New-York tribune., 1906-12-23
TO KEEP CHILDREN OUT
Jescish Parents asked to Protest
against Yaletide Exercises.

Having failed 30 stir 20 action the Board of
Education in their attempt to stop the practice
% observing Christmas in the public schools the
RAJ and prominent Jews who have been agi-
tating the question have adopted new means
10 accomplish their end If their present plans
are carried out, tomorrow morning will see the
schools Of the East Side depleted Of about 30
per cent Of their usual attendance. The rabbis
and others have decided the strike as the
only means left to show their disapproval Of
the Christmas festivities IN the schools
on Tuesday. December II. a committee Of
twenty-five Jews representing both the Re-
formed and the Orthodox synagogues. went be-
fore fhe COMMITTEES on Elementary Schools and
presented their side of the question. Among
the speakers at that hearing were Dr. Samuel
Schulnaan. of the BETHEL Synagogue: Presi-
dent H. PeIeira Mendes of the Union OF
orthodox Hebrew Congregations. Albert Lucas.
secretary OF the union: DIR. Bernard Drachman.
of the Sixty-seventh Street Synagogue. and
Professor Joseph II. Ascher. Of the Jewish
Theological Seminary. No action was taken.
The protesters decided TO wait until the next
meeting of the Board of Education before going
any further. When the board met last Wednes-
DAY no mention was made Of the matter. The
Jews Then decided on the Strike plan.
Preparations for the Christmas exercises have
been going on in the schools. The children We're
all instructed TO come TO school tomorrow in
their best clothes 1t was decided TO appeal to
the Jewish parents. through the Jewish press.
20 keep their children away from school to-mor
row. II is believed that this appeal will be
responded all sides.
Far be il from 10 attempt 10 stir up race
strife or feeling" The Jewish Morning Jour
nal" ssYs this morning. but this step has be-
come necessary as a protest against narrow
minded higOtS who seeking To force Secta-
rianism in the public schools, to the detTiment
Of the constitution Of the state. The public
school must be kept free of religion. The place
for il is in the church. the synagogue and the
home"
+ 'The keeping away from the public schools
on Monday Of every Jewish child viii be the
most stnging rebuke 10 narrow minded school
board says THE Jewish Daily News We
wonder what the Christian population would say
/ II there introduced in the schools even
where the pupils consist almost entirely of
Polish children, Chanucah exercises in Commem-
oration of the Maccabean victory with the sub
terfuEe used by the school board. that they
are merely social in their aspect and have moth
ing do with religion2 But should be found
5n the front ranks of those opposing such a
thing and neither do want children in
their faith The public school ought TO he the
place where all children should meet only
Americans and nothing else. Violate this prin-
Cipe and You attack the very foundation of
tolerant and liberal country"
The Jews say their only request 10 the Board
which confines all religious exercises in the pub
lie schools to the reading Of the Bible without
comment he obeyed to the letter. They say
that the celebration of Christmas in the schools
by various exercises and Christmas trees, is
violation of this section.