THE SCRIPTURE IN SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 232, 24 September 1908, Page 4

THE SCRIPTURE IN SCHOOLS.

TARANAKi EDUCATION BOARD OIMWJTS.

At the last meeting of the Education Hoard, a letter was received in which Mr. A. 11. Vile, member of the Wellington Education Hoard, asked the Board to endorse the following motion, whijh he would move at the next meeting of his Hoard: -"That this Hoard draws the attention of the .Minister for Education to the fact that there is a general desire an tlie part of the Education Hoards of Ihe Dominion that the Decalogue be exhibited on the walls of school buildings; that there is no Hoard fund available for that purpose; and that the Minister be res,peclfullv urged lo provide a sullicieiit number of I lie Ten Commandments to hang in the classrooms of the whole of the schools of the Dominion."

lie quoted the opinions of Hawko's Hay. Auckland, South Canterbury, North Canterbury and Wcstland Hoards in favor of the proposal, and that the Otago Hoard was obtaining a legal opinion on Ihe point. Mr. Vile also quoted the remarks of Judge Kettle at Auckland in a crime ease that "the decrease of regard for the tenets of the Decalogue is appalling." In Ontario the trustees of schools, lie wrote, had power lo order a repitition of the Ten" Comnianilniciiis not less than once a week by scholars, and that in Ireland each class-room was supplied with a copy of the Commandments, the displaying of which was optional. ,

The chairman said lie was surprised that some Boards had adopted such a weak-kneed policy in regard to thii matter. To his mind the Otago Board was acting wisely, for he was personally of opinion that to exhibit this religious matter on the walls of schoolrooms was a breach of ihe Education Act.

Mr. Morison: I. am sure of it. The chairman continued thai if these placards were exhibited, what was tlicru to prevent the walls being covered with Biblical texts

'Mr. Kennedy: You're not ashamed of them, are youY Mr. Mor'isun: It's no place for them. The chairman would be sorry to see them put there, for if this were done it would tend to undermine the whole spirit of the Education Act, which was the best Act that had ever been placed upon the Jiew Zealand Statute Book, lie would not like members to get the idea that lio was opposed to tire Bible, hut he believed that the introduction of this religious element into the education system would bring about unending strife, just as had been done in London and Canada, where the whole nation had been upset by I lie introduction of the very thing dint was sought to be introduced here. If ministers were in earnest in their reported desire to have religious instruction in schools they already had their opportunity. But it seemed that they wanted the teachers to read Urn Bible for them. That would be a beginning, and the end was dihV.ilt to I'uro.'c. There were all denomination-, represented ill our schools. lie woi.ld strongly oppose the placards of I lie Ten l.'oimnamlinonls being placed in the schools.

Air. Trimble urged that to agree with the proposal would be a mistake, and hi: moved that no action in the matter be taken. Mr. Alorisun seconded.

■Mr. Kennedy said lie must put ill bis] protect. agniiM the motion, although he j knew he was in the minority. In ilis opinion the Boards which favored the scheme were taking up a very stro'ig position, not a -weak one as represented by the chairman. There was a good deal of discussion now, lie said, concerning our system of secular education,' anil it. had been found lacking in cert'iin rejects, as stated by Judge Kettle. The time would come, lie hoped, when the Bible would be read ill schools, for anything Biblical could not be sectarian.

.Mr. I'mill, whilst expressing his opposition to the Bible-reading in schools.

slid he saw no reason whv these wall cards bearing texts likely to' govern Hire, morals anil behaviour of the children, should not be exhibited. They might do good and certainly would do no harm. The Hoard divided on the motion, which was carried bv six to two. Ayes: The chairman and Messrs. Adl.rn, Al'orison. Trimble, Rogers, and Morton. Xocs: .Messrs. Kennedy and Eaull.