RELIGION IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1166, 17 June 1911, Page 10

RELIGION IN SCHOOLS.

PROTEST AT TIMAEU. At tho last meeting of tho South Canterbury Board of Education, a deputation of three representatives of the Timaru branch of tho Jfcw Zealand Secular Education Defence League, waited on tho board to object to the way in which Biblo instruction had clashed with tho ordinary instruction at the Tiraaru Main School. The objections of the league and tho circumstances leading up to the protest, were concisely expressed by one of tho speakers (Mr. H. Goodwin) in his address to the board. He said: "Mr. Dalglish, headmaster of the Timaru Main School, has forgotten the strict neutrality imposed upon him by his official position; ho has taken upon himself to further the interests of tho Protestant Ministers' Association in regard to influencing ths attendance of pupils at Bible-reading classes. Tho School Committee must also be charged with allowing to run counter to your resolution in allowing the school to bo assembled at 9 a.m. instead of 0.30 a.m. on tho morning that Biblo teaching is given. The charges of irregularities aro as follow:—

"1. That the school is assembled, at 9 a.m. on the day set apart for Bible teaching. All the usual formalities ars complied with. I givo you details of my own observations made on the mornings of Wednesday, May 10, 1911, and Tuesday, June G, 1911. Tho school bell rang at 9 a.m., tho scholars were marshalled into lino by tho school teachers, tho pupils were then inarched into the various class rooms ..to the accompaniment of a side drum played Ijy one of tho" "scholars, and on my second visit the side drum was assisted by tho blowing of a buglo. In addition to this, the infant classes-were assembled as usual, and marched into their class room. I think you will admit that this is not in accordanco with your resolution.

•" "2. I charge the headmaster with having sent out circulars to parents requesting information as to whether they wished their children to attend the Biblo lessons.

■ "3. I also charge him with questioning the boys as to their non-attendance at the Bible lessons. Mr. Dalglish visited the various class-rooms and told tho boys to stand up who had been attending tho ■Bible lessons; but'through either indifference or disobedience to parents or somo other cause they had failed to keep up their attendance, and in the presence of the whole class he had admonished them, and told them not to fail in attendance in future. In acting in this way, your teacher has quite forgotten tho neutral position he should uphold under the Education Act. ,

"4. The infant classes are assembled at 9 a.m., and are given a simple form of Bible instruction by Miss Avison, which is described as Biblical stories.

"In conclusion, I claim that in' the cases stated yoiiwill see that apart from the violation, of the neutrality of the Education Act. tho School Committee, the Protestant Ministers' Association, and the school teachers have utterly disregarded your resolution, and set up n special set of conditions to suit themselves. Not only have tho supporters of secular education been treated with lack of consideration in thin matter, but the manner in which your resolution has been side-stepped savours of tho deepest form of contempt to you, as governors of education in this district."

After a.short discussion, the following resolution was adopted by the board:—

"That the charges of the Secular Education Defence Leacrue be referred to tho Main School Committee and heid teacher for their consideration and Teply thereto, to tha board."