New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-28

ltlht 10 apparently nOl unueTstoOu 10
that under the present system thou
sands of children are receiving relig-
ious instruction outside of school, but
they are all receiving it from Q to
p. m. The Gary plan simply makes ii
possible TO distribute this time through
the day, so that they can attend such
instruction on the way to school in the
morning, on the way home to lunch,
after lunch on the way back to school
or after school.
| am aware, nevertheless, that how
ever clearly these facts may be put or
however often repeated they will not
really satisfy Mr. Williams or others
who oppose this outside religious in
s.ruction. What they really fear is that
such a plan is the Opening wedge for
religious instruction in the school," If
there were any danger Of such an event
the plan should be opposed by every
one who cares for the principles Of
democracy. The fact is, however, that
this plan will permanently exclude re-
ligious instruction from the schools by
clearly defining the relation of school
and Church. Mr.. Williams refers TO the
case of the Board of Education loaning
school seats to a priest who asked for
them as an act "alone proving the po-
tential danger of the Gary system, in
that it is conducive to division OF the
public school funds for the support OF
religious education"
In my opinion, the Board of Educa-
{ on should not have loaned these desks
and seats to any religious organization.
But in making that loan the board was
not doing anything unusual; il was
simply continuing a custom which :.
has followed for years of loaning desks,
cha rs and other school supplies to re-
ligious and other organizations. II
would be interesting to know wheth".
they had ever been returned. In the
year 1914 the Board of Education
loaned desks, seats, chest-weight ma
chimes, parallel bars, ETC.. 10 fifty-tw)
outside organizations. of which the ma
jority were Catholic churches and ma
rochial schools; eleven. Hebrew church
es and schools; one, Fordham Univer-
ty. In 1915 to date such loans have
been made TO twenty-five outside re-
ligious and other organizations. The
whole list includes such items as st.
Joseph's Parochial School, Jamaica,
Long Island, 100 single desks and seats;
Yeshiva Rabbi Chain Berlin, 1899 Pros
pect Place. Brooklyn, forty-fve double
No. desks and seats; st. GATHERINGS
Street, Manhattan, fifty triple desks
and seats. etc.
Now the significant fact is that APP
parently neither the writer of the
above letter nor the general public
were aware of these loans of the Board
of Education to religious organizations.
But as soon as the Gary plan Is started
the fact does become known and the
public is in q pos ton to demand. I
they SO desire, that the Board of EGu-
cation Immediately pass bylaw for
bidding for all ature time their pres
ent custom of loaning school supplies
to rel gious organizations. Such loans
are never perm tied in Gary. 1t -
obvious, then. that in New York one Of
the first results of that provision Of
the Gary plan which permits religious
instruction outside the schools Will be
to define and make clear the real rela-
ton and respective functions OF school
and church.
This same point holds for Mr.. Will
iams's last criticism about the teacher
who was accused of proselytizing in one
of the Gary schools. No doubt that hap
pened But it is well known fact
that in oil large cities proselytizing IS
20 ng on, and in many cases classes
are organized by teachers from among
public school pupils, who meet after
school hours outside the school build
ing to receive religious instruction. No
publicity is given to this. The Gary
plan, on the other hand. makes open
prov sion for allowing children TO a
tend church buildings for religious in
struction outside of school hours
Under these conditions any attempt on
the part of teachers to proselytlze Is
Immediately known throughout the
community. For example. the mistake
of the Bronx school teacher who suS-
gested that two Of her children attend
church was Immediately resented BY
the public, but in the past the publ;
has taken for granted that the school,
and religion are divorced, and so the
citizens have not been vigilant to de-
tect the proselytizing which has beer
going on. II all denominations have
an equal opportun ty TO give religious
instruction outside of school hours II
is to be presumed that they will serve
as a mutual and perpetual check or
efforts at proselytizing.
This department will answer on Mon
day other questions that have beer
asked in regard to the feature of thu
Gary plan that permits religious in
struct on outside the school
Remember that the Gary plan can anC
does take care of all the children foi
seven hours a day in case no parent.
wish their children TO be excused for re
ligious instruction. and gives them {
richer and finer education than children
have ever had in public school. What
ever you think of the rel gious feature
find out about the Gary plan and wha'
il means to YOUR boy and girl in in
creased health and vitality. ability e
work with their hands and to think fol
4hevnselVea