BIBLE LESSONS IN SCHOOLS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1986, 17 February 1914, Page 2

BIBLE LESSONS IN SCHOOLS.

MR. HOLJrAN INTERVIEWED,

Tlio BiMe-m-Stnte schools system in. New South Wales was i referred to by the Premier 01' New South Wales (the Hon. W. A. HrfmaiOi in 'an interview in. Auckland. lir <R-de.r that there ; might be do misconception as to the exact nature of the system under which Bible-reading lessons find religious instruction aro given in New South Wale-Sf the- Anglican Bishop of Auckland <Dr. Avorill) communicated with. Mr. Hohnan . asldng for definite iiifonuutioii as to the system. In particular, Dr. ' Avcrill • wislietl f -fo-ItHdw' wheiiiei' Or not for tl.fe s past 40 years or more, . State . school .teachers in Sew Smith Wales had given., ,m''',£he ordinaryfvcij.urfle -.of/the ■sqhoqty curriculum and -in'.'school':hours, Bible lessons froffl t6xt-l.Vfteksapivi.oved by tlio Education. Department..to...all children whose parents did hot take advantage of a conscience clause; whether the liuni-' her of withdrawals., of .children under that class was practically - a . negligible quantity; and whether, of all denominations had during that'period exercised the right given them by law nf going into tils'.State schools during school hours for the purpose of giving definite, religious instruction > to the children Of their own church. On re* ceivins the Bishop's letter, Mr. Holman immediately cabled to the Director of Education at Sydney for specific .infftrmatioii upon tko 'question, raised. In reply to Mr. Holma'n's cablegram, the Direction Sydney stated thnt minister's were permitted to give religious instruction during school hours for not more than one hour each day. As part of the regular cttrrimW luni. Bible stories wore given to junior pujiils, and lessons werojead by senior pupils from the Irish National School Board Old and Now Testament, readers. No religions instructions were given if parents objected) hut the measure _of abstention was very small, there being practically no objections except from Ito-man Catholics. ".

■ Agents, Itreet, Wellington,