Milford chronicle., 1925-11-13
CHESWOLD PUPILS MAY BE FIRST
TO TRY RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION
State Board Of Education Considers Plan To Permit Local Com
mune To Provide Religious Education But Defers Action
To Learn Sentiment Of People.
Problem for Local Community
when Pastor Jefferson first co

Problem for Local Community
When Pastor Jefferson first con
suited DR.. Holloway about the mat
ter of holding religious instruction
classes in the public schools of Del
aware, he was informed that this
could not be done because the con.
stitution would not permit it, there
being no funds for the purpose. Sc
he dropped that idea. How to bridge
the difficulty of providing instruc-
ton of some character for those
children whose parents do not want
them to go to church or where per-
haps there was no church of their
faith near enough for them to at
tend for one hour, say, on a Friday
afternoon, was another problem
and one which Delaware communi-
ties will have to settle if the plan
is to work out.
The fact that only those commu-
mites where the local Boards of
Trustees seek such instruction
would have it, places the matter en-
tirely in the hands of these local Of
ficials. One town or city might
have such instruction, while others
who might oppose it could proceed
as they are.
DR.. Holloway, in explaining some
of the difficulties to be worked out,
said that if such instruction was
sought and the State Board agreed,
that the instruction period would
have to come at the close of some
school day. and on an hour that day
taken from the regular hours of
study. For those whose parents
did not want them to attend church
for this instruction, a period for
moral instruction or character
building could take its place and the
pupils who didn't attend church
would remain at their desks for
this instruction.
State Board Cooperation
In every instance where a COM
munity sought such instruction for
it's children the State Board of Edu-
cation would have to be assured |
irst, that the parents and churches /
lad cO-operated to the extent of |
agreeing on such instruc-
ion and that the responsibility for
instructors in religion
vas met by the churches. In fur
her commenting on the idea DR..
Holloway said:
"This movement for weekday re-
igious instruction has made phenO-
1enal progress during the past few
ears. More than one thousand cit
ss, towns and country cOmmuni=
les are now carrying on this type
work In some twenty-five
tates public schools are dismissing
upils during public-school hours in
rider that they may receive reli-
ious instruction in the churches.
avs sanctioning this plan have
cen passed in several states. No
lovement has given greater prom ;
;e than this as a solution of the l
rOblems involved in bringing eff
ent religious instruction to all the l
hildren and youth of the nation.
hen given this released time
hurches have shown that they can {
ring religious instruction to one .
undred per cent. of the children. 1
18th the adequate and suitable
me provided by the plan, churches
ave put on educational work equal
, the standards of the public I
,hOOls.
Weekday religious instruction
as often been confused with the
sading of the Bible in the public
,hools, and with the various plans
II teaching for Bible in the public
,hools. 1t should be kept in mind l
lat the movement for weekday re- I
gious instruction is not a plan to
1T the Bible in the public schools. ,
is a plan wherein the public !
.hools cooperate with the church :
and the other religious agencies
carrying on a comprehensive pro-
am of education whereby pupils !
e offered secular and moral cul-
re in the public schools and reli-
GUS and moral culture in the .
lurches and other religious or I
L
Thinks Idea Good if Feasible =
DR.. Holloway pointed out that at p
the present time students are dis
Issed from classes for short per- Il
Is, in the school day, when the il
sketball or football team is go f;
g to some adjoining town to en- h
ge in athletics. This fact is an Q,
swer to those who might claim
at school lessons were being dis l.
rbed. q,
Another feature which must be =
1sidered and arranged is the =
liter of attendance at the church q
churches decided upon. Who is - -
become the mentor or who will u
responsible for seeing that the y
ldren go to attend this religious al
W
I believe the idea is a good one oN
it can be adjusted so as to meet =
criticism" said DR.. Holloway.
Coolidge points to the
ID for some such plan. Whether
5 is the right one or not is some
ng for the country districts, the
al boards of trustees to thresh