Page Fifty-three THE JEWISH NEWS Friday, September 20, .1944 Religion and The Public Schools New Appraisal, Defifiite Policy Urged by Educ,a4or Br DZ. A. DVSHtIN (Prssw Editorial in Jewish ltdaeatieSt lifilstrawkae) the Protestant groups were taught, that children of some 31 sects, in- cluding Catholic, Jbwish and Prot- estant, took these courses; that the Catholic church conducted classes under the system; but the record shows that while formerly Jewish classes were held under the supervision of the Jewish Church, no classes have been held by the Jewish faith for the last couple of years." Apathetic to Problem What is true in Champaign is true throughout the country. By and large Jews do not take ser- iously to the Released Time op- portunity. They neither oppose nor uphold. They attempt rather to solve the problem by polite but vapid agreement. We urge that the lay and pro- fessional lea.ership in Jewish education adopt a more definite policy in relating our work to what is apparently a growing fact in American :ucation. This fact is of enormous importance to us, both in its negative and in its pos- itive implications. Much is at stake. Negatively we know that we shall be the worst sufferers if this movement for religion in the public schools exceeds its proper democratic bounds. As a living reminder, we have before us the plight of some of our fellow Jews in Canada. There in the Catholic- Protestant school system of the Quebec province, Jewish children are unwanted guests in the Prot- estant schools; and in the com- mon public school system of Tor- onto, the protests of Jews against In January of this year the Cir- mission in so many of our public cuit Court of Champaign' County, schools today." These and other similar deci- Illinois, handed! down decision sions would „indicate that the Re- whicih may have considerable im- leased Time law, in its various ap- port for the development of re- plications, has been repeatedly in- ligious education in America. Not terpreted as in accord with the only did it uphold the Released American tradition. Time law whereby public school Demands Increasing authorities release their pupils to During our own generation parents who desire to give their there has been continuously in- children religious instruction dur- creasing pressure to connect the ing school hours; it also declared public schools with religious edu- that local legislatures may assign cation. NeW plans are being urged, public school rooms and facilities particularly by Protestant groups, during public school hours to re- to make this connection closer, ligious teachers for sectarian re- by extending further the use of ligious instruction, provided only public school time and facilities that such right is extended to all to the churches for sectarian religious groups in the commun- teaching, or else by including the ity. In Champaign there is an teaching of what is called "gen- Interfaith Council of Religious eral religion" within the public Education which arranges that school curriculum itself. Much as thirty minutes once each week be we may dislike some of these set aside during any hour between plans, our influence as a small 9:00 a. m. and 4:00 p. m.. for re- minority will probably not affect ligious instruction inside the pub- the situation seriously; unless they lic schools. If the majority of the are clearly in conflict with con- pupils in a particular class elect stitutional rights. Their fate will religious instruction, at the re- probably be determined much quest of their parents, then the more by the position of the larger secular teacher turns the class- Catholic minority in this country. room over to the religious teacher At any rate, whatever the future and herself takes the remainder may bring, it is clear that the Re- of the class for a study period in leased Time law is here to stay; some other available room; if the and that to its many present minority elects religious instruc- forms, new adaptations and new tion, then the religious teacher is forms will be added locally assigned to some other room. The throughout the United States. cost of teaching and administra- 2. The Jewish attitude, by and tion of such religious instruction large, is to-ignore the situation; or is borne by he Council of Relig- else to pursue the policy of kab- ious Education. dehu ve-hashdehu—"respect it and In American Tradition" suspect it." There is a certain Two series of facts in this case amount of polite interfaith seem to be of special significance "agreement" in many localties, to us as Jewish educators: but no really serious effort any- 1. It would seem that the com- where to come to grips with the plete "separation of State and problem. In Champaign, for ex- 1456 Broadway Church" in American education is ample, "the proof shows that all far from beinl so definite a real- ity as most of us suppose. The Court cited the wide extent of religious education in connection with public schools: "Approxi- mately 1.850 school systems in 46 states of this country have some form of religious education in their school systems" ... In reply to the plaintiff—a parent who 12th St., near Clairmount calls herself a "rationalist atheist" —the Court quoted numerous To its many friends, business associates - and clientele . . . This legal precedents and opinions in- new and modern JANET'S extends its best wishes. May we dicating that there is no opposi- tion to public aid for religious ed- continue to serve you in the years to come. ucation, if it is done in the spirit of the First Amendment to the Constitution; namely without any element of compulsion and with- out expenditure of public funds for it. American judges have de- cided that: "No purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any American legislation; be- cause this is a religious nation." . . "The child is not the mere creature of the State; those who nurture him and direct his destiny have the right, coupled with high duty, to recognize and to prepare him for additional obligations.''s To All Our Friends . . . "Religion and religious wor- ship are not so far placed under the ban of the Constitution that TO. 8-0249 10236 DEXTER BLVD. they may not be allowed to be- come the recipients of incidental benefits from public bodies or 1 111•111•11Mei authorities of the State." . . . "Courses in religious education are We wish to extend best wishes to our many similar to extra curricular activi- ties such as music and art, which friends for a year of health and happiness. are taken with the parents' per- the open teaching of Christian doctrine in the public schools go unheeded. However, if democrati- cally controlled and organized, American public aid to religious instruction has many positive im- plications for us. We shall have to make provision for Jewish chil- dren on a plane equal to other American children. The fact that at present only a ridiculously small period of time is devoted by pub- lic schools to religious instruction should not blind us to its psychic importance for our children, when they see their Protestant and Catholic classmates solicitously provided for and feel themselves "left out in the cold." Nor should we fail to recognize other possi- bilities in the development of Re- leased Time in the future. Advisory Body Suggested Because of the importance of this problem we propose that a standing Commission be appoint- ed by the National Council and the American Association for Jew- ish Education to conduct a con- tinuous study of experiences and to advise cor—nunities how to uti- lize the local situations to our greatest good. We have already had four years of experience in New York City, where the Jewish Education Committee first took the step of cooperating with the Released Time efforts of other groups. This is not the occasion for a report of Released Time in New York. Suffice it to say that our experiences "were not as bad as we feared, nor as good as we hoped." In Rochester, in Pittsburgh, in Boston and in other communities, a body of facts and opinions re- garding Jewish use of Released . Time is available for continuous study as a basis for future policy and direction. The time has come for a new appraisal and for more definite policy. Others may and should approach the e-oblem from the standpoint of "public rela- tions" or of broad "social doc- trine." We should approach it from within, as education. Can we use it for the hood of our children, and how? Greetings On the New Year Finegold Fur Shop 2667 W. Grand Blvd. 2-0637 New Year Greetings Shirley Raf and Nat Friedman Season's Chic Dress Shop Greetings 9036 Twelfth RUBIN'S FURS Holiday Greetings From JANET'S KNITTERS Best Wishes For a Happy New Year MAX S Jewelry Co. h.r" " Your Name Personalized KEY CHAIN Best Wishes Your • w a name out In full is modern block letters is the color and brightness of actual gold. Made to order. Le Shono Tovo For a Happy New Year Tikosevu A PUPKO FLORICE 1514 Weshingtoe Blvd. 10000 Jos. Campau 4847 Michigan 5553 Chene Curtains - Draperies - Linens - Towels 9030 Twelfth t o' -" s't • . j 0 )4 A 14 A cSA."