Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-14
Rabbi Simon Arraigns Wash
ington Seminaries.
PREJUDICE is CHARGED
Saws Girls of Jewish Faith Are Dis
eliminated Against.
INDIGNANT AT NARROWNEss
Would Not Hesitate to Advise Girls
to Stay Away From Where
They Are Not Tolerated.

That girls of Jewish faith are discrimt-
naed against in some of the private
schools of Washington and that there is
not much attempt at concealing the
fact, is the charge made by Rabbi Simon
in letter to The Star. He says that
Jewish girls are classed as undesirable
in some of the finishing schools here and
that principals have said that the admis-
sion of girls of that faith is looked upon
as lowering of the standards of the
schools. Rabbi Simon writes:
Rabbi Simon's Letter.
To the Editor of The Star:
your paper and the local press have
published special editions of the educa-
tional institutions of our city which are
of a character. on the whole. to kindle
our pride and enthusiasm. Yet this very
fact gives point and place to these lines
on religious prejudice in our female
seminaries.'
THE reopening Of the school season
brings to my desk not only its annual
appeal from Jewish parents DESTROYS of
sending their daughters to our schools.
but also the usual accomplishments of
chagrin and resentment because Of dis
elimination against them and their
faith. I have been aware that Jewish
girls were classed among the 'unde-
sfrables' in certain local schools, ir-
respective Of the quality Of their ma
there was goodly number in two or
three other schools where my visits and
general information led me to believe
they were very welcome.
Apparently Preconcerted Action.
within recent weeks matters have
evidently changed. and one almost sus-
hot
been agreed upon to keep all Jewish
girls out of the local seminaries. I had
taken the liberty Of recommending some
schools to inquiring parents. only to be
informed of the following additional
proof Of my contention. One catalogue
has the sentence, Girls of Jewish per-
school with brutal frankness admitted
to an anxious parent that the life of
some of his girls was made uncomfort-
able last year. a sort of female boy
cotting or haZing.
Another writes that 'Jewesses would
be admitted under certain conditions.
It Is apparent there will be very few
Jewesses in our seminaries this year. 1t
is quite probable that, when the opening
registration reveals falling off of pu-
pills, some principals may pocket their
fear for fear Of their pocket, and thus
reluctantly admit some of the undesir-
ables
II feel that the self-respecting citizen
ship Of this community ought to be ap-
prised Of this fact when 1t boasts of the
educational facilities of Washington.
Aside from the fact that have been CIV
ing myself unstintingly for years to wipe
out prejudice and vicious discrimination.
long have been convinced that the battle
against these enemies Of real culture cam
not be won in one age nor by one method
Of attack. Whatever churches. schools
and growing democracy may do for the
dissemination of truth and for the burial
in the dust of forgetfulness of anaemic
exclusiveness. the power of the daily
press. with its educative pen. brains. pub
licity. sarcasm and independence, is, after
ALL the greatest weapon to be relied upon
in the contest.