Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-02-04
SCHOOLS
NON-SECTAR|AN
SAYS MUNSON
Tucumcari Superintendent Of
Schools Brands Charges of
Religious Instruction as Alb
soluteIy False.

Especial Correspondence 10 Morning Journal
Tucumcari. n. M, Feb. e,--At the
request OF the Tucumcari News Prof,
Munson, superintendent of schools,
has given us the following statement
which thoroughly over the cOntro-
versy that has been going OF for the
past three months. prof. Munson
SAYS:
Editor Tucumcari News.
In response to a request for a state
ment regarding the reported teaching
Of religion and sectarian doctrines in
the Tucumcari public schools permit
me to say that this charge Is abso-
lptely without foundation, that Mt no
time this year has any such instrue-
ton been given in these schools.
| took occasion in the first teachers
meeting of the year TO caution the
teachers against anything thai might
SAVIOR of s~ectarian or religious instruc-
lion owing to the fact that we have
children Of so many denominations
and creeds in school. The caution
has been strictly observed. There has
been no bible reading 81 religious
exercises of any kind whatever in
the schools with the exception of the
reciting of tho Lords prayer in one
of the rooms on assembling in he
morning. neither have any of the chill
dron been at any time required 10
copy, learn and sing" any songs of
a sectarian or religious character.
About November /, a member Of
the school board informed me that
complaint had been made that Ger
tain songs containing the name of
Jesus Christ were being sung in the
schools. Onward Christian Soldiers
ur, mentioned In M rfic11nP nc 0nA of
the Objectionable songs. ! investigat-
ed the matter and found that this
song had been sung at the request OF
the pupils in n Of h rooms.
In December, while preparing for
the Christmas exercises in the schools,
| was again interviewed by the same
party. this time over the telephone,
and informed that songs of a Christ
ian character were being sung in the
schools and that the practice Il
stop and that all preparations for
Christmas must cease. | asked him II
he was opposed to Christmas eXer-
cises of every kind and he Informed
me that he most certainly was. re-
ferred the matter TO the board and
gave it no further attention. In a
few days | was again called up over
the telephone and informed that in
ASlklt1l f0 NV FfB 80
these objectionable songs still con-
he proposed to take the matter
to Santa Fe. on investigation at this
time / found that in one of the rooms
the little children had asked permls-
sion to sing Jesus Wants Me for a
Sunbeam" and that the teacher had
permitted them to sing it. again re-
ferred the matter to the board and
asked the teachers to refrain from
singing any more of these songs till
the matter could be adjusted.
In the meantime the matter had
been referred to the Hon. j, +. Clark,
territorial superintendent of pubic
instruction, and he Was requested 10
come to Tucumoari and investigate
matter. When Mr.. Clark arrived
interviewed both sides OF the con-
and instructed us 10 hold
our Christmas exercises in accordance
with the plan he mad sent out from
Fe, but to exercise caution in
singing of songs containing the name
of Jesus Christ, rs the the party who
had made the charge threatened 10
bring suit if the practice was not dis
continued. Since this time no songs
obtaining the name Of Jesus Christ
been sung in our schools.
At the Christmas exercise held in
the high school auditorium on ChIlst-
mas Eve the songs sung were 'Holy, |
Holy, Holy and 1T Was Upon a Mid
Clear Neither of these songs
contained the namc OF Jesus CHRIST
the complaint went to Santa
re hat we were singing religious
songs in the Tucumcari schools, n
suit would surely be brought II
1t did not discontinue. ! then placed
. on the first floor of the high
school building in charge OF a teacher !
ana announced that any pupils VINO
aid not care to attend chapel could
20 to this room during the chapel per-