... Bible in Schools Plans of Many Lands: Documents

Common prayers,
in English, continu-
ed. With very
simple explanations
on the literal and
even on the spiritual
meaning of the
words.

Common prayers,
in English, continu-
ed. With more
complete explana-
tions on the lit-
eral and spiritual
meaning

prayers.

of the

Prayers, in Eng

lish, concluded.
With more com.

plete explanations
on the literal and
the pravers-

spiritual meaning of Prayers in Latin.

First Grade.

Sign of the Cross; Our Father; Hail
Mary: I believe in God; Glory be to the
Father; manner of saying the beads: I con-
fess to Almighty God; act of contrition;
manner of confessing one's sins: prayer to
the Angel Guardian.

Review of prayers learned the First Year

The Commandments of God; the Com-
mandments of the Church; all the Acts;
Grace before meat; Grace after meat; the
Angelus in English.

Review of prayers learned during the previous years.

Prayers for the dead; prayer to the
Blessed Virgin; morning prayers; night

prayers.

Second Grade.

Review of prayers already learned.
Other English prayers to be found in the
Catechism; prayers before the examination of
conscience after confession, before and after
communion.

Pater noster: Ave Maria; Gloria Patria;
Angelus; Credo; Confiteor; Benedicite; Agi-
mus tibi gratias; Fidelium anime; Sub tuum:
De profundis.

MODEL or INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL COURSE.

From time to
time oral and writ-
ten reviews of the
prayers, in English
and in Latin.

Mysteries of the
Rosary.

General reviews-
written and oral-
from time to time.

GRADE I.

With more thorough explanations of the spiritual meaning of the prayers, of the sentiments and petitions contained in them.

Continuation. Or
ally by means of
new but very simple
stories.

First Grade.
Relate the stories from Sacred History
which go well with the study of the prayers
and of the first elements of the Catechism;
examples: The creation (God the Creator);
the fall of Adam and Eve (God who rewards
and punishes); Tobias and his son (mission
of the Angel Guardian); the Annunciation
(the Angelical Salutation): the birth of Our
Lord (mystery of the Incarnation); baptism
of Our Lord (mystery of the Holy Trinity);
death of Our Lord (mystery of the Redemp
tion and Sign of the Cross); conversion of
the Prodigal Son (contrition)

Adapt the stories to the prayers and to
the elements of the Catechism already learned;
examples: Our Lord teaching the Apost-
les to pray (the Lord's prayer); institu-
tion of the Sacrament of Penance (con-
fession); the deluge (sin); Cain and Abel
(Thou shalt not kill); the promulgation of
the Law on Mount Sinai (the Command-
ments of God); the adoration of the Magi
(act of Adoration); the holy man Job; (act
of self-offering); the Last Supper (the Sacra-
ment of the Eucharist)

To study history in a book does not mean learning the contents of the
book by Tote. This method produces in the minds of the pupils nothing but
a dislike for the subject. Even when pupils have a text-book on history, the
teacher is expected to begin by relating the part to be studied. or at least by
reading it aloud in an expressive and interesting manner, after which one or
more pupils should be required to relate it. The pupils will then read the-les-
As in the Fifth Year, with, in addition, a
little historical information on the origin of son, when, after both words and ideas have been carefully explained, they may
begin learning it.
the prayers.
REGULATIONS OF THE PROTESTANT COMMITTEE

GRADE II.

SUBJECTS.
Scripture
Knowledge The first half hour of each day to be devoted to
Instruction in Seripture as below, and in Morals,
Honour, Respect for others, Good Manners,

Events connected with) As in previous year to-
birth of Christ. LUKE gether with the Circum.
I,II,1-7.-Visit of Shep-
herds, LUKE II, 8-20.-
Visit of Magi. MATT
II, 1-12.-Flight into
Egypt. MATT. II,13-23
Jesus and the Doctors.-
LUKE II, 41-52.-Bap-
tism. LUKE III, 15-23,
MATT. III, 1-17.-Death
and Burial JoHN XIX.
-Resurrection and Ae-
cension. JOHN XX, and
Acts 1, 3-12.

cision and Presentation
of Jesus. LUKE II,21-38
-Preparation at Naza-
reth. LUKE II, 51-52-
Choice of Apostles.
LUKE VI, 12-19.-Im-
prisonment of the Bap-
tist. MARK VI, 17-20.-
Death of the Baptist.
MARK VI, 21-29.-Sup-
per at Bethany. JOHN
XII, 2-8-Entry into
Jerusalem. MARK XI,
1-12.

Outlines of chief events Outlines of chief events
to the end of the life of
Joseph.

GRADE III.

GRADE IV

8th
Year

to the death of Joshua. the Opening Exercises, Scripture Reading, Singing and Prayer,
including readings and lessons upon Godliness, Truthfulness,
Temperance, Health, Kindness to Animals, &e.

To be committed to me- To be committed to me-1" mory.

mory.

The Lord's Prayer. The
Beatitudes. Six special
texts, viz., Pal. IV, 8,
Pal. LI, 10, 11. MATT.
XI,28.-JOHN III,16-17

The Lord's Prayer. The
Beatitudes. The Apos
tles' Creed.-Six special
texts, viz., Pal. XIX,
12-14, Prov.

III, 5
14, JOHN XIV, 15.
MATT. XI, 29, JOHN X

As in previous year together] Life and Words of Christ. with Temptation, LUKE IV, 1-13-First Passover of Mi

try. JOHN II, 13-25 III, 1-21.-Peter's Confession. MATT. XVI, 13-20-Trans figuration. MATT. XVII, 1-13. -Sending out the Seventy. LUKE X, 1-16.-Feast of Dedication. JoHN X, 22-42. Paschal Supper, JOHN XIII, 1-35, Garden of Gethsemane.

The Christian Church in Palestine and
its persecution by the Jews. Establishment of
the Church among the Gentiles. The See
of St. Peter at Rome. Persecutions by the
Roman Emperors; authors, martyrs, nature
of the fortures inflicted, apologists, results,
Peace and triumph of the Church. Con
stantine. Social action of the Church during
the first centuries. The principal heresies of
the first five centuries: authors, nature, coun
tries in which they spread, General Coun
cils that condemned them, effects. The
Fathers of the Greek and Latin Church
Monastic life in the East. Invasion of the
Barbarians and fall of the Empire of the
West. Principal heresies of the Middle
Ages: authors. nature, countries in which
they spread, Councils or Popes that con
demned them. Monastic life of the West-
Conversion of Ireland and Scotland. Con-
version of the Franks. Conversion of the
English. Conversion of Germany. Conver
sion of the Danes and Swedes, Conversion
of the Poles and Russians. Conversion of
the Normans, of the Hungarians, and of the
Danes of England. Temporal Sovereignty
of the Popes: its origins, Islamism. con
quests of the Mahometans. The Greek
Schism, Social action of the French Clergy
during the Xth and XIth centuries.
Struggle between the Bishops and the
Empire. The struggle concerning inves
titures. The Crusades: principal- events,
principal personages, results. The Mili
tary Religious Orders. The Religious
Orders of the Middle Ages. Social action
of the Holy See during the XIIth and
XIIIth centuries. Christian literature and
church architecture in the XIIth and XIIIth
centuries. The Roman and ecclesiastical In-
quisition in the XIIIth century. The Popes
of Avignon. The great schism of the West.
Struggle of the Popes against the Turks.

The Religious Orders of modern times.
Interior reform of the Church during the
XVIth century. Religious reformation of
Spain. The Spanish and political Inquisition
of the XVth and XVIth centuries. The so
called Protestant Reformation. The English
Schism The Council of Trent. The Re-
ligious Wars. The conversion of the Indies
and of Japan. Establishment of the Church
in the New World. First missionaries to
Canada. Martyrs in Canada. Foundation of

[subsumed][subsumed][merged small][graphic]

Quebec.

Rules and Syllabus of "Protestant Committee of the Council of Public Instruction," 1909:

RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION. 151. Religious Instruction shall be given in all public schools, but no person shall require any pupil in any public school to read or study in or from any religious book, or to join in any exercise of devotion or religion, objected to in writing by his or her parents or guardians.

152. Every Protestant school shall be opened each day with the reading of a portion of the Holy Scriptures followed by the Lord's Prayer.

153. In all grades of Protestant schools the first half hour of each day shall be devoted to the opening exercises, (prescribed by the preceding Regulation,) instruction in morals, and Scripture History. The Holy Scriptures and the authorized text-books shall be used for this purpose. No denominational teaching shall be given in such schools.

See opposite, in photo-engraving, sample pages of the study outlines of the Quebec's State-supported Catholic and Protestant schools. It will be interesting to many to see what the "division of the school fund" involves; what purely denominational lessons are in that case taught at the cost of public taxation. We do not believe that a majority of American Catholics will ask that such distinctly denominational matter should be taught in public schools, even though the taxes tó support them are paid by Catholics. It is the American way to have denominational teaching done through voluntary contributions. The Gary plan suggests how parochial and public schools may co-operate so that all church children shall get the advantages of both. If onefourth only of Catholic children go to parochial schools, why not send them for threefourths of a full eight-hour day to public schools for secular studies, and make room in the same parochial school-rooms for the other three-fourths to come a quarter of a day each for religious teaching? No doubt many Catholic parents who insist on sending their children to public schools would in such a case be glad to have them get the advantages of both kinds of schools, and so the Catholic church would gain in parochial attendance without increasing expenses materially either for schoolrooms or teaching.

Manitoba.

248. Religious exercises shall be held in a public school entirely at the option of the school trustees for the district; and upon receiving written authority from the trustees, it shall be the duty of the teachers to hold such religious exercises. R.S.M. c. 143, s. 213.

Rules and Syllabus of the "Catholic Committee of the Council of Public Instruction," approved 1906:

71.-I. MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION.Religious instruction shall hold the principal place among the subjects of the Course and shall be regularly given in every school. The catechism lessons of children preparing for their first communion shall receive special attention. When it is deemed necessary, children preparing for their first communion shall be exempted from a part of the other class exercises. It is the duty of the teacher to follow the advice of the Parish Priest in all that concerns the moral and religious conduct of all his pupils.

87.-The Course of Study for the Catholic Schools of the Province of Quebec comprises: MORAL AND RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION: Prayers, Catechism, Sacred History-and Elements of Ancient History, Manners, Latin reading, Church History.

249. Religious teaching, to be conducted as hereinafter provided, shall take place in any public school in Manitoba

(a) if authorized by a resolution passed by the majority of the school trustees of the district in which the school is carried on, or

(b) if a petition be presented to said school trustees asking for religious teaching and signed by the parents or guardians of at least ten children attending the school in the case of a rural school district, or by the parents or guardians of at least twenty-five children attending the school in the case of a city, town or village school. R.S.M. c. 143, s. 215.

250. Such religious teaching shall take place between the hours of half-past three and four o'clock in the afternoon and shall be conducted by any Christian clergyman whose charge includes any portion of the school district, or by any person duly authorized by such clergyman, or by a teacher when so authorized. R.S.M. c. 143, s. 216.

251. Where so specified in such resolution of trustees, or where so required by a petition of parents or guardians, religious teaching during the prescribed period may take place only on certain specified days of the week instead of on every teaching day. R.S.M. c. 143, S. 217.

252. In any school in towns and cities where the average attendance of Roman Catholic children is forty or upwards, and in villages and rural districts where the average attendance of such children is twenty-five or upwards, the trustees shall, if required by a petition of parents or guardians of such number of Roman Catholic children, respectively, employ at least one duly certified Roman Catholic teacher in such school. In any school in

towns and cities where the average attendance of non-Roman Catholic children is forty or upwards, and in villages and rural districts where the average attendance of such children is twenty-five or upwards, the trustees shall, if required by the petition of parents or guardians of such children, employ at least one duly certified non-Roman Catholic teacher.

253. Where religious teaching is required to be carried on in any school in pursuance of the foregoing provision, and there are Roman Catholic and non-Roman Catholic children attending the school, and the school-room accommodation does not permit of the pupils being placed in separate rooms for the purpose of religious teaching, provision shall be made by the regulations of the Department (which regulations the board of school trustees shall observe), whereby the time allotted for religious teaching shall be divided in such a way that the religious teaching of Roman Catholic children shall be carried on during the prescribed period on one-half of the teaching days in each month, and the religious teaching of the non-Roman Catholic children shall be carried on during the prescribed period on one-half of the teaching days of each month. R.S.M. c. 143, s. 219.

254. No separation of pupils by religious denominations shall take place during the secular school work. R.S.M. c. 143, s. 220.

256. No pupil shall be permitted to be present at any religious teaching unless the parents or guardians of such pupil desire it. If the parents or guardians do not desire the attendance of pupils during such religious teaching, then such pupils shall be dismissed before the religious teaching is begun, or shall remain in another room. R.S.M. c. 143, s. 212, 222.

Alberta. From letter of Deputy Minister of Education, dated May 11, 1914:

"We have as yet no prescribed Scripture lessons, though it is understood that the various religious denominations are at present endeavoring to agree on courses in Bible study and moral instruction which would be satisfactory to all sections of the people of the Province. At present the board of each school may direct that the school be opened by the repetition of the Lord's Prayer, but no further religious instruction may be given until the last half hour of the school day, during which time such religious instruction may be given as the board may direct or permit. If the parents or guardians of children so desire they have the privilege of leaving the school-room during this half hour of religious instruction, but in mixed communities the half hour provided for religious instruction is usually eliminated altogether and the regular school work con

tinued until the time for closing. Where religious instruction is given during this half hour the different denominations may enter into an arrangement, subject to the approval of the board, regarding the days upon which their respective representatives may take charge of the religious instruction."

Saskatchewan. (Laws of 1909, amended 1913, sent by Superintendent of Department of Education.)

136. No religious instruction except as hereinafter provided shall be permitted in the school of any district from the opening of such school until one-half hour previous to its closing in the afternoon, after which time any such instruction permitted or desired by the board may be given.

(2) It shall however be permissible for the board of any district to direct that the school be opened by the recitation of the Lord's Prayer. 1901, c. 29, s. 137..

137. Any child shall have the privilege of leaving the school room at the time at which religious instruction is commenced as provided for in the next preceding section or of remaining without taking part in any religious instruction that may be given if the parents or guardians so desire. 1901, c. 29, s. 138.

138. No teacher, school trustee or inspector shall in any way attempt to deprive such child of any advantage that it might derive from the ordinary education given in such school and any such action on the part of any school trustee, inspector or teacher shall be held to be a disqualification for and voidance of the office held by him. 1901, c. 29, s. 139.

134. Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Arbor Day (second Friday in May), the birthday of the reigning sovereign, Victoria Day, Dominion Day, Labour Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and any day specially appointed as a holiday by the Governor General, the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan, the mayor of a city or town or the reeve of a rural municipality shall be holidays; and it shall be at the discretion of the board to permit any other holidays not exceeding one day at a time. 1901, c. 29, s. 135.

SEPARATE SCHOOLS.

41. The minority of the ratepayers in any district whether Protestant or Roman Catholic may establish a separate school therein; and in such case the ratepayers establishing such Protestant or Roman Catholic separate schools shall be liable only to assessments of such rates as they impose upon themselves in respect thereof. 1901, c. 29, s. 41.

42. The petition for the erection of a separate school district shall be signed by three resident ratepayers of the religious faith indi

cated in the name of the proposed district; and shall be in the form prescribed by the minister. 1901, c. 29, s. 42.

43. The persons qualified to vote for or against the erection of a separate school district shall be the ratepayers in the district of the same religious faith Protestant or Roman Catholic as the petitioners. 1901, c. 29, s. 43. 44. The notice calling a meeting of the ratepayers for the purpose of taking their votes on the petition for the erection of a separate school district shall be in the form prescribed by the minister_and_the_proceedings subsequent to the posting of such notice shall be the same as prescribed in the formation of public school districts. 1901, c. 29, s. 44.

44a. In case any such district contains within its limits a town or city municipality it shall from the date of its erection be deemed to be a town district and the board of trustees elected at the first school meeting shall consist of five members two of whom shall hold office till the date of the first annual election of the district and three until the date of the second annual election; thereafter all trustees shall be elected and hold office in the manner provided by this Act for town districts. 1912, C. 32, S. 4.

45. After the establishment of a separate school district under the provisions of this Act such separate school district and the board thereof shall possess and exercise all rights, powers, privileges and be subject to the same liabilities and method of government as is herein provided in respect of public school districts.

(2) Any person who is legally assessed or assessable for a public school shall not be liable to assessment for any separate school established therein: Provided that in the case of any separate school district having heretofore been or hereafter being established within which a separate school is maintained in operation the ratepayers of the religious faith of the minority supporting it shall hereafter be assessable for separate school purposes only and the ratepayers of the religious faith of the majority constituting the public school district within which such separate school district is established shall be assessable for public school purposes only. 1901, c. 29, s. 45; 1912-13, c. 35, s. 3.

Rev. Walter A. Snow, State Secretary of North Dakota Sunday School Association, in letter dated Dec. 18, 1913: "I have just returned from ten days in Saskatchewan, and found that a very interesting experiment in religious instruction is being undertaken there. A committee is constituted on which representatives of all denominations, Catholic and Protestant, are, and this committee is charged with responsi

bility of selecting a manual which shall contain selections from the Scripture, selected hymns and selected prayers. When this manual is finally produced it will be presented to the Legislature of the Province and they will be asked to officially endorse it and require its use in every public school sometime during the day of each session. I had a conversation with the secretary of the committee, Dr. McKinnon of Regina, and it seems likely to be carried through."

Rev. Murdock MacKinnon, Knox Church, Regina, Saskatchewan, letter to Wilbur F. Crafts, Sept. 8, 1914:

"Knox Church, Regina, Sask., Sept. 8, 1914. "Dear Dr. Crafts: Your letter of Aug. 31st received to-day. Many thanks for same and for enclosure. We had a meeting of our main committee in July and among other things decided on these two matters: First, to appoint sub-committee to proceed with the work of selecting in four departments: Scripture, Hymns, Prayers and Ethical Culture. These committees were appointed, and are to report in October of this year; secondly, to solicit the co-operation of the Provincial Educational Association. This also was done and a cordial response was received and temporary appointments were made to act on our committees until the annual meeting of the Association, when appointments will be made permanent. So far we have the sympathetic co-operation of the Roman Church and of the Government as well. They volunteer finan

cial assistance in the matter of getting books, etc. We feel hopeful as to the result. With best wishes for your committee in the common cause, I remain."

Jamaica. A "Catechism" for public schools, dated 1905, including special prayers for schools, printed by Aston W. Gardner & Co., Kingston, Jamaica, compiled by 20 evangelical preachers of half a dozen denominations, is marked as "intended to be included in the code," which leaves us in doubt whether it yet has official recognition, but in its "Appendix" we have Scripture portions set down as required to be taught by the present code, which are in part as follows:

Lower Division. Psalm xxiii.; Proverbs xii., 17, 18, 19-22.

Middle Division. Matt. xxii., 35-40; Deut. xxviii., 1-14.

Upper Division. John xiv., 15-31; Proverbs xiv., 25; xvi., 24; xix., 22; xx., I; xxiii., 31 and 32; xxvi., 28; xviii. 13; Ephesians vi., 1-8; 1 Cor. xii., 31 and xiii.

Appendix II.

The following table furnishes a list of lessons from Holy Scripture suitable for daily reading in the School.

Genesis i., 1-25; ii., 15-25; iii., 1-19; xiii., 118; xviii., 23-33; xxii., 1-14; xxviii., 10-22; xxxvii., 23-36; xlii., 1-13; xlv., 1-15.

Exodus i., 1-17; ii., 1-10; iii., 1-10; xii., 2942; xiv., 1-14; xiv., 15-31; XV., I-II; XX., I-17. Leviticus xxvi., 1-16.

Numbers xiv., 1-11; xx., 1-11; xxii., 1-20; xxiii., 1-12.

Deuteronomy iv., 1-9; vi., 1-12; xviii., 13-22; xxviii., 1-14; XXX., II-20; xxxii., 1-12.

Joshua i., 1-9; vii., 1-11; vii., 16-26; ix., 1-16; ix., 17-27; xxiv., 14-25.

Judges ii., 11-19; iv., 1-9; v., 1-12; vi., 7-16; vii., 1-22.

[And so following through all the books of the Bible in regular order though many chapters are skipped and many verses.]

Sample Syllabus of Religious Instruction, Leeds (Eng.) Council Schools, 1904-14.

2nd.

? rd.

4th.

FIRST CLASS.

Depart from evil and
do good "
(Psalm
χχχίν. 14). "Whoso
putteth his trust in
the Lord shall be

safe" (Prov. xxix.
25). "The Lord is
nigh unto all them
that call upon Him"
(Psalm cxlv. 18).

"Children, obey your parents" (Eph. vi. 1). "Let brotherly love continue" (Heb. xiii. 1). "Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile" (Psalm xxxiv. 13).

"Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one an other" (Eph. iv. 32). "Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans xii. 21). "Let us not be weary in well-doing; for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not " (Gal. vi. 9).