THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2469, 25 February 1893, Page 4

THE BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

(Communicated)

Last year tho Anglican Bishop of Christchurch appointed a commission to consider the best means of introducing a system of religious instruction in the State schools of the colony. This commission has recently issued a circular to ministers oi religion throughout New Zealand with the view of ascertaining whether they would support such a change in tho Education Act as would give operative force to the system known as the "■ London School Board System." The main principles upon which tho system is based are stated to be tho iollowing : 1. Religious observances maybe practised and religious instruction given either at the beginning or end of the school meeting, or at both ; the times to be inserted in a time-table to be approved by the board, and conspicuously exhibited in every schoolroom.

2. In all Board Schools the Bible shall be read, and there shall be given such explanation and such instruction thereupon in the principles of morality and religion as shall be suited to the capacities of children, provided that no attempt be made in any such explanation or instruction to attach children to any particular denomination.

iJ. Such explanation and instruction shall be given by the responsible teachers of the school, among wiiom pupil teachers shall not be included.

4. Provision may be made, at the discretion of the teacher, for the offering of prayer and for the use of hymns at the time or times appointed. 5. Any children may be withdrawn by their parents or guardians from the religious teaching or observances; children so withdrawn shall receive, during such time, separate instruction in secular subjects. The circular proceeds as follows : The commission have taken evidence from teachers of large schools in New Zealand, and other experts, who have stated there would be do dilhculty in the working - of the conscience clause, and that the number of children withdrawn in England under such a clause is very small, ana would not be large in New Zealand. The evidence also tended to ehow very conclusively that if the London School Board System became the law of the land the teachers would loyally carry it out, and tnat such a system was thoroughly practical.

To the circular is appended a syllabus of religious instruction adopted by the London School Board, and the commission remarks :

You will notice that the main points insisted on are the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, the Ten Commandments, one or two of tne better known Psalms, and one of the Gospels, together with certain lives from the Old Testament. The Church News for this month says: —

" We are thankful that the reception the circular lias met with so far is most encouraging. Not to mention at present some answers and criticisms of importance which have been received from individual Ministers, the iSew Zealauu Methodist of the 2itst of January writes as follows: — 'We regard this as the most hopeful note that nas been struck for many years in this colony concerning education. Hitherto, while Synods and Assemblies and Conferences have deplored the lack of religious instruction in our public schools, nothing has been done to remedy the evil because of the hopeless disagreement that has prevailed with regard to the best means of doing it. Here we have a proposal, coming - , too, from an Anglican source, that ought to enlist the cordial sympathy of the great bulk of Christian people throughout the colony. . . . Most earnestly do we hope that the various religious Assemblies that will shortly be in session will take the matter up with the heartiness which its importance demands, and make such a deliverance as will encourage the Christchurch Commission to go forward with the scheme of educational reform which they have so hopefully initiated.'"