THE HON. W.E. FOR STERNS OPINION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 1981, 24 May 1919, Page 4

THE HON. W.E. FOR STERNS OPINION.

V./ t J X ► The English Education Act. — Tin; Rigid Hon.AV. E. Forster is the statesman who had charge of the English Education Act in 1870, whose great principle of Bible reading - in schools, without sectarian comment, lias stood to this day in England. Mr Forster was a Quaker. The following is what he said about the Bible reading in schools question prior to introducing his Education Bill into the British Parliament (see “Life of the Hon. \\. E. Forster” by T. W. Reid). .. we should include the Bible and acknowledgement of Christianity in any schools for which the Government, either by rates or taxes, is directly or solely responsible; . . On February Bth, 1870, the first night of the session, Mr Forster gave notice of his Education Bill amid the cheers of the House. .Forster protested strongly against any attempt |o prevent religious teaching in the schools. “Our opinions on religion,” he said, “may be different, but I think we all of us agree, the enormous majority of the country agrees, that the standard of right and wrong is based on religion, and when you strike a blow against religion you strike a blow against morality; 1 confess t have still in my veins the blood of my Puritan forefathers and 1 wonder to hear descendants of Puritans now talk of religion as if it were the properly of any class or condition of men 1 have some experience of the working men, i kin.w i know iheir doubts and dillimilucs: I wish i knew how to answer them; hut 1 am smv of this —tho old Eng-!i-!i Bible i- ill a sacred thing in their hearts. the English people cling to the Bible, and no measure will be more unpopular than that which declares by Aid of-Parlia-ment that the Bible shall he excluded from (he school.''' Extract from letter written by Mr Forster to Canon - Kingsley. “I wish parsons, Church and other, would all remember as much as you do that children arc growing into savages while they are trying to prevent one another from helping them. . .

In a letter to Lord Shaftesbury, Mr Forster said: “Lord Shaftesbury, I would rather have my right hand cut off than he the means of excluding (lie Bihle from our schools.”

After discussing various amendments, he (Mr Forster) declared himself in favour of one proposed iiy Mr Gowper Temple: “That no Catechism or religious formulary, distinctive of any particular denomination, should he taught in the public schools.” The Bill was read a third lime, and on August tfih, 1870, it had received the Royal assent. Many were the letters received from friends, known and unknown, congratulating him upon the fact that owing to his exertions the Bible and Bihle teaching were not to lie excluded from our English schools.

The (|ueslioii of Bible rending in English schools is decided by the !oea 1 education boards.