New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-21
RELIGIOUS EXERCISES IN SCHOOLS
4 DECISION BY THE STATE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
PRACTICE IN THIS CITY.

A DECISION BY THE STATE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
PRACTICE IN THIS CITY,
The State Superintendent of Public instruction
has reccnfIv promulgated a decision on the ques-
~ of reliSions exercises in the public schools, IN
which he takes the ground that the Only course W
be followed if the dement's oil the %
guarantees are TO he preserved, ana inc aPooiuIo
enuatv of right in matter of religious predleGlloh
sscured Is TO exclude religious instruction ana eX-
ercses from the public schools Gpg ScmHoI
RugCss by the Board of Education OF Unioh rec
school District No. t. Of Orangctown hockl G1t
County This Board applied 10 me 81 eIiTnd 80
for decision, representing that IL NlsleH "
move unerrinClv. but firmly, in the matter OF sus-
tanning tho reading of Scrip ure ana prayer III
oneninp the school. Children OF n0h-frOteStauI
families had not been required to participate In re-
heating the Scripture or LORDS prayer, Dut Hsu
simply been required 10 behave with decOrum ne
ouestiOn was raised by request maze Dy huIhoei
6f Catholic families that their children be permit,
ted TO remain outside the school until the ueVOlon1
exercises were concluded The bo3ru was tIl"il,-
in TO grant the request because the interference
cansss much disorder outside of the room, ana tle
subsequent entrance of these pupils causes loss Oh
time aud disturbance to class Worh l 'n0
Superintendent Rucgles grounds MS uecl9o !
upou the constitutional guarantee OF the aosolute
e.nality of all people the state IN respect 10 le
60 cvcrcse and endowment of religious profession
and worship Instruction being Tree under tne
nuIic school system, the material resources neces-
sorv for It's maintenance have TO be drawn from
population characterized by dissmllat reII siouS pc
lois obsaryauccs modes OF worship ana pISler-
aucea Is imUOsslbIe TO devise Il uuutcu
of religious instruction for tho schools upon "hlcn
oil tEese classes and Sscts could harmonic, ana,
therefore, the exclusion of all religious instruction
and exercises, III Mr.. Rusgles's opinion IS the only
alternative. 1....- -, ..,.,1 ri+I,
the reading of a brief portion of the Holy Scrip
turos without nota comment, and IN some cases
The singing of HYMN. This is done IN obedience
to bv-IaW of the Board of Education who makes
II obligatory The bylaw, IN turn, Is based on tue
old STATE law which went on the statute DooKs as
the product of a compromise in 1901 between
Thur{ow Weed and Archbishop Hughes For a
oreat many wears there has been no disturbance III
The schools of this city the question, and II is
tLouCht that even under the last decision OF the
State SUPERINTENDENT of Public Instruction there
viii he none City Superintendent Jasper SAID q
dav ar two ago TO a TRIBUNE reporter:
Ne have had trouble for eighteen or twenty years
nm t srnr oF religious exercises. and do rot tHk any
,r ,ooin arise The teachers now obey tho bylaw on
thr nblrcf and read each morning portion OF the ser
lures without note or comment. au1 bound u see inc
nv obey cd and If question should arise would re-
fer il M once TO the Board But do NOT thlnA toupe
viii corac II IS TO the interest Of every principal 10 re-
on nonuar with the people whom nc Is ameng, ana q
-, iii ipcrals study the wishes OF the parent OF their
minis This rudes them IN the selection OF the portions
~ Icinr. which are read. Usually they are rom the
palms EcclesasteS Proverbs AID are un0beclola-
HE IN anv religious feeling We do not call the exercises
raiiSous exercises ALL Attendance Is, OF course
iaory for the reading takes place IN the hrst minutes
~, ocjock in the morning and the general content
meut among all classes aud sects IA shown ny the TACT
Nat the Hardness of scholars throughout the city IS only
nor cent of the attendance and this percentage Is not
II. !, "a nf the same children day after DAY.