Religion in the Schools
The Board of Education has been going the right way to work i endeavouring to get an agreed solution of the vexed question the teaching of religion in schools. In his speech at the Free Chur Federal Council on Tuesday Mr. R. A. liptler quite rightly insis on the responsibility resting on the Churches for teaching childr outside the school, but he was equally insistent on the importan of Christian teaching within the schools. There is no more hopef line of approach to the problem than that of the agreed syllabu negotiated between denominations, teachers and the authority each district—and there will be general agreement with the Minist that a locally negotiated syllabus will be more acceptable than central national syllabus. The broad aim, as enunciated by Butler, should be to secure that every child whose parents do n object should be able to receive teaching in Christian principles lines on which already there has been so much.agreement. In minds of most Christians that general aim is more important than an of the sectarian issues which have been the cause of so much troversy in the past. In proportion as there is satisfaction about teaching there will be less reluctance on the part of the owners voluntary schools to see them transferred to local education autho ties, especially if there is the assurance, which Mr. Butler appe to offer, that there will be suitable teachers available to give suppl mentary teaching on denominational lines when parents desire
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