Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-11-16
lE Of sCH0QI0USES LsC0|hMUhITI
C{lHERS MUST Be REGULATED BY The
TRUSTEES, STATE commissioners
Broad Principles Must Be Reco gnzed
scaies Personal Preu dices in Permitting Public
Be Used for Education al Recreaional Social Pur
poses Circular Explains-P Political Meetings Permitted
vided it does not interfere with its
use for regular school work.
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS.

vided it does not interfere with its
use for regular school work.
RELIGIOUS MEETINGS.
The gathering of the entire COM
munity or any group thereof for re-
ligious services on any day of the week
| at such time that it does not interfere
with the regular school work and un-
der such conditions that there is no
material disturbance of school books
or property is proper community use,
provided this is done under rule
of the board of trustees or under spe-
ciffc authority therefor; and provided,
further, that it does not violate the
rule of the state board of education
that religious services cannot be held
within As iputes after the adjourn
ment of school, This rule is made in
fulfillment Of the very strict provision
of the state constitution and laws
against the use of the schoolhouse for
religious or sectarian purposes. The
immediate adjournment of the school
into a religious service or a session for
religious teaching is for all practical
purposes the use of the school for Sec
tartan and religious teaching. Imma-
ture children with profound respect
for the superior age and wisdom of
their teacher or community leaders
could readily be pressed from the reg
ular session of the school into a con-
tinuation thereof in religious teach
ing and the purpose of the constitu-
tion and laws be thus annulled. The
rule has therefore been laid down that
religious community services must not
be held within 45 minutes after the
adjournment of the school.
NO RELIGIOUS BIAS.
1t goes without saying that school
beard or trustee should not object to
m txr Sc ..oI~ L
merely because it is asked for by a
different sect or denomination from
that to which he belongs.
educational community use would
include such purposes as farm bureau
Or boys and girls club work, lectures
ano musical performances, Americana
ization schools for adults, teachers
meetings or institutes, Red Cross work,
and so forth. Again 1t should be noted
that in point of time and conditions,
such useful meetings are secondary to
the school itself and involve provision
for the undisturbed, cleanly and sani-
tary condition of the school plant with
out trenching on school hours.
POLITICAL USES.
In free government 1t is essential
that ample provision be made for free
political discussion. 1t follows that
very proper community use of a
school house. within the limitations
heretofore set forth, is its use for DO.
litical gatherings or to listen to public
discussion of the issues of the day.
Manifestly, the decision of the board
Of trustees ought not to be based upon
their own political bias or affiliations
But 1t should also be remembered
that where alleged political discussions
are aimed at the overthrow of the
constitution and laws of the United
States, or the state, or resistance to
the courts and laws of the land. that
such meetings border on treason and