Premier George Price takes a personal interest in the schools of British Honduras. He is a frequent speaker at school functions.
BRITISH HONDURAS: A UNIQUE CHURCH/STATE RELATIONSHIP
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by A rnold W . Pearson
In view of the recent Supreme Court decision against the saying of prayers in the classrooms of U.S. schools, it is refreshing to view the situation in British Hon duras. It is like being thrust back in time to the early days of America, when religion in schools made the fourth “ r.” Although religious activities are more often done as a matter of routine than otherwise, the fact remains that prayers are encouraged and the Scriptures honored. Churches and schools grew up together in this re mote colony of the British Commonwealth. When slav ery was abolished in the early 1800s in the West Indies,
QCHOOL children praying and saying prayers, memo- ^ rizing Scripture passages, answering questions about Bible characters, singing hymns and Gospel songs, and hanging religious art pictures on classroom walls—is this a Christian day school in the U.S.? No, it’s a church school in British Honduras, a tiny Cen tral American country on the southeast border of Mex ico, where the government foots the bill for religious, as well as secular education. With only two exceptions, every school in this emerging British colony is a church school, where religious instruction is not only permitted, but is mandatory.
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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