THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 14, 4 August 1893, Page 16

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

HEN the Education Act Amendment Bill is in committee Mr W. Hutchison will move these new clauses, with the object of reintroducing the Bible into the State schools :—: — PABT 111. 24. If, and as often as, not less than twenty parents or guardians of children attending a public school having an average attendance of one hundred children and upwards shall by requisition in writing to the school committee request that the reading of the Bible, with or without comment, may be instituted in the school, the committee, if satisfied of the genuineness of the requisition and of the signatures thereto, shall take such steps as may be necessary to permit such Bible reading, with or without comment as aforesaid, in a class-room separate and apart from the others. Provided that the following conditions be first complied with by or on behalf of the rtquisitioniats :—: — (1.) They shall appoint a suitable person specially for the purpose of superintending and teaching each Bible clbbs. This person Bhall not be a teacher in the public school, (2} They shall provide a fuEd sufficient for the payment of the services of the person so appointed in this respect, and for any other expenses incident to the efficient carrying oat of the Bible class. (3.) They shall appoint a committee of five of their number to act in conjunction with the school committee, in so far as the management and control of the class-room set Bpart for the Bible class is concerned, during such time as the clas-s-room is used for such purpose, (4.) The hour for holding the Bible class shall be definitely fixed. The time occupied fh^ll in no case exceed thirty minutes, and may be daily or at less frequent intervals, aa m«y be mutually arranged by the inspector, the school committee, and Bible class committee, having dne regard to the convenience of the ordinary secular teaching of the tchool, which may not be interfered with in the case of tboBP children attending the school who are not attending the Bible class. 25 The Bible class committee shall have the power of admitting children to the Bible class whether or not attending the school as ordinary pupils, Rnd whether or not the parentß or guardians of such children contribute towards the expenses in connection with such Bible cats. 20. Section 84 of the said Act, and all other parts thereof conflicting or inconbibtent with the foregoing provisions, are hereby repealed. We have copied the above from the Evening Star of Saturday last. We have no doubt, of course, of its authenticity, but we entertain the greatest doubt as to the efficacy of the provisions embodied in Mr Hutchison's proposed clause. Nor, indeed, is the clause at all necessary for parents who are realty anxious to provide Bible-reading for their children. There is nothing authorised by this proposed clause which cannot be even now effected by parents. Twenty parents of children can meet, appoint a committee of five, appoint and pay a person to superintend Bible-reading or give religious instruction in any school before or after school hoorc, after having conferred with the ordinary school committee. In fact, it appears to us that Mr Hutchison's clause would have the effect of restricting the liberty parents now enjoy, inasmuch as at present parents can arrange foi Bible-reading in any school, whereas should this clause be enacted, it can only take effect in schools which have an average attendance of at least one hundred children. And now we may ask, What reason is there for this restriction ? The majority of the children of this country attend schools whose average attendance

does not exceed, or even amount to one hundred. At all events, we are under this impression, which we could easily test, did time permit, by consulting the last Education Report. But we have so recently looked over this report that we think wo are not mistaken. In the second place, we are convinced that parents who send tbpir rhildren to the public schools will in no instance avail themselves of this clause even if enacted. They have not the least idea of making special payment for Bible-reading, This is not what they ask, or what they want. They would be very glad, indeed, to see Bible-reading, and even religious instruction, introduced into the public schools, provided always that these were included in the curriculum of daily exercises to be $iven by the ordinary teachers and during the official school hours. But that parents should be called upon to provide separate teachers and especial salaries for such teachers, these are considerations which have no place in the minds of these parents. Of this we feel absolutely certain, and on this account we regard Mr Hutchison's clause as utterly nugatory. No ; there is only one way of securing even a modicum of godliness and religious instruction for children in schools — that is, to subsidise denominational schools to enable them to pay for their secular instruction. And even here our legislators need not fear a rush of applicants for such aid. No denomination, except the Catholic, has given any proof of earnestness and sincerity in this matter. Catholics are in earnest, and never will accept the present public school system. No man now doubts this, unless indeed he should happen to be a seviifatuus. Surely our fellow-citizens who are qui'e content with the present system have not finally made up their minds to plunder and tyrannise over us for ever. We do not believe any except Catholics would avail themselves of the provisions of an Act of Parliament authorising aid to denominational schools. Certainly, there is no reason apparent at present to justify the conclusion that there are any others. It appears to us that what our fellow-citizens want is free education. If they can have this and free Bible-reading, so much the better ; but if not, then Bibk-reading in schools will not be insisted upon, provided free secular instruction remains within their ieach.