OUR READERS’ OPINIONS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 3954, 10 June 1913, Page 6

OUR READERS’ OPINIONS.

BIBLE READING IN SCHOOLS. (To the Editor.) Sir, —The upholders of the Bible-in-State-Sehools League seem to spend much of their time in this campaign in trying to prove that Bishop Cleary iand others, who are opposing their platform are wilfully making incorrect and misleading * statements, and Dr •Cleary openly brings the same accusation against Canon Garland and his Friends. To those who have neither the time, nor the patience, to verify their figures, etc., all this strife and bickering is very perplexing; as there appear to have been incorrect statements on both sides, and we dread that our schools should ever bo made the battle-ground for sectarian strife. One wonders if the timo, energy, and money necessary for this campaign would not he better spent by the churches in some of the many activities open to thorn. The ministers of religion have now, under the present system, the remedy for the proposed “irroligion” in the schools, in their own hands. Lot them take on the work of religious teaching outside the usual school course, and do.,their own rightful duty. Bible reading in our schools without explanation, would be useless or worse. But, Canon Garland says: “He (the teacher) is to see that the child understands the religious lesson.” a How fai' could a teacher go in doing this with any important Scripture, says Join;- I 1, or John 3-16 without becoming to some extent a religious teacher. Bible-read-ing with explanation would be clanp;erously miehievous for it would necessarily imply sectarian teaching. And from the curse of sectarianism in our schools we may say in all reverence, “Good Lord deliver us,” and out' children to come after us.—T am, etc., A PARENT.