BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 117, 8 November 1911, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

TIIK VIEWS OF THE PREAIIKU ()]• XEW SOl'Tlt WALES.

(Communicated)

A- the New South Wales system of Uiblc-reading in State schools is attracting Hindi attention in Xew Zealand, Victoria, and also America, the following is im cresting, as well as authoritative:---

During his visit to England, the Hon. •la men AM .Wan. Labor Premier of Xew South Wales, explained his views in ''The Treasury,;' a magazine published in Loudoll. Asked to tell something about the education system of Xew South Wales, he, said:

"ll is rather a long story about the working of the education system, if we begin at the beginning, and it really began in the 'sixties, when the watchwords of the party popular education were -free, compulsory and secular.' They were not irreligious or hostile to religion when they said 'secular,' but they had not found an answer to the argument of those who said it was not the business of the State to teach any particular form of religion. lint thev held strongly that it was the duty of the Slate to make the most of its citizens; that education was a valuable national asset, and ignorance a national danger. It was the ideas of the old Chartists that perhaps inspired our earlv leaders in educational matters. All our schools are free. It was not so at first; we charged a fee of threepence, allowing exemptions to those parents who were unable to all'ord it. lint this method ultimately had to give way to sounder policy, and in our elementary schools free education is law. and every child has the right to be taught the religion of his parents, if the religious body to which the parent belongs will claim the right—and it works. Teachers of religion in our schools need not always be clergymen; if they are accredited by their Church, that is enough for-us. When their day comes round, the particular children whom (hey have to teach are taken to classroom- bv themselves. If the teachers do not turn up at the time expected, th.n the child goes on with the ordinary secular teaching, whatever (kit. mav be. ?o._ you see. if the children do not get religions teaching you cannot blame the State; you -must blame the churches. They are free to come ill and give i|..'' "And do they give it?" asked the interviewer.

■"Yrs.-lhcv do; they do llieir best, to deal with d-illicttlt.ics which vott he-re may lind it. hard to understand. There are great districts in Xew South Wales that are very sparsely populated. Whv. we have one parish called Wenlwort.h that is nearly as large as England. Consider Hie physical dillicittlies in a case, like thai. In the towns it is naturally much easier for (he religious bodies to do their work: it. is not so easy in the districts where the people dive 'miles apart. It is really.prctlv to see, as you may sometime, ~.,. i u (| l( . summer, p a |-(i,, s 0 f children going on ponies live or six-mile journeys to school; but if you will realise thai picture, you will realise also some of our dilliculties. "Hut the State must do its duty by its citizens. Tf it does, thru it has a claim on them for duties in return."

The following is'a eopv of the Xew South Wales Act;-.-Clauses 7. 17 and IS provide:

Clause 7 The school teacher in school hours gives selected Ilible lessons from a book provided for the purpose, but it not. allowed to give sectarian teaching. Clau-e 17 Any- minister iff religion is entitled in school hours, on days' .to be arranged with the school committee, to give children of his own denoin.i.iation. separated from others, an hour's religions iusl ruction. Clause IS- Any parent, may withdraw his child from all religious 'teaching if he objects to such religions instruction being given.