The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1905-04-06
EDUCATION BOARD
GETS PETITIONS
$4,000 Churchgoers Want
Religious instruction.
OPPONENTS WILL BE HEARD
May Argue Their Case Before Full
Board When General Boynton
Is Better.

The question whether there shall be
moral teaching in the public schools
on a distinctly religious basis, which
has aroused more interest and dis
cussion during the past few weeks
than any. other problem before the
people of the District of Columbia in
years, last night took definite form be-
fore the Board of Education
A delegation from the committee of
fifteen appeared before the board and
read seventy petitions in favor of the
plan.
As stated by the Hon Hilary A. Her
bert, the Rev. DR.. Randolph H McKim
and the Rev DR.. Frederick D. Power,
who composed the delegation. the petit
tons represented total OF about 33OOJ
church members. of nine denominations
-fresbyterian, Methodist Episcopal,
Episcopal, Lutheran, Congregational.
Disciples of Christ, Baptist {colored),
and Methodist (colored)-in the District.
The Board of Education received the
petitions, which were.on printed forms
and listened to arguments in favor of
the plan. as advanced by Drs. Power
and Mckim and Mr.. Herbert.
Opponents Will Be Heard.
1t was stated. however. that no deci-
sion VIII be made until the opponents
OF moral and religious teaching had been
given equal opportunity for a hearing
before the board Next Wednesday
night has been set aside for that pur-
pose.
The Board of Education also conclud-
ed TO finally consider the question only
IN the full board. This will probably
mean further delay. Gen H. V. Boyn-
ton, the president is quite i'll.
All the petitions presented last night
We're of Identical form Declaring the
s,gners TO be citizens of the District
u .4S 1SoiuInela, the petition continued:
we respectfully petition the Board
OF EDUCATION, in the interests of good
GSl,lzenshlp, to introduce into the nI,b
~, ~ sSnools the study OF the Ten Com
!.1Tr,lnumenls, their recognized summary
Ihou shalt love the Lord thy Cod Win
an thy heart, and thy neighbor &C IN
sen, and the systematic study of ethics
ds approved by the Board of Education, ;;
ne petitioners also suggest that the
Doarq provide a course CT readings sfror,,
the Bible, the use of which -sbsj - 1 IN
optlonai with the teachers with ~
IroViso that there shall be no sectari.,
feengious teaching in the schools. and
have his child child W mig; upon Ere request
:
classes during the time devoted r. tbe
proposed innovation in the curriculum
Bettering Existing Conditions.
In the petitions reference is made IN
the present rule 49, by which the teach
ers are required to read a chapter from
tnF Bible and to lead each morning in
the recitation Of the Lords Prayer. The
statement is made that
-.
inns is not proposition to do some
thing new. but TO do in a more effective
manner what is now required by law,
The proposal is to have the form of
religious and moral teaching carefully
Prepared by the Board of Education in
stead OF having the questions of seIec
tlo.i and elimination left to the teachers
iae protestants against the addition
O. moral and religious teaching to the
sGnool curriculum, who have already
nied remonstrances. and who will be |
gwen an opportunity to present their |
SIDE OF the case next Wednesday. in |
clide: Vestry of Trinity Lutheran |
Church, Rabbi Abrani Simon, simon
w OIL chairman of the board of dele |
gates of civil rights of :. Hebrew 5iti |
GEMS Fheodore V. Dergah, and George (
K. Holmes