CORRESPONDENCE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 11980, 18 May 1914, Page 6

CORRESPONDENCE.

IWMIt thUcolumniß open to all, it ii understood that we do not hold oursclveirespontiblefor opinions

txpretted by our correspondent. \

BIBLE READING IN PUBLIC

SCHOOLS

(To the Editor).

Sir, —I visited America two years ago, and noted that the Bible in public schools question was a very live one there.

In the majority of the States some provision is made for a simple reading from tho Bible by the school teacher. Last year (1913) tho State of Pennsylvania, whose population numbers 0,000,000, passed a law "requiring teachers in public schools to read every morning ten (10) verses from the Bible without comment." Any teacher objecting to bo dismissed.

Catholic schools do not receive State aid.

The following arc States in America where the Bible is read in the public schools: — '

The comments are supplied by the Superintendents of Public Instruction:—Maine,' "Bible daily read in school for 270 years"; New" York, "Read daily for 250 years"; New Hampshire, "Read daily since 1623"; Vermont, '' We encourage Bible-reading in schools"; District of Columbia, "Generally read"; Tennessee, "The Bible is our rock of public safety"; Alabama, "Custom in our schools neither enjoins nor forbids"; Illinois, ditto; Mississippi, '' Tho Bible is not excluded, and is generally read"; Michigan, ditto; Arkansas, "Read in part of our schools"; Texas, "Read in some schools"; Oregon, ditto; West Virginia, "No law prohibiting Bible-reading"; Florida, ditto; Delaware, "Bible-reading univer- 1 sal": Pennsylvania, "The "Scriptures must not be omitted"; New Jersey, "Read in nearly all schools"; Georgia, "The Bible cannot be excluded"; Connecticut, "The Bible has always been road"; Massachusetts, "Bible i.as been read in schools for 278 years"; Maryland. "Read daily in our schools"; South Carolina, '"Generally read"; Rhode Island, "Universal custom to read the Scriptures"; Indiana, "The Bible shall not be excluded"; South Dakota, "May be read without sectarian comment"; Virginia, "Read in nearly all schools"; Ohio, "We thoroughly believe in it, as it has a good influence upon our children-; Missouri, "Optional: character-building is an important factor with us"; Nebraska, "Encourage moral culture: generally read"; Kansas, "Read in part of our schools"; Wyoming, "Left to local Boards to decide"; Colorado, "Read in some schools"; New York City, "Rule observed for nearly three centuries; in New York all schools are opened by reading the Bible. " As the Bible in 'public schools question is looming largo in the political horizon I thought the above would be of interest to my fellow New Zealanders.—l am, etc., S. PEARSON. 253 Cuba Street, Wellington, 15th May ,1914.