BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2223, 20 June 1908, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

BIBLE TEACHERS ASSOCIATION, DEPUTATION TO GISBORNE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. An adjourned meeting of tho Gisborne School Committee was hold last night to receive a deputation from the Bible Teachers Association on the question of religion,s instruction in schools. There were present: Messrs John Somervell (chairman), \V. Silence, G. E. Darton, G. Wildish, and ltovs. L. Dawson Thomas and O. Griffin, and Mr. W. L. File, secretary. Tho minutes of the previous meeting having been read and confirmed, the deputation was introduced, consisting of Miss Mo rice and Rev F. W. Chat-tel-ton. Tho Rev. F. W. Chntterton then read the following statement on behalf of the Bible Teachers Association :—“I should like, on behalf ot the Bible Teachers Association, to make a simple statement with regard to our position, which may servo to remove any misapprehension that may exist in the minds of the public. In the classes we are holding we are neither disobeying the Education Act nor defying tho Board, as some have seemed to think. The committee (which is the body responsible for the school buildings) lias granted us the use of these buildingc for one half hour a week, and have fixed that half hour from 9 to 9.30 on Monday mornings, Monday being tho day that was considered by tho headmaster to interfere least with the regular school work. 'Tho time-table school hours on that morning therefore begin at 9.30, so that- the school is not open for tho ordinary syllabus work till that hour. Tho Bible lesson is therefore no part of tho regular school curriculum. The regulations of tho Education Board say that five hours’ instruction must be given daily, but nothing is said or would be likely to be said as to the hour when the daily teaching should begin. Obviously this is a matter which must be left to tho discretion of the school committee. While, therefore .it is quite possible to carry out. the regulations, and to give the Bible instruction as it is being done, many feel that the regulation as it stands is too rigid, and that with a little consideration on tho part of the Board to the exnressed wishes of the committees, some .slight, modification of the hours may be made. Considering the Board is elected by the committees, it is difficult to conceive that it would absolutely refuse to listen to any reasonable request of those who have elected them. The matter is (I see) again to come before the Board at its next meeting. Tho parents of children attending the Gisborne school have expressed their wish, by a large majority, that their children should be given some Bible teaching. That teaching is given by an Association of voluntary teachers, representing all the different religious organisations in tho town, and has been zealously and ,regularly carried out.. No word of complaint has reached us, and judging from the recent report of the Inspector, the school has not suffered from the loss of the half-hour a week. It would have been difficult, for any school to have received a more flattering report. Tho hour asked for by the voluntary teachers was the first half-hour of the day. and for these reasons—(a) The children are fresher in the morning, and when only half an hour a week is given to the subject-, that half-hour should be a good one; (b )to add this lesson at the end of the day would tend to make it obnoxious to the children, and would prevent due justice being done to it. In most places where it has been tried it has proved ineffective. At the last meeting of the voluntary teachers a resolution was unanimously passed against making any alteration in the hour. The system we are working upon is the came that- has been in force in Nelson for over ten years, and which was commended by Judge Cooper when giving his decision in the Wanganui case, and was also recently referred to by the Minister of Education as not conflicting with the Act. The late Mr. Seddon several times said that the Act leftopportunity for. Christian ministers and voluntary teachers to conduct such classes, and lie wondered why it was not taken advantage of more frequently. We are anxious to do what we can in this direction For the benefit of,the children of Gisborne. The woik has been carried on with the utmost harmony and goodwill, and I think with the approval and satisfaction of tho parents. We should greatly regret to see any alteration made in the present arrangements, and we ask only tho cordial co-opera-tion of the parents wishing their children to attend to see that they do so regularly. The teachers of the school have, without in" any way compromising themselves, kindly assisted us in marshalling tho children into their .respective classes, and thus, help in the interests of the discipline of the school, we cordially appreciate.” Mr. Darton asked if it was the intention of the Bible Teachers Association to have the instruction in ordinary school hours';

Rev. 0. Griffin said that- he thought the position had been clearly indicated at the last, meeting. He thought they knew too much to attempt to do anything which wns illegal, Messrs Spence and Wildish were also of the opinion that it had not been intended that the half-hour for religious instruction should bo part of the school day. Rev. Mr. Chatterton thought that the matter vvas perfectly clear. There was no suggestion that'the half-hour should he regarded as part of the school day. It was clearly outside the legal hours of the school. After further discussion, Rev. Mr. Griffin moved—- “ That this Committee is strongly of opinion that .Regulation No. 15 "of the Education Board ‘that teaching in. the schools shall be for five hours daily for five day s in every week’ is too rigid, and that those Committees that desire a reduction of the school time to four and a-half hours on one day in the week are entitled to some consideration. It regrets that tho Board at a recent meeting did not seo its way to accept cither the motion of Pastor Ries, or tho amendment.of Mr. Darton to alter tho regulation in this direction, and- it respecthilly begs tho Board to reconsider the question and to so amend the Regulation that it may meet the wishes of the Committees who desire his alteration.” In speaking to his motion. Rev. Mr. Griffin stated that lie thought the headmaster was in accord with the suggestion that the present arrangements should continue.until the resolution came before the Board. Air. F. J. Rowley said that chopping and changing about was no good. He was not prepared to alter the present school hours until something had been definitely decided by the Board. Mr. Wildish proposed a vote of thanks to the deputation "for their attendance, and after several matters had been discussed in committee the meeting concluded.