The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-13


 into act of injustice, and this was due to a lack of information on the part of the teacher, as to the fact that Cath olics do not allow their children to use the Bible. The teacher was preparing d programme for the appropriate cele- braton of Christmas. One feature of this programme was to be Il responsive reading from the account of the birth of Jesus To practice this reading, the children were asked to bring their New Testaments On the appointed day seV eral children, including one Catholic child, came without these and were asked to remain for a short time after the other children had been dismissed for the day. Being thus left alone with the teacher they were reminded of the re- quest of the day before and then allowed To go home, mo punishment of any kind having been administered or threatened. On the following day we are informed by a note from the father of this Catholic boy that he objected for the reason that he was a Catholic, to having a Bible placed in the hands of his child. There upon the child was excused from that part of the exercise for the Christmas programme and d note of explanation was sent by the teacher to the parent, in which it was stated that lack of information on her part was responsible for her asking his child to do anything contrary to the religious seruples of the father, and assuring him that nothing of d similar nature would be asked of his child again.
 In keeping with q requirement of the Board of Education and in common with most of the schools of the state, each days work is begun by some simple re- lgious exercises. These eXercses are not uniform throughout the various grades except as to one feature-the recitation of the model prayer, com monly called "The Lords Prayer the teacher leading and ali of the children, who will, reclting 1t in concert with her Other features of this exercise which the teachers may employ at their discre- tion are to read verses from the Bible and to allow the children to answer roll call with Bible verses. One teacher dur ing the present school year has asked the children in her room to learn the twenty third Psalm. No child is required to take part in any of these things, though they are invited to do so. These exercises have but one purpose, and the teachers conducting them have but one desire, and that is that there shall grow up in the hearts of the children habit of daily reverence for Deity and daily de- pendence upon him. It Is strictly en- joined upon each teacher not to introduce sectarian views under penalty of being removed from her position.
 When the Rev. Costello came to me a few weeks ago to protest against. these practices, l assured him that no duty pertaining to the religious exercises was exacted of the pupils of the school ana that at the request of the parents of the Catholic children (there are four Cath ollie children in a school of more than 300. l should provide a room in which such children might sit during the tine of these exercises, thus not even requlr ing that they should be present to hear them. His answer to this was to the effect that he did not seek to have Cath ollie children excused from such exercises, but that he would have them stopped entirely by process of injunction or by an appeal to the courts for adjudication. Thereupon l informed him that 1 knew of no statutory or constitutional reason why we should cease q practice that is old as the public school system of the state, and one that Is we'll nigh uni versal and that We should not do so until such injunction should be issued or such adjudica ton by the courts announced.
 Referring to that part of the Rev. Cos tello's letter which seeks to bring the Jewish element of our community into this controversy, 1 give the following bit of local school history: At the beginning of the present administration of schools, six years ago, a prominent Jewish citi- zen was Q member of the Board of Edu- cation. code of rules and regulations was drawn up and presented to the board for their approval. One regulation from this code is as follows: 'rhe daily eXer- cises of the school shall be opened with religious exercises" This Jewish mem- Der voted for the adoption of this code, and as long he was on the board he gave it his support. Furthermore, during the school year of 1906-07 teacher who was Jewess was in charge of one of the grades. She kept the requirements of this regulation by opening school each morning with The Lords Prayer" Dur ing the entire six years there have been a few Catholic children in the school, and during that time there has been built. by the aid of contributions of Protestant citizens, Catholic church. Other priests of probably less zeal but greater discre- ton have visited the community, and by their unassumlng conduct have secured commendable measure of sympathy and toleration from Protestant community. However, since the Rev. Costello has taken 1t upon himself 10 bring about this reform CD there Is Il widespread feeling among the citizens of our town that his attitude is one of unwarranted and needless assumption.
 Should his contention be ultimately sus- tained (as he confidently contends will happen) must not our circuit courts. our state legislatures and even the House of our national Congress cease to have their sessions opened with prayer by Protestant ministers? Surely these. no less tpan the public schools, are institutions that should be protected from any tendencies or al- dances that would endanger the religious liberty of any class of it's citizens
 r. ". HODGES, Superintendent Greenville Public Schools