical and mental development. Only 25 per cent, of the children were being reached under the Nelson system. In the great high schools, grammar schools, technical schools and some junior high schools, religious observance was performed without any objection, and in the schools of England and other countriesi what was being asked for in New Zealand was carried out in quite a satisfactory manner without difficulty. Ho stressed the dynamic force of knowledge of the Scriptures as a factor in the moral development of the child, and quoted figures given by the Child Welfare Department showing that only one in four of the delinquents dealt with had had religious instruction. The State in the interests of the child provided in some measure for the physical, medical and dental health of the children, and spiritual development was equally necessary. Rotarian G. G. Crawshaw, whilst agreeing with a great deal that. Mr. Forge had stated, presented the difficulties that immediately cropped up so soon as Bible teaching was made compulsory in schools. Instruction should not be left in the hands of tho teachers, many of whom did not desire to take on the responsibility. Bible teaching should not >be put in the hands of those not competent to take it on, and harm would be done by people not definitely fitted for the job. The measure proposed would open the way to sectarian difficulties, and if Roman Catholic children were t.o bo segregated during religious instruction, that church would have a definite claim to grants for its church schools.

Rotarinn .Tames Hutton agreed with the. previous speaker that it was a question of ways and means. Could it he done, with justice to all parties? Many hud too profound a respect for the Bible to allow it to be expounded in a perfunctory way. The Nelson system had worktMf well, hut even uiulfcr it there had been invidious distinctions. Teachers would be limited by the Act. The man who guve Bible teaching bad to have his heart in it apt! would feel that he. must tench the truth as lie saw it. How could he teach certain words and not say whijit his own particular conviction of their meaning was ? The discussion ended with a hearty vote of thanks to the, speakers, proposed by the chairman, Rotarinn A. L Muir.