New-York tribune., 1907-11-28
NAY HOLD EXERCISES.
Board Of Education Says Schools
May ObserUe Christmas

The Board Of Education at a meeting yesterday
afternoon passed resolutions which made it plafn
that TO order had been given in any v,ay, N aboI
ISL the Christmas exercises in the nutIio so,ooI,
or 10 change any Of the text or song hooks rorv
used in the schools When the subject car,e he
fore the board in the regular order of h,ejress
Mr.. Harrison offered resolutions which II &c he
Heved will set the thinking public right op the
attitude Of the board as regards the -es,1,,.,.
passed by IL last February
the report OF the Elementary Schools commit
tee, adopted ny the board on February n said
that songs and compositions Of a sec+arI,- -.
acer and religious readings other thar +ba OIL
should be prohibited, and that all matter o9 = CO.
tartan character should be eliminated fror, a.
exercises at the beginning Of the winter vacation
Nr. Harrison's resolutions. presented and nassed
yesterday. follows:
Whereas. It is desirable n n1sc. +b,s ,o,-.
record N order to correct any Observation-Disclosures @ ee
20 It's object and intention in passing said resolIo
Resolvedf That s, this board did not intend by the
exercises as heretofore conducted in the 6ubc
sGSGs apd a9 19es not intend that the shall be
changes n any books or in any songs: and fuTffer
uete any particular or specific ruc for the slIid
ance or principals in the conduct OF the Chrsfn1as
Judgment - 'ner eood
'oseph Z. Cosgrove said he wanted to offer
resolution which would leave no doubt IN the mind,
Of the people that nothing had been done or would
be done to change the public school exercises or
textbooks, and withdrew his resolution vrbe,, bo
found that Il was fully covered I'm the resolutions
.-Sl PASSED. TO commit the position of the board
fuT MI CosSrove offered another resolution pro-
NiuInG mat The City Superintendent refrain from,
sending out the annual circulars csutioninr tho
principals and teachers TO eliminate religious or
sectarlan matter from the Christmas exercises
This resolution was passed. and. according to one
member Of the board it will leave the solution
If the whole dispute 10 the discretion ~ +ha rr,
cipaIs pan
Mr- Cosgrove. asked why he offered his resolu-
non, said: The sending out Of the Superintend-
ent's annual circular was an expense and ,1nnecas
sary- The principals know what to do Besides
why start this controversy afresh when there Is no
need for it? The resolution was offered to assure
the public that their fears were groundless and
that nothing would be done TO change the text
hooks or Christmas exercises unless the board
took official action. and II has not done SO
William H. Maxwell City Superintendent of
PUBLIC Schools. seemed much pleased that he
would not be compelled to send out the much
talked OF annual circulars He said jokingly that
I this agitation had not come up he might have
forgotten all about sending them out
There were several clergymen present who
wanted 70 ind out what the Board OF Education
meant in passing its resolution in February but
they did not get chance to talk. The resolution
Just passed by the board seemed TO settle that
question Those who offered the original resolu-
fon had nothing TO say yesterday. In fact. every
attempt was made 10 drop the subject. The Rev.
DTs Macarthur, GoodchiId and A. Lincoln Moore
gregations in Manhattan
Dr. NJ A. McGovern. a physician. Of No. 1929
Park avenue started in TO ask the board for the
floor TO find out what its intention with re-
gard 10 the Christmas exercises and the song and
text books, but his protest was not heard DR..
McCiovern felt very Indignant at what he consid-
cred a denial Of his right a citizen TO appear
before a public board OF officials. He said after
ward; Y wanted the board make two points
clear-to say If II intended revise the thestic
books and hymn books in the schools and TO ex-
plain what IT meant by sectaranism and Chris
tianity. had right TO ask for this Information
when the question came up for discussion, and
this privilege denied me-
Dr. McGovern iutimated that legal proceedings
would be begun by his lawyer, Dudley Field Ma
lone, of No. 81 Wall street. He said he attended
the meeting in the interest of the Catholics.
Methodists Presbyterians and EpiscopaIans and
also represented Canon Chase. Of Brooklyn. A
conference will be held at the Offices of Mr. Ma
lone Monday 10 determine what action 10 pur-
Rabbi Bernard Drachman, Of the Temple Zichron
Ephrsim in East 67th street was present in .he
interests Of the Hebrews He said: The public
schools expected 10 educate the children Of all
the elements Of the community alike. without dis
ticton OF creed, and it is therefore natural that
specific teachings Of any creed should he ex-
cluded."