BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Southland Times, Issue 22041, 14 June 1933, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

To the Editor. Sir.—Attention has been drawn in your correspondence columns recently to the Nelson system of religious instruction in schools, and local methods have been called in question. It is not my desire to inquire into local methods, though I expect they are similar to those adopted in many other parts of New Zealand. I simply write to say that whether strict legal procedure has been followed or not in Invercargill, practically the same results are the outcome of following strictly official procedure. The legal standing of the Nelson system is unquestioned, and under that system by arrangement with boards and committees, it is a comparatively simple matter now to arrange for qualified voluntary teachers to give religious instruction on at least one day in the week by postponing the commencement of secular instruction in those standards which are to receive religious instruction, to the extent required for such religious lessons, provided that the two hours required by law for secular instruction during every session—morning or afternoon—are not interfered with. The Wanganui Education Board now permits school committees to postpone the opening of secular instruction for five minutes each day where religious exercises are desired, extending the postponement to twenty minutes on one day per week for religious instruction. The Otago bylaw allows certain standards to be receiving voluntary religious instruction at the same time that other standards are receiving compulsory secular instruction in cases where the number of religious instructors is insufficient to reach all the standards. For example, the fourth standard may be having a voluntary religious lesson under the Nelson system from 9 to 9.30, while the third standard is taking compulsory arithmetic or English. This is a strictly legal arrangement, and has the sanction of the Crown Law Department and Minister of Education. Whether in Southland the by-laws of the board have actually given these powers to school committees etc., or not, there is no doubt whatever that the regulations of Otago and Wanganui Boards are in harmony with legal requirements, and if any legal weakness should be found locally—l am not suggesting that any such is actually found —it is within the power of the board to remove it. A resolution formally adopted is sufficient.—l am etc., E. O. BLAMIRES, Secretary Bible in Schools League. Feilding, June 7, 1933.