The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1907. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2084, 20 May 1907, Page 2

The Gisborne Times PUBLISHED EVERY MORNING. MONDAY, MAY 20, 1907. BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Whatever may bo thought of the desirability or otherwise of Bibleteaching in our schools, it scorns plain that Gisborne parents and householders wish a trial to be given to tho system in tho Gisborne school. The School Committee was therefore justified in giving its consent to the application which was made to it on Friday night by the Voluntary Bible Teachers’* Association. Some of the members of the Committee considered, with some show of reason, that the question of the time at which the lesson is to be given should be _cliscussed witli tho teachers; but there was no real need to do so. Mr. I' o "'* ley told the Committee that it halt-an-hour a week was to be given lip to the Bible-teacliing classes, it did not much matter to the teachers of the school which half hour it was; and the correspondence and articles which appeared in the press before tho meeting of householders last month expressly referred- to the “Nelson system.” There (as was mentioned) the classes are held between 9 and 9.30 o’clock one morning in each week. The circular, too, which was sent out to the paren mentioned this hour. It may be that some of the householders and parents and some’ of the members of the Committee did not clearly understand that this particular half hour in the morning was a sine qua non with the Bible Teachers’ Association; but no doubt the majority of them, and most of the school teachers as well, did understand the matter in this way. The Committee therefore did what was right in agreeing to the adoption of the “Nelson system ■ without opening up the whole question again. In so doing they are giving effect to the wishes of apparently a substantial majority of the parents arid householders. The system having been adopted, it is simple justice that it should bo given a failtrial on its merits.