Religious Instruction and Observances in the Public Schools of New Zealand

Abstract

Against background of church and state relations and controversies in many nations of world, comparative educators will doubtless find rich grounds for interest in recent action of General Assembly of New Zealand to legalise religious instruction and observances in public schools, and thereby modify an educational enactment of 85 years standing. With relatively little publicity and no real debate New Zealand Parliament passed a deceptively short act of only five clauses in closing stages of its 1962 session. In words of Minister of Education, the Bill was discussed clause by clause, and provisions of Act as it now stands found general support from both sides of House, and it was passed unanimously-no member spoke against it.1 Such action may appear so unusual that it is necessary to give a brief account of new enactment, its background, and reasons given in its support, before describing some of problems and difficulties arising from it. act, entitled The Religious Instruction and Observances in Public Schools Act 1962,2 is defined to be part of Education Act 19143 and provides that if a School Committee, after consultation with Head Teachers, so determines, any class or classes at school, or school as a whole, may be closed at any time or times of school day for a period not exceeding thirty minutes for any class in any week, for purposes of religious instruction given by voluntary instructors approved by School Committee and of religious observances conducted in a manner approved by School Committee, or for either of those purposes; and school buildings may be used for those purposes or for either of them.4