BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Te Aroha News, Volume XXVII, Issue 43317, 25 April 1908, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

n', / , [To the Editor.] Sir,—-In your last issue I was pleased to see certain resolutions relating to the above, hut I beg to submit mine, which I am quite sure will, if some M.P. will take note of and give effect to in a Bill to further amend the Education Act of 1877, settle the question of religious instruction in our schools, onee and for all. v • - < ■ / / ; : (1). That half an hour each day be devoted to Bible Beading and Religious Instruction. (2). That every Protestant child be supplied with a copy of the Authorised Version of the Bible. (3). That' every Roman Catholic child be supplied with a copy of the Douay Bible which being translated from the Vulgate, contains books which were disagreeable !to the Reformers of the 16th Century, and so was left out of the Protestant version. (4), That every Roman Catholic' child be further suppled with a Catechism approved by the Papal Hierarchy of New Zealand. (6). That instruction,' Bible and Catechism, be given to the Roman Catholic children on two mornings every week. (6). That instruction, Bible Reading only,, be given to the Protestants on the other tluqee mornings. (7). That for conven fence sake, all Protestants be .classed as -Anglicans, Presbyterians, or Wesleyans, though this classification will in no way interfere with the child’s real religion. (8). That as the Roman Catholic teaching is the same in all parts of the world, it is to be reasonably expected that all teachers will qualify to teach the Roman Doctrine. (10). That in the case of Protestant children there need not be -any interpretation of the Bible as it could not be reasonably expected that any teacher could qualify to expound the table according to the teachings of the 285 registered Protestant denominations. Ill}, That at the annual visit of the inspector, the Roman Catholic children are to be set written questions in Roman ' doctrine drawn up by the Bishop of the Education District. (12). That the Inspector Shall forward the written answers to the Bishop for correction, wbo shall submit his report to the Education Board. (13) That in the case of the Protestant children there , must not be any examination. The Inspector may if he choose ask the children to read from any chapter, but i in no case must he attempt to explain, ‘ or ask for an explanation of what is read. (14), That in every school there - be hung the Protestant Version ot the Commandments, and alongside the jjjßoman Catholic Version. (15). That as ike Cross is the. Christian emblem, a r Ckoes, and a Crucifix are to be suspended robifi, over, the door. (16). ( Tllsat eyery child bow to the same when "vjgaviag the room- (17); That all teachers who are atheists, freethinkers, agnostics, or Darwinians, must renounce the same and beeome Roman Catholic or any •kind' of Protestant. (18). That all parsons, priests; and Sunday School taaeheri be dispensed with, religious - instruction ana ‘ bible-reading to be left solely to the teachers of the dominion. ' (19). ■ That as churches will ■ot be needed the government may take pbawtrion of same and dispose of them 'to )>est advantage. (20). That mothers ■rt hot io bh expected to impart any religious instruction to their children. — • lam, etc, » / Pahent.