BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 673, 30 May 1914, Page 7

BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS.

CANADIAN LAWS CONCERNING SAME. The Editor. gj»Sir,~l 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 we New Zealanders are seeking for information on this question of religious instruction in State schools the following Canadain 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 weak.' Quebec province, population 2,000,69 7 in 1911: "There are Roman Catholic State Schools and Protestant State Schools, each 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 Douay Version as he may prefer—aid 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 religious instruction in schools." Manitoba province, population 45<J,691 in 1911 "Religious exer:ises in public schools, shall ba conducted according to the regulations of the Advisory Board. . . such religious exercises shall take place just before the closing hour in the afternoon. If the parent or guardian of pupil notifies the teacher that hs does not wish such pupil to attend such exercises, then such pupil shall be dismissed before such exercises take place. Such religious leaching shall take place, and shall be 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 disposal of the School Trustees permits, instead of allotting different days of the week to different denominations for tae 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.—l am, etc., S. PEARSON. Wellington.