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- Title
The Meaning and Purpose of the Secular Clause in the Education Act 1877.
- Authors
HERRING, DANIEL
- Abstract
Despite prescribing that education would be wholly secular, New Zealand's Education Act 1877 allowed public school buildings to be used outside school hours for purposes not connected with secular education. This was exploited by those seeking to reintroduce religious instruction into New Zealand schools by saying prayers or giving religious instruction to children while the school was officially closed. The secular clause was chosen primarily to prevent sectarian strife, but was also partly the result of strong disagreement between those who supported religious teaching in public schools and those who supported denominational schools. This article examines the Act's legislative history, concluding that its use to reintroduce religious instruction and prayer outside of school hours was -- or should have been -- foreseen by Parliament at the time of its passing.
- Subjects
NEW Zealand; EDUCATIONAL law &; legislation; CHURCH schools; SECULAR education; RELIGIOUS education; PUBLIC schools
- Publication
Te Mata Koi: Auckland University Law Review, 2016, Vol 22, p142
- ISSN
0067-0510
- Publication type
Article