Bible in Schools.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 3, Issue 6, 29 May 1914, Page 3

Bible in Schools.

SIR, -I walked into a public school in Vancouver City, 8.C., and asked the teacher if any religious instruction was given ; his reply was that the school was always opened by a repetition "of the Lord’s Prayer. As wo New Zealanders are seeking for information on this question of religious instruction in State Schools the following Canadian laws on the subject are worthy of note : —• Ontario Province: (population 2,519,902 in 1911). —“The Scriptures shall be read daily and systematically ; the portion used may be taken from the book of Scripture selections adopted by* the Department for that purpose, or from the Bible, as the trustees by resolution may direct. The Ten Commandments are repeated once a week.” Quebec Province: (population 2,000,697 in 1911) “ There are Roman Catholic State Schools and Protestant State Schools, each .supported out of taxation on their own respective properties and Government grants. The Bible is read compulsorily in Protestant Public Schools. ” New Brunswick: (population 351, 815 in 1911.) “It shall be the privilege of every teacher to open and close the daily exercises of the school by reading a portion of Scripture (out of the Common or Do nay Version as he may prefer), and by offering the Lord’s Prayer. But no teacher shall compel any pupil to be present at these exercises against the wish of his parent or guardian, expressed in writing to the Board of (school) Trustees. ” Saskatchewan Province: (population 453,508 in 1911) “The local Boards may permit religi ms instruction in schools.’’ Manitoba Province: (population 454,691 in 1911). “ReligQiis exercises in public sch nls shall be conducted according to tfrq regulation of the Advisory Board. Such religious nxerei. os shall take place just before the closing hour in the afternoon. If the parent or guardian of any pupil notifies the teacher that lie does not wish such pupil to attend such exercises, then such pupil shall be dismissed before such exercises take place. Such religious teaching shall take place, and shall he conducted by any Christian Clergyman, or by any person duly authorised by such clergyman, or by a teacher when so authorised. Where the schoolroom accommodation at the disdosal of the (school) trustees permits, instead of alloting different days of the week to different denominations for the purpose of religious teaching, the pupils may be separated when the hour for religious teaching arrives, and placed in different rooms.” At the Scripture reading there is no instruction given, just a simple reading without comment. I am. etc. S. PEARSON. 253, Cuba St., Wellington. May 25th, 1914.