BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2192, 16 May 1908, Page 3

BIBLE IN SCHOOLS.

MANGAPAPA COMMITTEE DISCUSS QUESTION. THE BOARD TO BE DEFIED. Tho monthly meeting of tlio Mangapapa School Committee was held V last evening at the residence of Mr. M. McLeod, Chairman, and was at, tended by the Chairman, Messrs W. H. Smith, A. Goad, J. Brown, and E. S. Goldsmith (secretary). The headmaster forwarded his usual monthly report, which, amongst other things, said: “Sinso February last according to your request, the school has started at 9.30 a.m. on Fridays ,instead of the usual time, 9 a.rn. Tho half-hour has been given up to Biblo instruction. You have probably seen that such a course can no longer be carried out, as it is contrary to No. 15 of the Board’s regulations. There is no reason, howover, why these classes should not bo continued either before or after the ptopour school hours. Provision for such teaching is made in tho Education The Chairman stated that tho headmaster’s report contained an important notification in regard to the half-hour for Bible instruction. Mr. Cole had properly pointed the matter out to the Committee, and was rightly only safeguarding himselt. So far tho Committee had received no notification from tho Board that the hairhour on Friday morning must bo continued either before or after tho school hours fixed by tho Board, the experience of the past had proved ■that is was impossible to expect children to attond school earlier than J o’clock, and they wore too tired at the • close of tho day to engage in further tuition. He saw no reason why the Committeo should discontinue tho Biblo lesson or depart from the course followed for the past year of holding tho class from 9 to 9.30 a.m. on Uri- . dav mornings. The preponderance ot 0 n of those having an nitimato knowledge of educational matters was to tho effect that the Bible lesson made for improvement in the tone ot the schools. = The pupils were moio amenable to discipline, liottei behav cd, and their characters were strengthened and improved in every respect. Before the Mangapapa Committee had introduced the Bible lesson, a plebiscite of tho parents had been taken, which resulted in an almost unanimous vote that the Bible classes should ho held. At tho anI mini meeting of householders, a una- , nimoils recommendation to _ the incoming committee was carried that every assistance be rendered the teachers conducting the Bible lessons in the school. In the face of this potent - mandate from the househloders he thought it would bo unfair to the i.- lA householders and to the teachers who , so conscientiously conducted the : lessens for the Committee to rccedo

from the position they had taken up in the matter. He rend tho report of last Monday’s meeting of tho Hawke’s Bay Education Board, wlion Rule 15/was tho tiouo of contention. The Chairman said that they all know his views on this subject. He was strongly in favor of tho classes being continued ns at present, and ho personally was prepared to light to the bitter end to maintain thorn. Perhaps tho strong-views ho hold on tho and ho should like to hear tho opinquostiou prejudiced him to an extent, ions of tho other members of tho Committee on tho mattor.

Mr. Smith said ho agreed with tho Chairman that it would ho an admission of weakness on tho Committee’s part to discontinue tho Bible lessons, after the parents had so strongly expressed themselves in favor of introducing and retaining them. Tho classes had been excellently attended, and had produced good results. If they wore contravening tho Board’s regulations in holding tho classes from 9 to 9.30 a.m., ho saw no reason why they should now suddonly stop doing so. Tho lessons had been continued for tho past your, and they had thus boon transgressing all along. Ho thought tho headmaster should bo reform! to their previous resolution, that he should give every facility to tho teachers conducting tho Bible lessons. Tho Committee should tako a firm stand, and. continue the classes as during the past year. Mr. A. Brown stated that ho had opposed the introduction of tlio Biblo lessons, but had boon in a minority, llowover, he saw no reason why tho Committee should now discontinue holding them. The classes had boon very well attended, the teachers had been most regular and conscientious in conducting them, and the parents had almost unanimously expressed thomsolvos in favor of tho Biblo lessons. Therefore, ho now Mined up with tho majority, and was strongly in favor of holding tho classes ns usual from 9 to 9.30 a.m. on Friday mornings. Mr. T. Ellery spoke strongly in favor of retaining tlio classes, and gave an unqualified approval of their success. Ho was with the other members in retaining tho Biblo lessons. Ho moved: “That the headmaster bo referred to tho Committee’s provions resolution on the subject and to tho mandate received from the householders.” , , . , r The motion was seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried unanimously. The Chairman, secretary, and Mr. Smith were appointed a sub-commit-tee to obtain estimates for parallel bars, horizontal bar, ladders, soe-saw, Roman rings, swings, and giant stride for the playground, with power to act.

It was decided to have nocessary repairs to tho school windows and tank attended to during the holidays.