Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-08
CLERGYMEN BACK
RELIGIOUS TRAINING
IN C|TY'S SCHOOLS
Protestant, Catholic and lew
Give Varying regrees
Of Approval.
SEEN AS FORWARD STEP
BY DR.. MONTGOMERY
Churchmen Discuss Plan Proposed
to Board by Henry
Gilligan.


ing degrees Of approval to the sugges-
ton Of Henry Gilligan, member of the
Board OF Education, that religious
training be introduced in the public
schools as foundation program Of
character education.
Mr.. Gilligan. liberal leader Of the
school board, suggested at the boards
meeting late yesterday that a commit
tee Of clergymen representing the
Protestant. Catholic and Jewish faith.
be appointed to frame a religious
training course" which would be ac-
ceptable to all denominations He did
not press the Sonosal for action. but
merely asked the beard members TO
think this thing over" with view to
providing Washington public schools
with "a character education program
that means something
See Religion as Basis.
Interviewed today by The Star,
Protestant minister, Catholic priest
and Jewish rabbi were unanimous in
tneir convictions that religion should
be the basis of character training. One
dlsapproved OF any attempt to provide
universal course, while another be-
ileved further harmonious discussion
later on might produce a practical
means of introducing religion.
Rev. DR.. James Shera Montgomery,
chaplain Of the House Of Representa-
tlves and pastor of the Metropolitan
Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church,
said:
Being free from sectarian bias.
think the suggestion is a step in the
right direction. The appointment of
such a committee of clergymen Is a.
splendid thing, provided such a com
mittee could and would work in har-
mony and without sectarian bias"
Inc dramatiZation of Biblical stories
from the Old Testament DR.. Mont
! gomery added. is being done with con-
sloeraole success in many Sunday
schools and Is being carried out most
admirably in some radio programs.
Rabbi Makes Proposal.
Rabbi Julius Loeb of the Obey sho-
lom Congregation, said he agreed with
the principle, but not the practice of
Mr.. Gillfgan's suggestion. He proposed
that one teacher for each denor11ina-
ton be appointed to instruct the chill
dren in segregated groups at specific
i periods
Rev. W. Coleman Nevis, S. J.. presi-
dent Of Georgetown University, hailed
MI. Gllligans suggestion as a welcome
step toward providing the most impor-
tant element OF the curriculum" ANY
enort TO restore to the schools of the
District OF Columbia religious instruc-
Ilon, ne said, lis to be welcomed a.
step toward providing the most i'm
portant element of the curriculum"
Daniel c. Roper, former Commissioner
OF internal Revenue, was the only other
board member who voiced and views
on Mr.: Gilligan's proposal and he ex-
pressed a Willingness to support such a
move IN order to base character educa-
tlon on the spiritual force"
I-;-
ing discussion of the advisability of
distributing printed copies Of the
preliminary report of Supt. Frank w.
Ballou's Committee on Character Edu-
cation. DR.. Ballou suggested that the
5UO-ood copies be given to the per-
sons most interested in the building
OF character education program. Mr..
Roper asked whether DR.. Ballou was
thoroughly satisfied" with the report.
DR.. Ballou replied that he was satisfied
with 1t as preliminary" report. and
Mr.. Roper suggested that he write a
letter to accompany the report explain
ing that it was not intended to be more
than "a basis for further study"
Ia like to make a suggestion which
L wish you people would think over in
your minds" Mr.. Gilligan said at this
point. In spite of the fact that our
good former president. DR.. Carusi, has
possible. am hoping that we can find
a way to make some kind of religious
training the basis OF any character
education course we might establish.
think that religion is the basis of all
moral training and am convinced we
cannot develop character education
adequately unless We make religion the
basis"
Urges Study by Ministers.
You mean, then. the recognition of
the spiritual force as a character train
ing basis, don't you, Mr. Gilligan?" Mr..
Roper asked.
Yes" Gilligan replied. ct am not
talking now about religion In the de-
nominational sense at all.
i am hoping we CAL appoint a COM
nittee Of ministers-a Catholic priest.
Protestant minister, Jewish rabbi
to study our problem in a sincere en-
deaVor to arrive at some conclusions as
to means of giving training Of that
kind to our boys and girls. I am not
making this as motion to be voted
board members to think about it and
see how this kind of thing might be
| done to give our schools a real char
acter training program
AT the close of the meeting, Mr.. Gill;
gan told The Star he had no definite
program In mind but he admitted that
he believed series of dramatized
| stories based on the Old Testament
might be presented to the good advan-
tage of all children.
That could not conflict with any be-
liefs, except perhaps some of the athe-
lists, and I'd like to see them try to on
| pose II on the score that such a pro-
gram would conflict with their beliefe.
After sll, the Supreme Court has ruled
that ours is q Christian country"
Yesterdays meeting Of the board also
witnessed the first step toward a reor-
ganization of the boards officers since
Dr.. H. Barrett Learned resigned Mrs.
Philip Sidney Smith, one of the two
vice presidential candidates and last
board member to hold that once, was
placed in the chairman's chair on mo-
ton Of Mr.. Gilligan. It was Mr.. Gil
ligan's contention that since no new
vice president was elected following the
expiration of Mrs. Smiths term. her
| tenure should hold over pending the
| election. Hence, Mrs. Smith will pre-
side over the school board meetings
until either she of Mrs. Henry Grattan
Doyle, her fellow candidate for the
position, is elected vice president, or
until q new president Is chosen.
The board took no steps to choose q
permanent head at Yesterdays session.
| It was agreed that until the justices Of
the d. C. Supreme Court, who appoint
school board members accept DR.