New Britain herald., 1926-09-11
RELIGIOUS INSTRUCTION REQUIRED BY LAW
 IN CONNECTICUT PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN 1900

tHlStorlHal background Of religious day schools, Zollman, Religious Fducation.)
 The Connecticut statutes Of 1852 are about the first to actually drop out the teaching Of rengion as a function of the public school:
 1S52-Revised statutes of 1849. All parents and those who have the care of children shall bring them up in some honest and lawful employ ment, and shall instruct them, or cause them to be instructed, In reading, writing, English grammar, geography, and the elements of arithmetic. The Yeading of the Bible in the public school, whether as a reading book, or for morn ing exercises" is approved.
 New Britain Rules
 Tn 1855 we find rules and regula- tions set forth by school visitors.
 New Britain: "The morning exer- cises Of all schools shall commerce with the reading of the Scriptures; and it is recommended that the reading be followed with prayer by the teacker"
 Harwinton: Here Bible reading was required, but prayer by the teacher was optional.
 It is very interesting to note that as definite religious instruction drops from the public schools, the lack of that which such instruction inevitably creates and maintains namely, true morality, Is clearly rec ognized and greatly decried:
 Report of Superintendent of Schools Philbrick:
 Moral Culture
 Tt Is to be feared that the great ends of system of public instruc- ton will be to a considerable extent defeated unless greater attention Is paid to this part of education. Our fathers assigned to It the first and last place, and they were right. with us moral training is quite sub- ordinate to intellectual and in many instances 1t seems to be altogether neglected. This is partly the cause and partly the result of our wor- ship of the intellect, which stands in OUT estimation next to the almighty dollar. Hence, our greatest man is the one whose brain weighs the most ounces and drams. We do not inquire into the magnitude of his heart.
 Even in our best schools too little Is done in the way of training and developing the moral and religious sentiments. More care is taken to teach the rule of three than to se- cure the practice of the golden rule. Much pains is bestowed upon GUS tom house duties, ad Nalorcm and specific, but how fare the various social duties Is not the govern ment of nouns and verbs made Of more account than the government of passions? And is not the multi plication table allowed to take pre- cedent of the tables of the Holy Law?
 The want Of better moral train ing in our system of education is already beginning 10 be felt, I note it as one of the encouraging signs of the times, that the impor- tance of greater attention to moral training in our schools is beginning to be agitated with earnestness and effort" (Philbrick's annual report, 1S56.)
 In some of the schools controlled and maintained by the churches after the new public school system was introduced there was a com pensation plan by which the state paid the schools part of the cost for the secular teaching given.
 Following the Civil war this compensation system became a poli- tical issue Gin 1S76) and blood ran hot on both sides. While no de- cisive action was reached. yet it was very evident that more and more the public school system must be en- tirely independent of any ecclesias- tical control.
 States Take Action
 Accordingly many of the states took Up the matter and settled 1t for themselves, as Massachusetts had already one Gin 1S55) by pro- viding that public school money shall never be appropriated to any religious sect for the maintenance, exclusively. of it's own school" Massachusetts constitution, 1 18th amendment.) At the present time eff not alb states have some such provision in their constitutions.
 Three facts stand out very clear ly in the minds of many:
 Religious instruction has no place in our public school curriculum.
 It is unsatisfactory to have religi- ous instruction only on Sunday.
 Religious instruction should be part of each child's general educa- tion, coming during public school hours. but provided for by his own 
 Some states have recognized the wisdom of including religious in struction in public school time. By legislation they provide for those children whose parents so desire to be released from public school for an hour or more a week to receive religious instruction by their re- spective churches.
 Other states oppose this attitude. Still others have no legislation re- Carding the matter but allow the lccal school boards 10 do as they like.
 A summary of the situation in some Of the states is as follows: States with favorable legislation -I Maine, Minnesota, Oregon, South States where legislation has ruled against-California, Colo rado, Indiana, North Dakota, Wyom- lEg. States without legislation, but boards of education are opposed New Hampshire, Washington (at- torney general ruled against. States without legislation, but boards Of do not oppose Connec-