The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1923-09-27
RELIGIOUS STUDY
In PUBLIC SCHOOL
Parents Seem In Favor Of Religious
Education For One Hour
Each Week

The 1922 session of the legislature
passed a law permitting the churches
to offer religious education to the
public school children OF their church
one hour each week. This hour to
be taken from the school time each
week and the children to be required
to be either at the public school or
1t the church school at this time.
Many of the people of Miller have ex-
pressed their desire that Miller un-
dertake to offer this work. Eve other
towns in the state have offered the
work before and none of them have
to knowledge discontinued it.
The work should in NJ way hinder
with the regular school work, rs the
school program can be arranged so
that all those that attend the reli-
gious instruction classes will not miss
any of the required work for promo
ton to the next ghade. The work
should be a valuable supplement to
the regular school work as the church
school working with the public school
can teach religious ideals, history,
literature, and practices that should
be a part of the education of every
boy and girl. The religious training
of the children is entirely a voluntary
proposition, yet even though volun-
tary, il connected up with the school
week. a definite course of study ar
ried out, a marking system estab-
lished, and a requirement Of work
made for promotion in the church
school, a much greater impression
Of religious responsibilities, attitudes
and ideals can be instlled in the boys
and girls.
A survey mas been conducted cover
ing 313 religious schools of the above
nature Results OF survey show the
work a worthy cause, and to the ex-
tent that it has been carried on at
the present time, a success. No edu-
cation that does not connect up the
church, the home, and the school in
the closest way possible is adequate
ly fulfilling its mission. The week
day religious training gives oppor-
tunity for connecting up school and
church In a more harmonious and
effective way, each constructively
participating and cooperating in con-
trolling the activities Of the boys
and girls so that the aims of educa-
tich may NC 40 uSuihy iOoShOu 90 -
possible.
A committee from each church in
the community has been appointed
and this committee has had n meet
ing. The opinion that Miller should
take advantage of the law and con-
duct religious education in the
churches seemed unanimous. 1t was
understood that the work would not
be carried on to in any way hinder
the Sunday school work. Also that
the work should be carried on under
the same routine, class room require
methods as the public school work.
AS a result of the meeting the church
committees a questionable was sent
to the parents of the children last
week, asking each parent to state
whether they were in favor of this
work being carried on, and If carried
on whether they wished their children
t. enroll in the religious instruction
classes.
As the paper goes to press ninety
families have voted in favor of the
work and six families against 1t.
There are a few questonnaires which
not rccn returned as yet but the out
standing opinion of the parents seems
to be in favor of the work.