The Monmouth inquirer., 1923-08-30
BIBLE TEACHING
IN THE SCHOOLS
Six States Require and Ten Pro-
hibit Reading Of Scriptures,
Educators Survey Shows.

1880
public schoolsT"
! This and similar questions have i'm
PEELED William r. Hood, specialist In
school legislation of the federal bureau
Of education, to make a survey.
! "Six states require that portion Of
the Bible be read daily in their
schools" Mr.. Hood said. "Six other
states specifically permit by law the
reading. In 10 other states and in the
District Of Columbia the law is silent
on the subject. and Bible reading is re-
garded as permissible.
an five states whose laws otherwise
contain no specific provision, the courts
have rendered opinions favorable to
Bible reading. In Michigan and Cali
fornia the question is somewhat In
doubt.
"The Michigan Supreme court held
that the reading of Bible stories that
emphasized moral precepts' was not
unconstitutional, If the reader made no
comment and the pupils were per-
mitted to absent themselves. A case
involving Bible reading is pending In
the California Supreme court.
"In ten states reading Of the Bible
at stated times is not permissible. In
three states there are Supreme court
decisions adverse, and In seven rulings
of authorities such as the state super
intendent of public instruction or the
attorney general has barred the Bible.
In New York there is no prohibition,
but the commissioner of education has
ruled adversely. New York city'g
charter permits the reading
Is Bible Sectarian?
The point about which most of the
court fights have been waged is whether
such reading, especially from a par
ticular version, is sectarian. Mr.. Hood
explained that some states have In
hibitions against rsectarian fnstruc-
tion," which have raised the question
whether particular version. say the
King James, is excluded by such re-
quirement. 90
sThis question remains unsettled
commented Mr. Hood. "Of three state
Supreme court decisions bearing d.
rectly on the definition of this word,
one held the Bible sectarian book and
two declared the opposite. The former
was Illinois; the latter Kentucky and
Kansas. A Nebraska decision 'inclines
to the view that the Bible in itself ID
not excluded by that states constitu-
ton, but that, in the hands of 'sectarian
propagandists,' its use may become IL
legal. A court of appeals in California
has held the Bible to be a sectarian
book"
Left to Boards.
In Ohio, as indicated by the de-
cisions, the question is up to the local
boards, which are not restricted In pre-
scribing books or instruction. In the
only case Mr.. Hood could find a de-
cision by a court lower. than the Su-
preme court, an order barring the read
ing at the opening exercises was re-
fused
The New Jersey law requires the
reading Of sat least five verses from
| that portion Of the Holy Bible known
as the Old Testament" Alabama re-
Quires readings from "the Holy Bible;
Georgia requires "the Bible, including
the Old and New Testaments" Massa-
chusetts "a portion Of the Bible;
Pennsylvania "at least ten verses from
the Bible" The Tennessee law is sim
liar to that of the Keystone state.
Indiana and Iowa are the most
notable of the states in which those
who take approved Bible study are al
lowed credit toward graduation.
In New Jersey, Tennessee and Penn
sylvanla reading must be without COM
ment. In Massachusetts written notes
or oral comment are prohibited. Pupils,
If they desire, may be excused when
the Scripture is read in Georgia, Massa-
ohusetts or Tennessee schools.
In some states, where reading of the
Bible is not permitted if there is any
suggestion of religion Herewith, 1t may
be used to provide examples In liter
allure. A Wisconsin court decision
holds that such portions of the Bible
as are not sectarian in character may
be used for secular instruction and to
inculcate good morals.