New-York tribune., 1915-12-27
Many Rabbis Favorable to Religious feaure-0ay Jews
Should Welcome Opportuny-Superntendent WITT
SAYS Religious Feature Not Essential to Flan'

ias any other subject in the school and
that three and four days IN the week
ought 70 be given to II. Al present the
mere relcgation OF religious instruc-
tion 70 one dav i'm the week tends 10
make the child regard it as less impor-
tant than arithmetic or geography or
languages. And. indeed. hold that for
effective instruction in religion we
should have more than what is now
given TO it.
Plan a Challenge TO the Church.
"The Gary system would make relig-
ious instruction an integral part OF
the education Of the child, would give
il n dignity. because Of its connection
with the edcational scheme, which II
now lacks: would co6dinate it more
with the national life, end at the same
time would bring no pressure TO bear
upon any child in the direction OF sec
tartan instruction, would do nothing
insidious and would not force the con-
science Of any parent who had strong
convictions against religious instruc-
ton. Not the least advantage OF the
Gary plan IS that II is splendid cnal-
lenge TO the churches themselves. We
Jevs ought to welcome this plan. IL
a
ness anu energy. We, too, ought, wher-
ever possible, to make arrangements
for the religious instruction of our
children more than once week. We,
TOO. ought to provide for the religious
education Of the masses of Jewish
children by cooperating with this PLAN
Weekday Religious Instruction in
New York City.
In the current number OF "The Jour
nal Of Religious Education" Miss Dora
W. Davis. secretary of the lrterdenom-
national Committee on Religious In
struction in New York City, gives the
following interesting figures in regard
to weekday religious instruction:
"In New York City there are, IN
round numbers. S3l 900 children en-
rolled in the public schools. OF these,
100000, in round numbers. are known
TO be enrolled in church classes for in
struction, approximately 10000 IN
Protestant Sunday schools, 100000 in
Roman Catholic Sunday schools and
weekday catechism classes and Al 600
in Jewish religious schools. OF the
children unaccOunted for. not rev,
undoubtedly, receive religious instruc-
ton at home but their number IS prob
ABLY negligible in the thousands TO be
reckon with in q city where FAMILY
life has changed to such an extent that
formal home instruction is not com
mon. That there are many parents VINO
feel strongly the need of systematic
religious instruction is evidenced by an
enrolment Of approximately 10000 or
more in parochial schools under the
supervision OF various religious bodies
in the city. To summarize the situation
roughly, out Of about 100000 children
Of school age in New York, approx
mately 100000 are receiving no re-
ligious instruction whatsoever. so far
as can be ascertained at present.
Problem Before the Church.
"The problem before the church,
then, is how the door Of religious in
struction is 10 he opened to the hall
million or so children in New York TO
whom il is at present closed. That re-
lgious bodies are not able 10 furnish
figures which they are willing 20 call
accurate is commentary on the alb
sence OF sense Of responsibility on
the part Of the average city church
toward the welfare OF the whole com
munity. and a commentary on the lack
of aggressive missionary spirit and
method in the home field. The dis
. crepancy In the enrolment for sca-
demic instruction and religious Is also
a commentary on the so-called eff
cheney of the modern Sunday school,
which fails TO attract the unchurched
child. when, under the best conditions,
the Church must always rely on It's win
someness and power OF attraction. But
that the churches are at last awaken
ing alike 10 the magnitude Of the prob
L., % I'D aa+f
and are beginning 20 work toward a so
luton, Is hopeful! Of better day.
an the past several interdenomins-
tional committees have been in exist
ence in New York, which have done
splendid pioneer work in blazoning the
way many conferences have been held
and various methods have been sug-
gested. None, however, has been found
practicable till this spring. Then a
partial change In the public school sys-
TEN Of New York, through the intro
duction Of some schools of the Gary
type, created an entirely new situation.
This situation, when Gnalyzed, revealed
a fact much more important from the
standpoint OF the churches namely.
that for the last year and a half.
through the Ettinger plan and the part
time schedules OF public school chill
dren there had been presented TO the
church an opportunity TO instruct large
numbers of children weekdays an op-
portunity which they had overlooked.
To this situation the church in New
York is now awakening. and this new
opportunity y is embracing with zeal"
Miss Davis's statement that the
Ettinger plan and the part time sched-
ules also give an opportunity for relig-
ious instruction is something that
should not be overlooked by the public.
II is not generally understood that be-
fore the Gary plan was ever thought of
in New York City one of the priests in
The Bronx took children for religious
instruction when the Ettinger part time
schedule was in operation in p. S. 45.
This was easily done, as the part time
schedule provided that some children
should not arrive at school until $3.50
a. m, and others were out OF school
from 1890 to 2:30, while others left
school at 2:30.
Any one who desires to get clear
idea Of the development of the Gary
plan in New York City would find 1t
profitable 20 read Bulletin No. % Of
the Public Education Association,
what the Gary Plan Means for the
/ New York Schools" 1t can be obtained
free OF charge from the Public Educa-
ton Association, 8 West Fortieth
/ Street.