BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 300, 28 January 1910, Page 5

BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS

A REQUEST DECLINED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Last Night. At a meeting of the Education Board to-day, a request was considered from the Te Aro School Committee that the Board's regulations be amended to allow the school to meet half-an-hour ■late one day in the week, this time to be occupied by the reading of the .Bible to or by pupils; 110 instruction to be given except that in the words cf the Bible. Mr. J. G| W. Aitken moved to so amend the regulations. Mr. R. Lee (chairman) hoped the mo. •tion would be rejected. New Zealand liad done well in making its educational system secular, and it should not go back. It was impossible to keep sectarianism out of schools if the Bible were introduced. Several members of the Board considered the proposal contrary to the spirit of the Education Act. The motion was defeated by 5 votes to 3. OPINION OF A HEADMISTRESS. Auckland, Last Night. , Miss Whitelaw,' headmistress of the Girls' Grammar School, has written to the Grammar School Board strongly •ur<r<ng that permission be granted to ,«ive ltilile instruction in school lioiu's. •T am absolutely convinced," Miss •Whitelaw wrote, "of the benefit it would be to the girls individually, to the school as a whole and therefore to the 1 town and the Dominion. It is a matter which is. it seems to me, above argument." The Board deferred consideration, the chairman being requested oil .lor .to call a special meeting o r bring the matter up at the Board's February meeting.