BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS CONDEMNED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 16

BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS CONDEMNED

EDUCATION DEFENCE LEAGUE UPHOLDS N.Z.’S MORALITY

Strongly condemning Bible* reading in schools, the State Education Defence League, at its annual meeting last evening, passed a resolution against the proposal now afoot to secure Parliamentary aid for the scheme. Reviewing the league’s memorandum to Parliament on the question, Mr. C. E. Major, president, claimed it to be wholly fact. “If the members of Parliament read this through,” he said, “they can do nothing but oppose the Bill upholding Bible instruction in schools.” Grounds for opposing the proposal were listed in the memorandum. “In October, 1927,” it said, “the education committee of the House, after hearing the fullest evidence submitted by both sides in the history of the controversy, decided that the present secular system should go on. “The Educational Institution has reaffirmed its ppposition to the proposal. The passing of the Bill would be grave injustice to many teachers, who would be required to act contrary to their religious scruples. The opposition of leading educational authorities has been set out in a pamphlet published by the league. ENGLAND TURNING ‘ln England, where religion is taught in the schools, there is a growing strong opposition. New Zealand, and its success under the secular system, is quoted as a clinching argument. Lord Morley said that parents had an inalienable right to choose religious instruction for their children.” The memorandum gave the opposition to Bible reading in schools from Principal Henderson, a Baptist Union president, an appeal signed by 19 nonconformists, an appeal signed by 12 prominent churchmen, and a manifesto signed by 557 Protestant clergy. “These opinions and arguments are weighty and conclusive evidence against the Bill,” added the memorandum. It was denied that the Bible in schools would improve the morals of the Dominion. Several leaders of the Bible-in-Schools movement had drawn dark pictures of New Zealand’s moral corruption, but their statements had been shown to be without foundation. There was no evidence to show that religion conducted by State teachers would be for moral betterment. An inquiry committee recently found that the main factors in illegitimacy were relaxation of parental control, bad housing, economic conditions delaying marriage, alcohol, the cinema and suggestive literature. The absence of the Bible in schools was not cited. “New Zealand is making steady moral advance,” the memorandum maintained. “We are a more moral and law-abiding community than 50 years ago. “CHIMERICAL SCHEME” “Had the Bible-in-Schools League directed the energy, money and time wasted on its chimerical scheme into facilities for moral betterment, how much improvement might not the Dominion have experienced? “The onus is upon the movement’s promoters to show what benefits the Dominion will gain from the Bill. This they have failed to do. The league considers the postponement of the Religious Exercises Bill .last year largely the result of its ;work.