BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 June 1933, Page 6

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS

ADDRESS BY MR G. R. SYKES. The pressing need of religious instruction in primary schools in New Zealand was stressed by Mr 'G. -R. 'Sykes, M.P., who spoke on ‘‘Church and State” at a meeting in St. Matthew’s Parish Hall last night, convened by the Ministers’ Association. The Rev. John Davie presided. Speaking of the influence for good exercised by the Church, Mr Sykes said the essence of Christianity was the teaching and spirit of its Father. The church gave to the English people the English Bible, that glorious piece of literature for which there was nocounterpart, it created the greater universities, and its influence played a great part in the unity of the AngloSaxons, and determined their moral ideals and the very substance of their laws. Passing on to refer to the State, Mr Sykes said the idea of State was one which was little grasped in New Zealand. If they could look upon the State as a person and regard the officials as agents, they might fare better. The Government was the accredited representative of a great power, the State, for the promotion of the welfare of its citizens as- a whole as members of a family of social classes. Stressing the importance of education in national life, Mr Sykes said,that the duty of a teacher, first and foremost, was the formation and building-up of character, to be reverent, and to serve their fellowmen. Owing to their secular system, the spiritual side of -education in New Zealand was entirely neglected, through no fault of the teachers. 'Stating that he was a member of the Parliamentary Education .Committee .to which the Religious , Exercises in Schools Bill was referred in 1931, Mr Sykes said the committee, by -the narrow majority of five to four, reported to the House that the Bill should not be allowed to proceed. In New Zealand there- were 1500 small country schools where it was impossible to reach the children by the Nelson system, and it was on behalf of these children that they -should direct attention. The Bill provided that every school shall be opened with a religious observance, that the Lord’s Prayer be recited daily, and that an -appointed manual containing Bible extracts be read daily. There was a conscience clause, which enabled a teacher who felt he or she could not undertake that work, to be relieved of that undertaking.

The Rev. E. J. Rich, who apologised for the absence of Miss -Oruickshank, local secretary of the Bible in .Schools League, .said the League organisers hoped when next they approached Parliament to b© able to present a list of names showing the real strength of the people supporting the objective of the League. Mr Sykes was accorded a hearty vote of thanks by acclamation.