The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-07-21
COMMITTEE REPORTS
DETAILED PLAN FOR
SCHOOL BIBLE STUDY
Declares Questions of Giving
Credits for Work Purely
Local One Subject to Su-
pervisiOn.

School board Of several towns and
fities are expected to appeal to the
etate board of education soon to ap-
prove of the introduction of Bible
study in the public schools, the work
10 be done outside of the school build
tngs, now that Attorney General Ho-
nan has declared that the question of
introducing such study shall originate
with the local school authorities. The
attorney general held that, while the
state board shall not take the initia-
tive in the section Of additional SUBJ
bects, it shall have the power to re-
wise such additional subjects.
J. N. Study of Fort Wayne, r. A.
Reid of Richmond and H. G. Brown
of Lebanon, comprising committee
from the state board of education, have
just completed their report. The his
tory Of the movement to introduce b.
BILE study in the schools is set out in
detail. After telling Of numerous hear
angs on the subject and repeating the
opinion expressed by the attorney gen.
eral, the committee discusses the sub
dect in it's report submitted as fol-
lows:
Committee Discusses Subject.
"By this act (passed March 9, 1907.
PLu ucdllHS Will tAC SOuA DC Va oCuuy -
The election of additional elective sub
lects is in the power of the local school
authorities, which would be the town
ship trustee in the township, and the
school board in the towns and cities.
Such action, according to the attorney
general, is in every case subject to
revision by the state board of educa-
lion.
THUS it is clearly shown that under
this law the only way that additional
subjects can be introduced into the
high school is by the act of the local
school board or education, subject to
the approval and revision of the state
board.
Bible Question Separate.
This plan of requiring the lc cal
board of education to take the initia-
tive in the election of provisional high
school subjects is in line with all leg
islation looking to the welfare Of the
state through it's local self-govern-
ment.
"The question of teaching the Bible
in the schools or prescribing such a
study is separate and distinct from the
question of giving credit for work done
outside the school. The question then
resolves itself into local matter, that
Of the local authorities prescribing
work and giving credit, subject to the
approval and revision Of the state
board of education. In regard to this
consent and revision, the state board
of education must at all times be linn
tied in it's action by the provisions OF
the statute. This approval of the plans
of any board of local school authors
ties must be separate and distinct in
the case of each school corporation
as the decision of the attorney gen
eral clearly sets forth that the state
board of education has no right tc
prescribe studies other than set forth
In the law.
Board Unable to Act.
when the local board has acted
upon the question Of Bible study, out
side the schools, the matter will be
given a full, comprehensive and sym
pathetic hearing before the state board
of education. AS the law stands the
state board of education is unable tc
act except as asked to do by indi
vidual school corporations, and such
decision as is given by the state boarC
of education would be local in it's eff
feet and would not necessarily pre-
scribe the same course for Other
schools"