TO-NIGHT'S SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 491, 26 April 1909, Page 4

TO-NIGHT'S SCHOOL COMMITTEE ELECTIONS.

Tkp anniial of householders fdr the eiebtioh of School Committees are to be held to-night: l The interest of the public in School Committee matters is not perhaps so kfeeh as it should be considering the important part,which education plays in life, but there is strong reason why hbuseHbiders should take some trOublb to attend tHo meetings, to be hbld this evening: A cbrtain sectioii" of the fcomtoiihity intend to bring forward the question of Bible-redding in State schobls, /which is revived annually at the time" of these/'elections, arid tb propose tiiat tlio. Committees shall approach thfe Govbrnment diikng the coming year and demand legislation to provide for a referendUiii being taken as to whether the present system ; bf secular education shall be maintained inviolate, or altered to admit of a certain measure of Scriptural teaching. A good many people would not object to a referendum being taken tb decide this question finally if it. were quite certain that a satisfactory issue could bb submitted. it is of the greatest importance, howeyer, that if this question is to be made to infliiehte the clbfctibhs of School Committees to-night the householders who elect the Committees shbuld be present in representative numbers, and- that a few ehthusiasts of one opinion should not be left to discharge the responsibility that belongs to all. Matty other qualifications are needed in a school committeeman than that he should, libid this or that opinion on the question of Bible-reading in schools. No single issue of that nature should bo permitted to dominitfcc thd blcc-

tions, and as far as the influenco of that issue does extend, both sides of public opinion should be allowed to operate at the meetings. To ensure, that this will happen, a .representative attendance in each case is necessary.