New-York tribune., 1906-12-25
MANY JEWS In SCHOOL.
JOIN CHRISTMAS MIRTH.
Failing off Only Slight as Result
of Crusade.

Although the appeals made in the Jewish news
papers that Jewish mothers keep their children
away from the public schools yesterday. that
they might not be obliged to take part IN the
Christmas exercises, had marked effect on the
attendance, there was trouble IN any case.
The falling off In the attendance at the schools
having large Jewish registration varied from
is 70 go per cent 1t is believed, however, that
the rigorous weather had a great deal to do with
the absence of many pupils.
Abraham Stern chairman of the committee
on elementary schools OF the Board OF Educa-
tion, before whom committee appeared on De-
oember II to ask that the practice of observing
Christmas In the public schools be stopped. made
a tour of the schools on the lower East Side
yesterday. He said last night: "r think the
average falling off in attendance was not more
than 15 per cent. or course, some children were
kept away on account OF the weather In no in
stance did I find any ceremonies that would
have been prejudcial to any religious belief
"In many Of the schools there were no Christ
mas trees. although most of the kindergartens
had them. We found that the children enjoyed
them. and in many cases the Jewish mothers
helped in trimming the trees.
"We do not propose to interfere with these
Christmas trees. In the lower grades they are
only occasions for pleasure and enjoyment
will and joy, and the young minds do not at
tach any religious significance to them.
Il found in my visits that the principals had
been careful to eliminate anything that would
be at all Objectionable. The exercises consisted
largely Of songs recitatons and little plays
given by the pupils.
I am a member Of the Jewish race myself
but am not at all in sympathy with the TRADE
that has been stirred up against the Christmas
exercises in the schools. 1 think the Jewish
papers saw q chance to make sensation Al
though some pupils stayed away. thers was no
trouble at any of the schools.
Our committee. which has before f. the pro-
test against these observances made some time
ago, delayed taking any action until we could
see If the principals could be trusted 10 keen
anything Objectionable from their programmes
We have found they are to be trusted The
subject VIII be taken up and discussed by the
committee In week or two.
we shall probably recommend TO the board
tnat hereafter no song books be used in the
schools which contain any reference TO religious
matters and, therefore, might be Objectionable.
If there are no such songs in the books fur
hlshed TO the schools there will be no chance for
any of the principals to teach that class OF
songs"
The two schools IN Manhattan having the
largest number OF Jewish pupils are No g. at
Hester, Essex and Norfolk streets where about
1900 Of the 5000 pupils are Jews and No 147
at sd henry and Gouverneur streets. where all but
-
off In attendance ct these schools was not more
than 10 per cent, according to Mr.. Stern.
School 20, at RivingtOn and Forsyth streets.
reit the crusade perhaps more than any
other school H. William Smith, the principal
reported falling off OF about go per cent in at
tendance. This talk is all wrong" he said to
a reporter. I'VE are not trying to instr any
doctrines Into the children. but simply TO give
the children a happy afternoon"
At Henry and Catharlne streets is No l. an
other school largely attended by Jewish chill
dren. There was a slump in the attendance
yesterday OF about 30 per cent
In the schools in the Jewish districts OF Brook
lyn II was estimated that there was a falling of
OF 20 per cent in the higher grades and so per
cent in the lower grades -
Many Of the children who got to school re-
ported that they had to sneak out OF the house
having been told they should not go.