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BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS.

THE NEW SOUTH WALES SYSTEM.

EXPLAINED BY CANON GARLAND.

The question of some form of Bible teaching in the public schools of the Dominion is ac present being widely discussed by the people, and the churches almost without exception are diligently preparing for a new campaign. Some of them, notably the Anglican, have definitely pronounced in favour of the scheme known as the New South Wales system. The Presbyterian and Methodist Churches have set up strong Committees to consider

this system and to report to the next meeting of their supreme governing bodies. The following brief account of the New South Wales method from the pen of the Rev. D. J. Garland, Organising Secretary of the Queensland League, the greatest authority on this question in Australia, will therefore be or general interest. Mr Garland suggests that "the system" should be henceforth spoken of as "the Australian system'" inasmuch as it now exists in four out of the six States. He writes:—"The system by which the problem of Religious instruction has been solved in four out of the six States of Australia, provides for simple selected Bible lessons being given by the State school teachers without sectarian teaching, and for ministers of religion or their accredited substitutes visiting the schools during school hours and teaching the children of their respective denominations. A conscience clause provides that no child shall receive either the Bible lessons from the State school teacher or religious instruction from the minister of religion, contrary to the parents' wish. This conscience clause is the key to the whole problem because it gives perfect liberty to the parent, placing the full control in their hands. Neither the State nor the minister of religion can compel the child to receive the religious lessons. This system has existed in New South Wales since 1866, in Tasmania since 1868, Western Australia since 1893, and Norfolk Island since 1906, and it was introduced last year into Queensland by the decision of the people ascertained through a I referendum. The official opinions of the heads of the department where this system exists are emphatic that no sectarian difficulties arise in connection with the working of the religious instruction clauses and these official opinions are endorsed by the State school teachers who have in great numbers testified in writing their high appreciation of the value of the religious instruction given in the state schools. The system is further endorsed by the action of those churches Anglican, Presbyterian, and Methodist, and of the Salvation Army — all of which have unanimously, through their highest governing bodies given their adherence to the system, and commend its introduction where it does not exist. The fact that the system has existed for nearly half a century in two of the States is the plainest proof that no difficulties are created by its existence and that it gives satisfaction to a majority of those States, otherwise it would not have been continued for such a long period upon the Statute Books. The fact that it was introduced into Western Australia in 1893, in Norfolk Island in 1906, and Queensland in 1910, shows that it is capable of being grafted into an existing system without in any way disturbing it; and the fact stands out that once this system is introduced it is never disturbed, thereby proving a permanent solution of the religious instruction problem. It would be idle to deny the fact that one section of the Christian Church —the Roman Catholic—is opposed to the system, but notwithstanding that opposition, in New South Wales alone the number of Roman Catholic children attending the State schools is over 30,000, practically all of whom accept the selected Bible lessons from their State school teachers, and this notwithstanding the opposition of their church to the national system of education. Once the system is introduced it proves the strongest bulwark for the maintenance of a national system of education as opposed to denominational education under ecclesiastical control. There may be some better system for giving religious instruction in a national system of education, but this is the only system which has proved acceptable and provided a permanent solution of the problem."

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/KCC19110419.2.50

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 353, 19 April 1911, Page 6

Word count
Tapeke kupu
699

BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS. King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 353, 19 April 1911, Page 6

BIBLE-READING IN SCHOOLS. King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 353, 19 April 1911, Page 6

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