PUBLIC OPINION.

Waikato Times, Issue 12870, 18 May 1914, Page 2

PUBLIC OPINION.

AMERICAN LAWS.

m As expressed by correspondents, whose letters are welcome, but for whose views we have no responsibility.

(ilKl.lv IN SCHOOLS. TO TIIK EDITOR. Sir.—l viMtctl America two years ago, and noted that the Bible in public schools question was a very live one there. 11l the majority of the Sir ion some provision is made lor a sin.] Ie nnding from the Bible by the school teacher. Last year (l'M3l the State of Pennsylvania, whose population numbers t).(K)O.Ui)i), passed a law •'refjuiring teachers in public schools to read ou-iy morning ten verses from the Bible \ ithout comnielit," any teacher .injecting to lie dismissed. Catholic schools do not receive State aid. The following are States in America where the Bibleis read in the public schools. 'lhe comments are supplied by the superintendents of public instruction .'—-Elaine, "Bible dady read in school for 27(1 years"; New Yoik, -'Head daily for 2">o yiais"; Ne'V Hampshire, 'Read daily since ',t>2-T'; Vermont, 'We encourage Bible-reading in schools"; District of Columbia, ''Bible read and Lord's Player repeated"; Kentucky. "Generally read"; Tennessee. "The Bible is our rock of public safety"; Alabama, "Custom in our schools neither enjoins nor forbids": Illinois, ditto: Mississippi, "The Bible is not excluded and is generally read": .Michigan, ditto; Arkansas, "Read in part of our schools"; Texas. "Bead in some schools": Oregon, ditto: 'West Virginia, "Xo law prohibiting Bible-read-ing"; Florida, ditto: Delaware, "Biblereading universal" ; Pennsylvania, "The Scriptures must not be omitted" ; Now Jersey, "Bead in nearly all schools": Georgia, "The Bible cannot be excluded"; Connecticut, "The Bible. has always been read"; Massachusetts. "Bible has been read in schools for L l_> ' years"; Maryland, "Bead daily in rur schools'"; South Carolina, "Generally read." ; SRhode Island, "Universal custom to read the Scriptures"; Indiana, "The Bible shall not be excluded": Smith Dakota, "May be read without sectarian comment"; Virginia. 'Head in nearly all schools"; Ohio, "We thoroughly believe in it. as it has a g< od 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, ''l?cad m some schools": New York City, "Pule observed for nearly three centuries: in New York all schools are opened by reading the Bible." As the I«ihle in public schools question is looming large in the political, horizon, I thought the above would be of interest to my fc HowNew Zealanders. S. PEARSON. 253 r -Cuba Street, Wellington, May 15,. 1914. ~