South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-10-12
RELIGIOUS COUNCIL
CONDEMNS ACTION
OF SCHOOL BOARD
Declares Refusal TO Allow Re-
ligious Instruction Unjust
and Undemocratic.

action OF the school Board in refus-
ing 70 grant IT'S request for classes
vath credits. IN religious training to
be held apart from school buildings:
The statement which has been
given the public by the South Bend
Board OF Education concerning the
request oC the EcIth Bend Misha-
waka Council OF Religious Educa-
tion, calls FOR a public response from
the school Board The refusal Of
the School Board brings keen disap-
pointment 20 the 55 churches which
were supporting the program OF re-
ligious education for High school
students They feel that the decis-
ion Is unjust. undemocratic and with
cut sufcient reason.
The proposal which the council
made 70 the board covered the fol-
lowing points: The dismissal OF
those pupils who voluntarily elect 20
take Bible instruction during a study
period twice a week 20 90 70 some
nearby class room for such instruc-
ton; the study OF a non-sectarianI
course approved and promoted BY
the state Board OF Education. and
for which the state board has grant
ed for many years certain credit;
that the work would be conducted
upon a high educational plane: that
the privilege be extended 20 pupils
OF any faith. and without the use Of
public funds.
The above program has been care
fully studied and reviewed with the
superintendent OF schools. and he
has informed the representatives Of
the council that he knew no reasons
why the above program could not be
successfully conducted IN the High
School.
We feel that the public IS en-
titled 20 know some Of the real facts
in the case which show now just,
democratic, and reasonable the pro-
gram and request Of the council are.
In the first place the proposal made
10 the Board Of Education Is not
Identical with that presented last
year, and many OF the arguments
brought against last years proposal
do not apply here The program
presented last Monday night Is tat
plan outlined by the state board of
education. The latter has organized
the course OF study and the method
by which credit shall be given. It
ia not a plan for which the local
council is responsible. Some 10000.
students in Indiana high schools
have received credit. under this
State plan most Of them taking the
work during the regular School per-
iods.
Maintain Plan Legal.
The first reason given by the
Board OF Education In it's refusal
centers in the question of legality.
II the program were illegal the years
OF experience In the work in Indiana
In many high schools would have re-
vealed 10 the state Board OF Edu-
cation and the state attorney any
phase OF illegally
"The second reason for the re-
fUsaI we are told is that we are plac-
ing another subject into an over
crowded schedule of classes. and
that it would cause administrative
confusion.
ANY one acquainted with modern
tendencies in education knows that
a careful re-evaluation IS being
High School curriculum Much
drift-wood Is being thrown out TO
be replaced by courses dealing with
the more vital needs Of life. We are
told that no time can be given for
religious instruction. but the board
and administrators make a place
for gym work. the teaching Of thrift
and FIRE drills and prevention, chorus
work and orchestra. AS one OF
Americas leading business men.
Roger Babson. says: We are more
concerned about teaching our chill
dren dead languages. dancing and
table manners than we are about
training them In the fundamentals Of
life ordinary righteousness. 1t is
the conviction Of the churches that
religion. non-sectarian and free from
public expense. is vastly more i'm
portaut 20 the life OF the child than
much the students are compelled TO
study
Declare no Confusion.
LAS 10 the confusion for the ad-
ministration, may we say that Il Is
being done elsewhere without CON
fusion and complication Surely we
do not have TO admit that our Ad-
nninistrators are less capable OF
meeting difficult situations The
council was assured by our almin-
istrators that the work could be ar
ranged for at study periods.
The third reason the board gives
for refusing IS that the plan IS sec
tartan and partisan. At this point
the council would place emphasis by
Of sho rfa+. Cor
providing Religious instruction Is
either misunderstood or misrepre-
sented by our local School Board.
BY its attitude in the matter and re-
fusal 20 cooperate the local Board OF
Education has made q sectarian mat
ter out OF what the council and the
Board OF Education consider and de-
sire 20 be a purely uon-sectarian
plan.
The course and plan used in the
state for securing credit has met
with the approval Of and been used
By Catholics Jews and Protestants
alike. No discrimination is made by
the state Board against any religious
group. Our council has insisted that
from the very beginning that by
granting the privilege Of the dis
nissal o. the students for the study
OF the Bible twice a week for any
one group OF churches the school
Board grants. OF course. the same
privilege 20 any other churches.
Thus the plan is democratic. non
sectarlan. free from public expense
and fair 20 all Only ignorance and
excessive sectarianism viii lead 20
an unreasonable association with the
violation Of religious freedom. any
nfta-rnr 20 resronf 10 the desnerata