RELIGIOUS TRAINING.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 177, 28 June 1937, Page 2

RELIGIOUS TRAINING.

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, June 26. The Wellington branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute met last night to discuss the question of the Bible in schools. One hundred and fifteen members from 38 of the 51 schools in the branch area attended. Tlio meeting arose from a movement in the direction of having devotional exercises carried out daily in the primary schools. The, matter was fully debated and a motion carried: “That the meeting abide by the institute’s policy.” , , . it was explained that this policy accepted the Nelson system and it was stated that the teachers generally gave every assistance in putting it into effect. Seconding the motion, which was moved by Miss M. E. Magill, Mr Martin said ho believed in religious instruction, and was closely and congenially associated with Church work. He was, however, opposed •to teachers being called upon to give this instruction. Some who conscientiously objected to doing so would find their position in regard to the community in which they had to work made intolerable. The Nelson system was available to the churches ; it was their obligation—an obligation they had never squarely accepted—to make the Nelson system work. The voting was 112 to three.