Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-24
PRESIDENT BELL RESIGNS
RETIREs FROM POSITION IN BOARD
OF EDUCATION.
Protests Against Glass of Hymnals in
Use in the Public
Schools.

At last nights meeting Of the board of
education it was announced that Mr.. Chas
j. Bell president of the board, has re-
signed and that Gen. H. V. Boynton would
probably be appointed to the vacancy. Mr.
Bell explained that his retirement from the
board was due to the demands Of his pri-
vate business.
Bank hours are from 9 o'clock in the
morning until o'clock in the afternoon
said Mr.. Bell, land as the school hours are
the same, i found that 1 could not de-
vote the amount of time to educational
work that the cause demands. 1 was I'M
able to visit the schools during the week
and SO could not keep in touch with their
needs. and I felt that the president of the
board of education should do more than
attend the regular weekly meetings, which
/ cannot spare the time to do.
Commissioner Macfariand, who has
charge of public schools made the follow
ing statement last evening in regard to
the matter:
II was very sorry to learn that Mr. Bell
had transmitted his resignation for he
has rendered important service as presi-
dent of the board of education, and l
hoped that he might be able to continue
longer in that position. However, 1 ap-
preciate. as | am sure the whole COM
munity does, the good work he has done
and the personal sacrifice he made in do
ing it, and 1 believe that if his private
affairs would permit him to stay he wou-d
not leave the board now. The work of re-
organization has been well done, the school
system is in better condition than ever be-
fore and could not ask Mr.. Bell to with
draw his resignation.
Upon the receipt of his resignation I
shall ask its acceptance by the board of
Commissioners and move the appointment
of Gen. Henry V. Boynton as his successor.
l have no doubt that the nomination of Gen.
Boynton will be confirmed, and | believe
l., hoe otr.-.,x hoo
ready to perform any public service asked
of him. | feel that his appointment viii
he approved by the entire community, and
that we can count ourselves fortunate IN
having such man to take Mr.. Bells place
the board of education"
Use OF HymnaIs.
The protests against the use of hymnals
in the High Schools We're considered at last
nights meeting of the board of education
and resolution was adopted that the
prescribed hymnal in the High School be
retained. but pupils whose parents shall,
for secular reasons, object to the of
the hymnal, may be exempted from the
provision of rule 40, which prescrbes sing
ing
No action was taken by the board in re-
gard to the reading of the Scriptures al
though the matter was referred 10 in all of
the protests against religious exercises.
Several of the communcat tons on the
subject were given to the press. One was
from Rabbi Stern of the Hebrew Congrega-
ton, protesting against the introduction of
religious exercises of a sectarian character
in our public schools. Permit me at the
outset said Mr. Stern, ito venture the
opinion that the troublesome question can
find its logical and most satisfactory solu-
ton in the entire elimination of religious
features from the curriculum of our schools,
as not only foreign to the aims and OBJ
jects of the latter, but out of harmony with
the principle of separation of church and
state and contrary to the spirit of our con-
stitution that does not recognize the es-
tablishment of any religion.
Unsectarian Exercises.
yet, if, according to your present rule
or ruling we must have religious exercises,
it seems but fair and just that they should
be of nature not Objectionable to any
creed-that is, unsectarian.
LAS a matter of fact, each Individual
teacher is now free to read Bible passages
or select hymns antagonistic in spirit and
letter to the belief not only of the people
that l represent, but of the liberal Prot
estants and Catholics as well.
Il especially call attention to the decid-
eddy sectarian character of the greater
part of the hymns of the High School
Hymnal, and respectfully request the dis
continuation of it's use
THE difficulty is not removed by the
exemption granted to Jewish children
from purchasing the book or joining in
the singing. Such exemption tends to
centuate the differences and strengthen
the dividing line between the creeds in an
institution designed to educate the future
men and women to be citizens and patri-
OTIS, not to be Professionals, Catholics or
Jews.
IN conclusion, permit me to suggest
that if the religious feature cannot be
eliminated a committee representing all
creeds be appointed for the selection of
such material Bible readings. songs, etc,
for devotional exercises, that would be
generally acceptable and in which all pu-
pills could freely participate
other Protests.
Rev. Alex. Kent. pastor of the Peoples
Church, joined with ]. L. McCreery. B.
Pickman Mann, W. Z. Abbott, William
Geddes MD; Maurice Pechin and F. l..
Siddons in a protest against the instruc-
tions given by your honorable body to the
teachers of the District for their guidance
in conducting the opening exercises in our
schools But our special protest at the
present time is against the singing of GER
tain hymns which are not only offense
10 all Jews and liberal Christians, well
as spritualists and agnostics, but obnoxious
to many thoughtful and earnest people in
all the churches.
Mr.. Simon Wolf wrote the board as fol-
lows:
LAS a citizen of the United States and
the District of Columbia, l respectfully pro-
test against the use of any sectarian or re-
ligious books or hymnals in the public
schools. The church synagogue is the
proper place for such use, and l sincerely
hope and trust that your honorable body
will take high stand in this matter and
act fearlessly as trustees, not as members
of any church."
Another communication protesting against
religious exercises in the schools upon SINH
lar lines was also read from w. A. Root.
Mr.. Root also makes the point that the re-
lgious exercises as conducted in the schools
tend to sacrilege.
AS already stated. the board made rule
which eXemptS from participation in such
services all pupils whose parents object to
the practice on secular grounds.
Resignation Accepted.
The board accepted the resignation of
Miss Ray Kaufman, second grade sixth
division, and Miss E. K. Brandenburg is
promoted from first to second grade to fill
her position in the Blair school. Miss Ada
V. Carr was appointed to the first grade to
succeed Miss Brandenburg at Gales School,
with a salary of 1920 year.
1t was decided to exempt this years
graduates of the high schools from the
rule applying the conditions governing the
examinations for the Normal School In re-
gard to age All High School graduates
who will attain the age of eighteen years
t.afA NJ. .l~.N.-