CONTINENTAL SYSTEMS OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1264, 27 June 1914, Page 4

CONTINENTAL SYSTEMS OF RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

(To the 1 (ditor. ; j Mi?. —The ijilowiug brief dc- J scriptioo of European systems of ; religious instruction in public sr'mob- is worthy of note just now ; InJ' ; a'-, the. law on reHgVaw 'iv-t ■ u n■ >n in schools is nil i sir.rv y-’!»rs old, and it inc-on -e-' th.<! ; -w 'da; chi--ai is to form p.ri of i.b ■ r :!iiar school curriculum in the public schools. Various Royal Decrees have, modified this rule, Religious instruction was banished from the curriculum 01 the public elementary schools m Rome about six years ago, hut last year ( 191,3) religious iustruc lion w , s 1 e in It ml a cod. In I’ranee, Thursday is granted

to the churches for imparling week-day religious instruction to j the children. | The following extracts are from | “Moral Instruction and Training in Schools/’ a report of an International Enquiry held in London, ioi ', edited by P r Sadler, /: ,-ssor of History .ud Ad minios Education in the Univvrsi; y of Manchester ; “Methods A Mrv.u Instruction find Training ;.)! Girls in France,” by Miss /..-.•annr F. Jonrdaiu: “It is reg:enable, too, that all teaching of Jewish and Christian literature is r-.rWicd pom the State programme, and Jewish history is only slightly alluded to. This greatly lessens tho value of the conclusions drawn, and narrows the historical and literary view.” Denmark. —-Miss Henui H. Forchhamer said; “Eighty per cent, of all children of school age attend elementary schools ; ninety-eight per cent, of the population belong to the Lutheran Church. The law requires dogmatic religious instruction in all schools ior children, both elementary and secondary.” Norway.—Dr Otto Audcrssen, Principal Higher Training College of the University of Christiania, said: “In our school law, religion is placed as the first subject in the curriculum. The religious instruction is in accordance with the doctrines of the Lutheran Church : in the lower classes it is concentrated on Bible history, and the Catechism ; in the higher class;:;-; on church history. . . .”

Switzerland.—“Au Educational D.mocracy,” by Mr Gustav SpilJer, General Secretary to the International Union of Ethical Societies, records: “It is usual for the school to open and dose with a short prayer. There are several types among the religious lessons. With the youngest children the teacher has a good deal of freedom ; in the country round Zurich he is expected to tel! ethical tales with a religious point and vice versa. Then Inflow Biblical stories for the next three years. Finally, the clergy of the different denominations conic into the school to teach the children of their respective communions. lu tire secondary schools all the religious leaching is given by the ckigy, and at no stage is it compulsory.” Germany.- -“Moral education in the boys’ schools of Germany,” by Mr Gustav Spiller:—“Moral education is usually coupled with religions education. . . . The religious lesson is regarded as the most important, and a religious atmosphere is expected to pervade the school. . . (Religion and country, throne and altar, are the foundation of German education).'’ Some years ago Germany banished the Bible irom her schools, but has re-'.atrociuced it. —I am, etc., S. BEARSON, 053 Cuba St,, Wellington, June :mth. 1914.