The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1924-11-07
MINISTERS GET
FACTS ON BILL
ON SCHOOL LAW
B a ir d Tells c a ny o n
Association of Results
Of S c h O o Religion
Movement Elsewhere.

Al the canyon county MINISTER
meeting, held At the First Christial
Church recently the Rev. Jesse II
Baird. OF Boise. spoke on the i'm
pending bill to be presented beioF'
the Idaho legislature which viii per
NIT religious instruction OF the enid
rem On school time. In the cours'
OF his address he read a letter h,
had received from Rev w. A. Scnircs
director OF week day religious IN
struction in the Presbyterian church,
OF Philadelphia The letter IS oil
great value in answering many ques-
tions about the bill, and SO ! presens
part OF it here. To quote:
The plan OF dismissing children
from public schools in order that they
may receive religious instruction IN
churches IS, | am sure, in no way
violation OF our Constitutional pro-
vision for the separation OF the
church and state The task, how
ever, is to get the people to see tins,
and il is often not an easy one. The
practice OF dismissing public school
children for outside Bible study wide
spread in our cuntry. II prevails IL
perhaps. thirty different states. In
most OF these there has been no legdi
action necessary.
I'm four states, however, the prac-
tice has been given legal status.
North Dakota permits / hour a week |
for religious instruction, Minnesota /
provides for three hours a week. To-
wa in its new constitution makes a
similar provision and California has
just passed law permitting School
Boards to dismiss children TWO hours
week for religious instruction. There
has been no Supreme Court ruling
on the matter and | am quite sure
that no court decision concerning il
has ever been rendered.
I'm number OF states opinions
handed down by Atiorney-Gen-rals
have caused great deal OF disturb I
ance. This is true in Pennsylvania,
New Jersey, and / understand also ,
in Idaho. These opinions are, OF 4,
course, not binding since they are no; +
court decisions. About the only ar 7
yuments against the plan are those f,
which dem It violation of the 4
,hurch and state. There are a few 7
public school people who say that the
public school program is already ov-
and the time cannot be spar .
d. In my opinion these people are :
very small minority. Mos. OF our &
ublic school people are idealists and a
re very much aware OF the need for D
ioral and religious instruction. In al
iost communities they are the lead -
rs in the movement Tor Week Day Sc
eligious instruction. think you can &c
epend upon them in your own state, u
once they really understand the p'
roposition al
The arguments for such an arrange
lent arc not iar to seek. We have
q army OF 100000 school Children
no are not receiving religious in
ruction worthy OF the name. With tn
le meagre time allowed, the Sum in
~ School has failed to reach this -
eat body OF children and unassist-
It will continue TO do so. When =
c Sunday School is correlated with
c Week Day Church School pro-
am, il enables a community to
ach practically all OF its public
hool children.
Opponents OF the plan in your u
aie viii doubtless ask, why not
We the church school classes after
bic school in the evening"" You
n have a good school in that way.
I no community by this plan has
cceeded in reaching more than p
so per cent OF its children. With O.
bic school time many communities No
, reaching practically 100 percent
them. As ] have said, most pub
school people are deeply interested /
the matter, and when !, is put on
rigur basis there is increased IN D
81 when once the plan is in opera. n
n.
When the matter is pm, before
Roman Catholics in the beginning
y usually cooperate very heartily
archbishop OF Wisconsin has is
d letter asking all the priests
cooperate in the movement. I
e no information as 10 how Sew. n
h Day Adveniisis regard the move
nj. II they arc given an oppor-
iiy 10 teach their own children
o not see why they should object. .