RELIGION IN THE SCHOOLS DEBATED

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19197, 10 October 1930, Page 5

RELIGION IN THE SCHOOLS DEBATED

DIVERGENT VIEWS PUT BEFORE SYNOD SESSION.

Divergent views on religious education in schools, and in particular on sectarian religious teachings, were expressed at some length at the meeting of the Christchurch Diocesan Synod yesterday. Mr J. Studholme moved:— (a) That this Synod is of opinion that! The Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill as drafted to date by the Dominion Executive of the Bible in State Schools League offers a more satisfactory permanent solution of the religion in state schools question than does The Religious Exercises in Schools Bill and recommends it to the favourable consideration of General Synod. (b) That the attention of the Bible in State Schools League be drawn to those aspects of the Religious Instruction in Schools Enabling Bill commented on in the Report of the Commission appointed by the Right Rev the Lord ' Bishop of Christchurch to consider and report upon the Religious Education in the Diocese. Introducing his motion, Mr Studholme said that it was thought advisable to bring the Bill under the notice of the Synod, as well as under the notice of other church bodies. It was impossible to arrive at anything till unanimity was achieved. At a conference attended by representatives of various denominations, it was apparent that unanimity could be arrived at. “If we bring the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill up before the House we will have to state that we are not binding ourselves to it for all time,” said Mr Studholnfe. “The old Bill did an enormous amount of harm. We thought it a far better thing tc come boldly forward and get a solution. We believe that the Enabling Bill would meet with more support. “The new Bill gives opportunity, as is the custom in the council schools of Great Britain, for religious instruction on non-sectarian lines, as well as for religious exercises at the opening oi the school day. The old Bill provided for the latter only. The first part of the .motion was seco'nded 2?y the Rev R. de Lambert. “This matter has come up year after year, but we have never got any action from Parliament,” said Mr G. MacIntyre. “It is good to take any opportunity to make any real achievement. Powers of the Teachers. “We realised that the powers of the teachers to teach anything was very limited,” said the Rev IT. W illiams. “Their powers are too cramped by the denominational clauses. I among others was very much against the old Bill. I must point out one or two objections to the new. It seems that the whole of the control will be vested in secular hands, and we should have no control whatsoever. If a board decided the matter, any denomination wit.li 2000 adherents would be entitled to a representative. To get two representatives, a denomination needs 100.01*) . . “I do criticise the bargain that has been made with the Roman Latholic Church I do think that the Roman Catholics deserve their grant towards the maintenance of their own Church. Why should they pay our taxes while thev are maintaining their own schools? T do not want to prejudice this Church’s chances of teaching her own faiih to iker own children. .You

never get a good Christian and Churchman by grafting certain dogma on to an undenominational foundation. I must say that I cannot support any undenominational measure. / Forced to Rebel. “ I agree with Mr Williams and I wish to support him,” said the Rev C. Perry. “ I believe that undenominationalism is an impossibility. If we were forced to teach undenommationalism we would have to rebel. W e want a fair field and no favour. Shall we allow this negative religion, this undenominational monster, to take hold of our children?” Canon Cocks said that the two previous speakers were fortunate in having church schools in their own parishes. He had had forty years of religious teaching in State schools and in that time had taught under many and varied systems. The Rev <1- W. Dent said that the Bible would not be used in the schools. bi?t only an emasculated form of it The trouble was that the majority of Anglicans were afraid of prejudicing the Church schools movement, which they would not at this stage risk lighting for in the open. The Rev A. J. Petrie: If only the clergy got on with the job there would be no need for disunity. We should decide on one tiling and go for it. At this stage the discussion was adjourned.