BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 111, 13 May 1931, Page 7

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

THE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE DEPUTATION MAKES APPEAL (Per Press Association.) * WELLINGTON, Muy 12. An appeal to teachers lor sympathetic treatment lor the Religious instruction in Schools Enabling Bill, was made to the annual meeting uf the New Zealand Educational Institute by ti e executive uf the Bible in Schools League to-day. The depu’aijon comprised the Bishup of Wellington (Dr. Sprott), Sir James Allen, Col. John Siudnolmc, Hou. L. Ar. Isitt, AI.L.C., the Rev. E. O. Blaiuires (secretary of the League), and Miss Alary AlcLean (ex principal of the Wellington Gir.s* Uollcgcy. The Bishop of said that he was? acting in place of the president of the League, Archbishop Averill, uf Auckland. The League bud put forward a new Bill which n was proponed to bung before Parliament, lhe executive v.as anxious to receive the opinions of teavhers un the proposals cinbodied .n the Bill. Sir Ji.mes Allen said hat tne deputation was there us reprej-iitniivos "f tuc L.:- d erity uf did churches. L’ue Roman Catholic H'T-acby La i assured the League that it wanted to see the t .telling uj rejig.’.'.. .n ctLcr than Cnthiiid ,‘cbools in tho Dominion. Co-tonei t-iu<iholuic said the proposed Bill gave teachers the right to explain passages from the Bible. While in England he had examined the system of Bible teaching in that country and Wales, and had found that the system was working without the slightest sectarian differences. Rev. Blamircs said there had been no surrender of convictions by either the Bible in Schools League or the Roman Catholic llierachy in the agreement whik-’h had been come to concerning tho Bill. There were no coercive measures in tho Bill. Air Isitt asked the teachers to look at the subject from the broadest standpoint. Miss McLean said that as a secondary school teacher she Lad been amazed and alarmed at the ignorance of pupils on religious matters who had come to the college from the primary schools. The president of the Institute, Mr 11. F. Pcnlington, thanking the deputation, said that members of tho Institute could meet on common ground with tho League. Both had the welfare of the child at heart. The deputation had certainly brought new ligh* to bear upon the subject.