The New Zealand Bible in Schools League

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with the history of the Bible in Schools League which was in existence from 1912 until 1949, when it lost its separate identity in the New Zealand Council for Christian Education. It is the actions and activity of the League which will be described, rather than its philosophy or the rightness or otherwise of its contentions. Arguments for and against its proposals are mentioned from time to time, but only as they affect its actions, end influence their outcome. In any case, the League contributed nothing to the theory of religious education and throughout its history did not present any new arguments in favour of abandoning the secular state school. Its interest and importance is as an organisation which took certain steps in its endeavour to alter the Education Acts, and this is the aspect of its work which will be described.