New Britain herald., 1925-09-11
"Real Challenge to Churches'' Presented by Failure of Par
 entS to Become Interested
MORE JUVENILE OFFENSES
 THAN EVER, HE DECLARES

Attempt to Attribute It To Fall ure of Public Schools Unwarrant-
 cd and Unjust"
 The unsatisfactory canvass Of chill dren of the seventh and eighth grades of the junior high schools of the city which showed that out of 1645 pupils registered only 26o, or approximately 16 per cent, were in favor of religious instruction Is situation which offers a problem to schools and homes and real chal- llenge to the churches of the city, &C., cording to School Superintendent Stanley H. Holmes in his annual re- port presented to the board of education today.
 Supt. Holmes stated in his report l that there was never a time when juvenile offenses were so frequent and 50 serious as at present, and he blamed the prevalence of these of 1 fences to the failure of the home to control the children and to cooper ate with the church in their relig Iious and moral training, To attempt i to attribute the cause to failure of the public school, he added, would be unwarranted and unjust.
 He said that the school commit tee. though assuming no responsibil- lity for the methods or the results of religious instruction, would in the face of the existing need, cooperate with the various religious organiza- tions of the city.
 On this point Supt. Holmes says:
 "The religious education of chill | dren and youth needs the serious attention of all who are concerned 1 for the future welfare of America. | It would seem that there has never been a time when juvenile offenses were so frequent and so serious as at present. To attempt to at tribute the cause to a failure of the ! public school would be unwarranted and unjust. The causes undoubt- edly lie farther back in the failure of the home to control the children and to cooperate with the church in their religious and moral train ing.
 1 "The school committee assumes no responsibility for the methods or the results of religious instruction, but its action in offering to CO., operate with the religious organiza- tions of the city in making it pos sible to establish plan of week day religious training is evidence of its deep conviction of the existing need.
 "A canvass of the schools, made in May, 1925, showed that of the parents of the 4,742 pupils in Grades III, ", V. and VI, 2,913 pupils or approximately 62 per cent wished to take advantage of the op- portunity for religious instruction for their children. This per cent will possibly increase in case the churches do their part in adequately meeting this very evident demand. The results of the canvass in Grades VII and VIII of the junior high schools were less satisfactory. Of a total of 1,645 pupils in these grades, only 26O or approximately l6 per cent registered in favor of religious instruction. This situa- llon offers a problem to schools and the homes, and a real challenge to the churches of the city.
 Referring to the senior high school, Superintendent Holmes says: It is a pleasure to report to the committee that the senior high school is worthy of the approval and support of this community The schools has already received the official approval of the state de- pertinent of education Inquiry has shown that it's graduates are main. taining a creditable standing ir higher institutions. The best and most convincing evidence of the real standing and work of the school Is afforded, however, by a close knowl. edge of its controlling policy, a per 
 sonal acquaintance with its staff of instructors and observation of the school in operation. The senior high school pupils are, with few ex- captions, industrious and self-con- trolled and credit to their com munity. The teachers are able and efficient The instruction, the methods of assignment and the studious attitude of the pupils give the impression of a place where business is being carried on joyous ly, seriously and intelligently. be- lieve that the quality of the work done and the results achieved have
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