COUNTRY OPINION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2203, 16 July 1914, Page 3

COUNTRY OPINION

BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS

THE "WEST COAST TIMES" ON THE RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN SCHOOLS REFERENDUM BILL.

(Published by Arrangement.)

Yesterday this paper (the ""West Coast Times," of July 1) expressed certain opinions upon-the Licensing Bill. The liquor question is admittedly a ticklish one, but that fact only provides an additional reason why tho public Press should not'avoid it when important legislation bearing upon, it is submitted to Parliament. For precisely the same reason, wo deem it oui duty to-day to express a definite opinion upon the Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum Bill, which was introduced last Friday in the House of Representatives by the Hon. James Allen, Minister of Education. The Bible-in-Schools question, as it is commonly, though loosely, called, is even more ticklish than the liquor question, and it is very easy to rouse susceptibilities in discussing it. But this is largely, due to the fact that disputants as a rule are affected by denominational bias. It is not necessary that a lay newspaper should approach tho question in that spirit. Indeed, it would bo wrong to do so, and wo have no intention of v falling a prey to so vulgar an error. Purely us a matter of public policy, we are in favour of the Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum Bill. The first point to bo noticed is the nature of the question at present before Parliament. At this stage, Parliament is not asked to introduce a sys-' tem of religious instruction into the State schools. All it is asked to do is to refer the question, where the State system of. primary education should be modified to include such instruction to tho people. . Let us now examine the form in which it is proposed in the Bill to submit the question ■ to the people It is set forth in tho schedule •to the Bill as follows:— ■' "Religious Instruction in Schools' Referendum." "Sehomo of Instruction." "Provision will be made for tho reading in tho public schools w:it-hin school hours of selected Biblo lessons from a reading book to bo provided by the Education Department, such reading to s bu conducted under tho supervision of a public school teacher, but no sectarian teaching is to be allowed. "Provision will also bo made for religious instruction to bo given within hours to children by the minister of their denomination or by an accredited substitute. . "Any parent shall havoithe right,.if ho chooses, to withdraw his child from Bible-reading or from religious instruction, or from both." "I vote in favour of the above system." "I voto against the above system." Now, it will be (.bserved[.that the religious instruction which, subject to tho approval of the popple signified through 'a direct vote, it is proposed tj introduce in the schools will consist of two parts: Bible-reading under tho supervision of tho State school teachers, without denominational comment or explanation, will be one branch, the other being doctrinal teaching during school hours by accredited clergymen to tho children of their own churches. But the .'mportant • point is this; that parents may elect, if thoy so please, that- their children shall be exempt from all religious teaching, or that thoy shall only receive ono or the other portion of tho instruction provided. In othor words, parents, under the schcino outlined, will bo ablo to ensure that their children shall receive religious instruction during school hours exclusively from a clergyman of their own denomination, and this applies to all denominations, .In.fact, the. scheme outlined in this Bill proposes to offer to all denominations, upon precisely similar terms, facilities which at present none of thorn enjoy for'imparting religious instruction in ■ the State schools, during school'hours, to the' children of their, own faiths. It appears to us that the form in which tho question is. framed in the •schedule to this Bill disposes absolutely of tho objections which have been raised on the- grounds of conscience to the proposed modification of the existing system of education. We can hardly. imagine that any religious denomination can seriously contend for it moment that a system of general education can. be. considered satisfactory or complete 'rom which all religious instruction is excluded. Indeed, so strongly does one great church feel on this' question, that, with an earnestness, a sincerity and a courage which must excite the admiration and the respect of every right-thinking, individual, it has provided its own schools at no small cost and sacrifice to its adherents. If theocratic government still obtained, it is quite conceivable that it would have provided an elaborate system of State education, but it is ■ quite inconceivable that such a system would have excluded religious instruction from the schools. Wo say, without fear of contradiction, that all tho churches are agreed that religious instruction is an essential factor in a satisfactory scheme of general education. Where they disagree is in the nature oi the religious instruction, to ho given. The scheme which the Government is prepared to adopt, if approved by a direct vote of the people, is one which will enable all the churches to enter the State schools to give exclusive religious instruction to their .own children_in the form they approve. A very widespread desire has been expressed that the question should bo submitted to the'people! That being so, wo are quite unable to seo upon what sound principle of statecraft the Government could have refused to entertain the request. We. think the Reform Government has done_ a very proper and wise thing in bringing down tho Religious Instruction in Schools Referendum Bill, and we congratulate tho Hon. James Allen,' Minister of Education, upon the statesmanship ho has displayed in framing the question which it. is proposed to suhmit to the popular, vote.