The Denver Jewish news., 1925-04-30
PUBLIC SCHOOL COOPERA-
TON WITH X f LIGIOU S
EDUCATION LEADIN G
QUESTION AT UNITED
SYNAGOG CONVENTION.
Over 500 Delegates viii Attend Ma.
tional Meeting at Atlantic City in
May. Making Survey Of Effects Of
Weekday Glasses in Dozen States.

The effectiveness OF cooperation by
public schools in various States with
the movement for weekday religious
education for children of school age
will be one of the principal iscus-
sions of the 18th ANIMAL convention of
the United Synagog Of America which
will meet in Atlantic City, May End.
Bird. and 18th
The discussion will range around
survey which is now being made by
Rabbi Samuel NJ. Cohen, executive di.
rector of the United Synagog, which
has already covered communities In
New York State, Illinois, California
Connecticut, Ohio, Maryland, Kansas,
Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota
and Pennsylvania. where the principles
Of religion are being taught to children
with the cooperation of public school
authorities.
In some of the communities, Rabbi
Cohen says. the cooperation of the
school authorities expresses itself mere
ly in permitting the children TO alb
sent themselves from public school for
certain hours each week in order Ia
enable them TO attend religious classes
conducted by representatives of vari-
Gus denominations i'm others, credits
are allowed for religious class at
An. H.. ~.
attendance in religious classes is made
practically compulsory for school chill
dren
The basis of Rabbi Cohen's survey
are the following questions:
Has there been any change in the
attitude and the efficiency Of the chill
dren in their school work since the in
auguration Of the plan:
Has there been any change in the
relations Of the childftn Of various
denominations 10 one another since the
Inauguration of the plan?
What is the total registration of
the schools in your city, and what
percentage of the children, to your
knowledge. take advantage of the re-
ligious education offered?
TO what extent are the various
denominations cooperating in this
work?
Has there been any increased inter.
est in attendance and support of
Church work on the part of the par
ents?
since the institution of the week
day religious education have there been
introduced in the schools reading Of
parts of the Bible. .. Reading Of the
Ten Commandments?
Has there been any noticeable I'M
provement in the status of Child and
Youth Morality since the Inauguration
of this plan?'
Both large and small communities are
being included in the survey which is
being conducted with the cooperation
Of number of clergymen and many
school authorities.
"The survey is being made without
bias" Rabbi Cohen declared in a
statement issued yesterday. THE
problem Of religious training for chill
dren is as vital TO the Jewish people
as it is vital TO other denominations.
1t is only by ascertaining what effect
this new movement is having on chill
dren of other denominations that it will
he possible TO decide to what extent it
should be participated, if at all, by
the Jews. At the same time the fear
has been expressed by leaders of sever
al denominations that the weekday re-
ligous training movement touching, rs
it does, the public school system, may