RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 March 1935, Page 6

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS

PROPOSAL TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION. ENTIRELY VOLUNTARY SYSTEM. ONE-HALF HOUR EACH WEEK. (By Wire—Parliamentary Reporter.) Wellington, Last Night. The introduction into State schools of a system of voluntary moral and religious instruction for one half-hour each week as proposed by the Recess Education Committee in 1930 was suggested to the Government by the Education Committee of the House of Representatives, which this afternoon recommended that the Religious Instruction in Public Schools Enabling Bill; introduced by Mr. H. Holland (Co., Christchurch North) be not allowed to proceed. The committee had no recommendation to offer on numerous petitions presented in opposition to the measure. In the opinion of the committee the Government should give effect to the views expressed in a section of the Recess Education Committee’s report as follows: “No system of religious instruction in State schools should be authorised stich as will compulsorily require any State teacher to disclose his or her religious beliefs or adherence to any particular denomination, or to take part in religious exercises other than of his or her religious beliefs, or adherence to any particular denomination, or to take part in religious exercises other than of his or her own free will, but that on the other hand full liberty should be given to those teachers who desire of their own accord to assist in the Nelson or any similar system of religious instruction that. may be authorised by law. NEW CLAUSE SUGGESTED. "A clause should be inserted in the Education Act providing that if accredited persons approved -by the Minister desire to give moral and religious instruction of a voluntary nature in school buildings the ordinary opening hour of the school shall be postponed or the ordinary closing hour in the afternoon shall be advanced on one day in each week as agreed upon for not more than half an hour to enable instruction to be conveniently given, provided no alteration shall be. made in the opening or closing hours which would reduce the number of hours to be devoted on that day to secular instruction to less than a minimum of the four hours .fixed by the Act.” Congratulating the committee on its recommendation, Mr. A. J. Stallworthy (Ind., Eden) said the suggestions were a distinct advance on the present policy. It was indeed amazing that text books should not be allowed to quote from the greatest form of literature in the world. The recommendation was regarded by Mr. J. O’Brien (Lab., Westland) as representing the thin edge of ’ the wedge, and he advised the House to proceed with caution on that account. Under the proposal the hours of school children would be interfered with and the difficulties presented by the Bill itself would not be overcome. Mr. W. E. Barnard (Lab., Napier) said the committee was entitled to commendation for endeavouring to meet the situation, but at the same time care should be exercised. Time should be given for the country to consider the proposals before they were adopted by the Government. The report iof the committee was tabled.