TEACHERS’ PETITION AGAINST BIBLEIN-SCHOOLS BILL

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 115, 5 August 1927, Page 16

TEACHERS’ PETITION AGAINST BIBLE-IN-SCHOOLS BILL

A STRONG PROTEST (THE SUN’S Parliamentary Reporter .) WELLINGTON, Thursday. A strong protest against the Religious Exercises in Schools Bill by the New Zealand Educational Institute was presented to Parliament to-day in the form of a petition signed by Mr. F. L. Combs, president, and Mr. H. A. Parkinson, secretary of the institute, and introduced by Mr. H. Atmore, Nelson, at whose request it was read by the clerk of the House and referred direct to the Education Committee. The petition states that the institute, which is the recognised professional organisation of the primary school teachers has on many occasions opposed the introduction of religious instruction in public schools. The reasons for the institute’s attitude are: That it believes that the proposed system of reading without comment is uneducational and can do little good. The Nelson system affords means of giving instruction of greater value than that proposed in the Bill. The institute believes that, in view of the acuteness pertaining to religious differences, there is the gravest reason to fear that the harmonious relations of communities will be disturbed. The proposal is politically unjust because, under the proposals of the Bill, it will be using State funds for maintaining a kind of education which part of the citizens repudiate. It is politically dangerous because, if passed, it will strengthen the claims for denominational schools. It is injurious to the teachers, many of whom will be debarred from taking part in the prescribed exercises, and will therefore be subjected to personal obloquy and undeserved discrimination in the making of appointments.