BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Waikato Times, Volume 103, Issue 17409, 23 May 1928, Page 9

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

UNDER NELSON SYSTEM. ARRANGEMENTS IN HAMILTON. BY THE MINISTERS' ASSOCIATION. '■Z'tfW • Some months ago the Hamilton Ministers' Association took up the implied Challenge that ministers are not making the most of opportunities already afforded them for giving Scriptural instruction to children in the, schools of our land and began making enquiries and preparations. It is only now that the association is in the position to make public the result of its negotiations.

It first approached the Auckland Education Hoard and the school committees of the district with a view to introducing (he Nelson system of Bibleteaching into the Hamilton schools. This system has been in vogue in Nelson and other places since 1897. The teachers are the various ministers or their accredited representatives. The instruction given is simple Bible teaching given for half an hour each week in ordinary school hours, but outside the statutory legal hours. The Education Act requires that school time be two hours in the morning and two in the afternoon. The education boards have the power to define the hours of opening and closing public schools (Education Act 30, 1), and generally require that the school hours shall be three in the morning and two in the afternoon.

The Auckland Board is prepared to grant to schools of the Hamilton district, a '2W-hours' week in order to enable school committees to facilitate Bible-teaching under the Nelson system for half an hour each week. The conditions laid down are—(J) A plebiscite of parents is to be taken to ensure a majority in favour, (2) no teachers or children whose parents notify the headmaster of their objection are under and compulsion to attend, (,'l) where the majority of parents favour it the headmasters and .committees are to be consulted as to the best time for the lesson. The local Ministers' Association has met the headmasters in conference and submitted their proposed schedule of lessons together with a suggested timetable. Both of these were warmly commended by the headmasters. All arrangements have been made in the case of Prankton and Hamilton West, schools, whilst it is confidently expected the remaining schools will come into line almost immediately. Half the schools will be visited at the opening on Tuesdays, and the other half on Thursdays. The classes (four in the case of the larger schools) will open with a short prayer and the Lord's Prayer, followed by a lesson from a syllabus taken from the gospels, illustrative of the life of our Lord.

No attempt whatever is being made to. separate the classes into denominations; at the end of each term the teachers will change round. The association sincerely hopes that the school teachers will be present and urges upon parents lo take full advantage of this scheme for their children. Where this system has been in operation it is estimated that over 90 per ceht. u df children attend.

The association will visit Prankton and Hamilton West schools, beginning on Tuesday, May V.).

It desires to place on record its appreciation of the courtesy it has received from the .Auckland Education Board, the Hamilton Headmasters' Association and school committees. For and on behalf of the Hamilton Ministers" Association, G. 11. BAUNETT, Dean of Hamilton. President. J. SALISBURY, Hon. Secretary.