Bible Teaching in State Scbools.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume II, Issue 9, 1 March 1912, Page 132

Bible Teaching in State Scbools.

(By the Few. Arclideacon Willis.)

ARTICLE VI. THE CALL FOR UNITED ACTION. When I began this statement of the case for the Bible m Schools, I had before me the hope that thefriends of the Bible m Schools movement might make this the year for putting forth all their efforts to secure a referendum on the New South Wales system at the approaching elections. Bnt I find there is something yet to be accomplished before we are ready for this demand. A change has been taking place m the views of many of us. There is a growing feeling that, we ought to ask now for something better than WHAT WE ASKED FOR NINE YEARS AGO. There was then a very general agreement m favour of so much of the New South Wales system as ensured Bible instruction being given by the teachers m all the State schools, with-

but any reference to to teaching by the Churches. The Presbyterians, ttie Methodists; and the Anglicans, and some others of the Christian bodies had attained si large moasure of unanimity oh the fcjuestion. Sincp then, however^ there has been a growing feeling that the portion of the New South Wales system which we were not asking for is too important to leave out, namely, the opportunity provided under which Ministers of religion can claim to teach the children of their own churches during school honrs. If, then, this feeling should become general, WHAT WE SHOULD ASK FOR NOW is the New South Wales system m both its great principles. In the pamphlet I wrote nine years ago, I advocated only the partial adoption of the New South Wales system. 1 have since become convinced that we should do much better to adopt both its great principles — lessons by the teachers and lessons by the Churches — which would be equivalent to adopting the system as a whole. In our adopting anything as* a whole which is giving general satisfaction elsewhere, we can reasonably hope for a like result here ; whereas it might be otherwise if our adoption were only a partial one. The fact, moreover, that three out of five of the other States of the Commonwealth, namely, West Australia, Tasmania, and Queensland, as well as the Community of Norfolk Island, have adopted the system as a whole, should have some weight with us m New Zealand. Then, again, is not the thought of AN AUSTRALASIAN SCHEME of religious instrnction m the schools a fine ideal to keep before us 1 New Zealand loves to do great things, and it is well nigh already m the power of New Zealand to make this ideal a reality. And it is only New Zealand that could do it. All the other States together could only make the scheme Australian, but New Zealand can make it Australasian, if she will. There would, moreover, be a special fitness m all the Australasian Dominions following the lead for good of the oldest State m Australia. In this connection it is worthy of note also that PUBLIC OPINION IN VICTORIA is rapidly tending m the same direction. Ihe following is from an Australian newspaper ;—" As illustrating

a growth of public opinion for a uniform system of religious instruction, Victoria as well as Queensland ia now agitating m this direction. In Victoria ( he Churches have m like manner to Queensland agreed upon the same system for introduction there ; and m a deputation to the Victorian Minister of Education representing their views, received a reply from him to the effect that he could not see that what worked well m other places m Australia should not work equally well m Victoria, and that he would submit it to the Cabinet for consideration." But IS NEW ZEALAND READY FOR THE CHANGE? Or, rather, are the people of New Zealand quite ready for a vote on the New South Wales system 1 It must be admitted they are not. The New South Wales system as a whole has not yet received the formal approval of the Supreme Governing Body, neither of the Presbyterian Church or of the Methodist, both of which bodies had supported the effort of nine years ago. Nor has any other Christian body that I am aware of, except the Anglican, yet formaljy declared itself.* This being so, we must be content for the present to bend all our efforts towards attaining unity amongst ourselves. And can we not unite for so great a gain 1 Christianity and religion and the Bible are now virtually shutout of the schools, and a great proportion of the population are growing up without them, and the next generation cannot help being pagans unless we unite to come to their help. How different things might be under the changed condition. Let me quote again from an Australian paper the experience of a teacher m one of the States. AN AUSTRALIAN PICTURE. '• I hay« had 27 years' experience m our State schools. At my present school nearly 200 children attend of all denominations. Teachers have no difficulty m giving their Bible lessons. No friction between teachers and clergymen visiting occurs. We like and value their visits. They are beneficial m all respects. Instead of causing sectarian strife they rather tend to break down sectarianism. The

whole system is admirable, and m my opinion the best solution yet devised of a difficult question. I have Anglican, Roman Catholic, Presbyterian, and Methodist blergytrieu visit my school and take their own children. There is never the slightest objectionable consequence. Such is simple' fact of my long experience. Certainly it tends to raise the standard of the morals and conduct m and out of our schools." LET ME SUM UP THE POSITION. I have endeavoured to show m this pamphlet that a knowledge of the Bible is of supreme importance to the people generally, that the State virtually destroyed the machinery which at one time existed for Bible teaching m the schools and has since put nothing m its place, that a vast number of the children of the Dominion art growing up without any adequate knowledge of the Bible, that the only sure way to provide that all shall have an opportunity of knowing the Bible is to restore it to the schools, that there would be great gain m having a Bible foundation laid by the school teachers m every school m the land, that nn opportunity to follow up this teaching during school hours should be given to clergy aud Churches wherever it could be used; and that moreover there is no difficulty, for the like is being done m many parts of Australasia, and has been done without opposition or offence for over forty years m New South Wales. ALL THAT IS NEEDED NOW ; is for the friend* of Bible teaching m New Zealand to unite and work for the same thing, I would conclude with an appeal for such agreement. I would appeal to all the Christian people of the Dominion— to the presiding members of the various Christ* ian bodies aud all other ministers of the same m the first instance ; but also to every elector of the Dominion who may read this statement of the case for Bible teaching m the schools, to every man and every woman who loves God, his neighbour and his country: — to take their individual parts m this great movement for God's glory and His people's good. LET US SINK MINOR DIFFERENCES for the common welfare and agree to ask for this well-tried system. Let us pray for success and work for success, and success will crown our efforts. Let us form a new Referendum

League, with branches everywhere, pledging ourselves to pull together and to ask for the same- thing. Such a movement would be irresistible ; and Government and Parliament and members individually would all alike agree that the people should be given an opportunity to decide the question, and that their decision should be given effect to.