New-York tribune., 1909-12-09
BIBLE AND SCHOOLS
LETTER FROM DRAPER
No Ban on Religious Exercises
Before Session.
~ r.lsgrnph % N. rrlhun.. I


Albany. Dec. s-The attitude n, ~.
STATE Educstion Department with re<nec,
tc the reading % The Bible IN the schools
- ire srate under SIS jurisdiction was set
forth tonight by Or. A. < Draper Sts-.
Comr,issicner of Education. IN letter ~
r Smith. nres;dent of the Board Of
Education % Freeport. Long Island.
eslegsrior representing che Freepor, Board
a. Education, consisting % Mr. Smith
r. Cran6an. secretary. and J X FL
s-dE~ called o. COMMISSIONS nraper 70
6av Nfth reference 20 hts recent order
r-ohihitlnE the reading % the Bible in the
F-eeport schools during the regular school
hours. complaint having heen made by
Father Charles 4. LOCUS. Since then tho
F-ee0ort Board of Education has fixed the
firne for the opening OF tho schools AZ sls
eor the purpose of reading the Bible from
~ ql5 r. m. for those who desired 70
st-end The delegation wanted ~ get Dr..
p-srers opinion on this question.
II his ierter 20 President smith Dr.
Draper says
at.Ee. object % the reading % the Bible in
fhe public schools. When patrons % a
scho6 object. tho state holds that such
-esf.r. must . discontinued This IL on
fre ground thar all citizens have common
rights t0 the schools. ana thai there must
- not hing iu The procedure ~ the schools
Errr--iS TINS interpretation Cf the Law
hsS beer consistently 70 lowed by the state
eSlcsti0ra authorities for more than sey-
errv ves-s s1d has come TO BE- genera llv
e~0epted Without question.
- rrrrr were any special statutory pro
VISIONS hearing upon The matter and relat-
~ ~ q usrri-ular cirv or district tas i'm
rrr "a - of the CITY Of New York; they
r-frr- chang fhe rule but there are none
~
The STATE education department has never
had 50 far ss 4 know. that 3 board ~
-ducstion might not holo rellglous exer-
rIses fu The tfteen minutes prior 10 the
opening NJ the school each dav. provided
attendance tlereUpon "a a. not conpul lSOry.
Indeed. recall thaf several superintend-
.-rs ~ public inSt-1rtion have Suggested
fhsi mat might 10 done Il Is NOT said
vss, th= state department might say as
fo me right 81 the board % education
- hoid such exercises before the regular
erenirE ~ the school n the question should
come ur 70 tho department on appeal II
Is nor tre USAGE OF the state 10 give direc-
ficrs % boards of education upon such
matters. unless the rule OF procedure has
ben UsI established
There - no law. although ere Is
ve'~ general usage: about opening the
schools at clock IN the morning. r f.
gre policy - mo department 70 leave
boards ~ education 10 their own iudg-
reut about such matters until object ION
Is raised t' any e. urse which a board o.
education may take. p hon objection IS
tween t1e board and the obJecfo~ bz- con
-s0enCe. II that Is not accomplished. and
fle mater ls not one WhiC. causes q eep
feel-uE- one Or reh Ofhe- Of tho nsrrfes
s.rl.e .es no the state department Tor aG-
Vire and that Is ordinarily given and fol
loVec. II the matter a. issue n one about
r-rlcn there rs likely 70 No considerable
tension. rHe state department will not
undertake 10 settle II except upon appeal
f-7U ne action q the board by the parties
Cr. eCfIu-.
Tho education Law provides FOR such sp-
detarInlDatl0n thereof All the parties are
hoard, either I'M writing or orally. II The
~ IS ~ practice are fol owed and no ore
car complain that he has not had his dav
a. court. Then the decision - the matter
n" Tho tomniSslone- - EduCafion no
comes binding upon The irnledIste parties
ir-erested. ard also becomes the rules %
T-0c "dlre for che entire state. Tho mat
-r~ D0u- presented 70 No - one Of sirE
7---crer hat I mink IL should - left 10
cefer01luatlon upon appeal
Tn r1e mean time your R0srd - FSu-
cation would have the right 20 carry out
r1e srflon taken Sept ernher s. 1e0a opening
rre schools ~ qi5 r. m. and n would
4re Tho further right 20 hold religious
fEe-..-rs ~ which attendance Of pupils
was NOT required IN the ffteen minutes
F-p .0i U- the opening of the school. Il
T-I.r a~- snE who object 10 thus they
f-r r-frE bout defsTrD insricn ~ the
-art6.fv - rheir objections by an appesl
.. mo commissioner II Education in due
form