The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1913-11-08
WANTS INTRODUCTION
OF BIBLE IN SCHOOL
r. l.. Kelly Speaks Before
City and Town Superin-
tendents.
TELLS PENDING PLAN
Says State Cannot Be Ac-
used Of Fostering Any
thing Sectarian.

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, NOV. 8.-ln
an address delivered before the City
and Town superintendent association
which is in session at the Claypool no
tel, President Robert l.. Kelly of
Earlham College, declared himself to
be heartily in favor of the introduc-
ton of the Bible as outside high
school work, in accordance with the
plan now pending before the State
Board of Education.
president Kelly pointed out that
the Bible, as literature, has no equal;
that it has been an important factor
In the development of the country;
largely shaping the ethical, political
and social life; and that in allowing
this heritage to slip would mean in
jury to national life.
Plan New Pending.
The plan now pending in the State
Board of Education as outlined by
President Kelly is as follows:
That the State Board of Education
have prepared a suitable syllabus for
Bible study using the North Dakota
syllabus as a model.
That superintendent and principals
throughout the state have favorable
attention called to this syllabus and
the method herein recommended, of
carrying it into effect.
In Part President Kelly Said:
I'm case the authorities Of high
school take favorable action upon the
use of the syllabus, they shall allow
all students who SO elect to pursue the
course as outlined. 1t is not expected
that this study will be carried on at
the high school building. The work OF
instruction is entrusted TO parents.
Sunday school teachers, ministers and
other interested friends OF the boys
and girls.
Teachers Examine Papers.
"At stated intervals the high school
authorities will set examinations upon
the work. mark the papers and award
credit. 1t is recommended that in the
examination questions, the literary
and historical value, Mt the theological
value, of the Bible be emphasized. The
only text book recommended by this
board is the Bible itself, and any YER
sion adopted by the class will be &C
ceptable to the Board. The object of
the work is to acquaint students with
the rich literature of the Scripture,
without some knowledge of which any
person is seriously handicapped.
THE state spends no money for
teaching under this plan: 1t does not
even allow the use of its buildings.
1t can not be accused of fostering
anything sectarian. The teaching is
done by those interesteo-presumab
by ministers, priests, parents and
other men and women who love the
boys and girls. If given community
has no such leaders of youth, who, in
the Judgment of the high school au-
thorities there, are able to do the work
successfully, or il there are other rea-
sons of any kind whatsoever why it
seems unwise to adopt the plan such
community is placed under no obliga
ton to take favorable ction. The
entire matter is elective for each high
school. just as each high school de-
termines as to it's elective studies.
"If the state board of education
adopts this plan there Will be nothing
mandatory about it; it will be purely
permissive legislation. And this
statement applies not only to each
high school. but to every boy or girl
of high school grade in the state. If
a high school adopts the plan a given
student in that high school may re-
iect the plan. There is absolutely no
coercion at any point in the proceed
ure.
Work In Churches.
"The plan issues to the religious
teachers of Indiana's youth the most
direct and far reaching challenge that
has ever come to them from any Of
fetal source. To use concrete IL
lustration the Sunday school is given
an opportunity to place part OF its
work on the same pedagogical plane
as that of the public schools. If the
Sunday school does thorough work the
state will recognize the fact and give
credit for that work in so far as it is
of a historical and literary character.
If the work is not thoroughly done, the
plan carries a feature that will dis
close the fact so soon as the applica-
ton for credit is made. 1t is an eff
fort to dignity Bible teaching. There
Is nothing in it that can encourage
slovenly work. The plan is as auto
matte in this particular as a thermo-
stat.
Il can not close this exposition with
out expressing my admiration for the
broad minded and deeply concerned
public school officials of Indiana, who,
almost to man. have shown their
keen interest in the best welfare of
the children even in a feld not in their
immediate jurisdiction. The enthusi-
astic support which this plan has re-
ceived from school offcIols every
wherein city and country-is suffi-
cient evidence that the charges of God
lessness which is sometimes register
ed against our public school system.
Is without foundation IN fact The
school men of Indiana evidently hold
as an important item or their creed
that old declaration of the ordinance
of 1887 that Religion, morality and
knowledge are necessary to good gov
eminent and the happiness of man,
kind
Backed by Citizens.
And this Is not only the conviction
of the school officials, it is the con-
viction as we'll of the great mass of
our citizenship. The favorable interest
of the people throughout the state
in this plan for Bible study, as eyi-
denced in its endorsement by the state
Sunday school association and by nu-
merous local Sunday school associa-
tions, by ministerial associations, by
mems brotherhoods, by the press and
by numerous personal letters and in
terviews all goes to show that the time
is ripe for this step forwad in our
educational development Many citi-
zens throughout the state are anxious
" awaiting the announcement that
the plan has been adopted and the
sentiment of thousands may be ex