Evening star., 1942-03-21
Religious Instruction
In Schools Opposed
By Trade Board Unit
Weekday Glasses,
Backed by Three Foiths,
Rejected by ll-to7l0 Vote

Ncdllll IillllS lIlc pOSIuiOil IahSii Ny
the Washington Board of Trade IN
1910 on the question of religious
education in District schools, the
Public Schools Committee OF the
board, at a luncheon meeting yes
terday, recorded its opposition to the
proposal for religious instruction,
during regular hours, in Washing
ton public schools.
1t took this action in voting down
a motion, presented by DR.. Herbert
j. Garner, asking that it indorse the
program Of the Inter-faith Com
mittee on Weekday Religious Edu-
cation for religious instruction In
District schools.
George E. Keneipp. chairman OF
the boards Public Schools Commit
tee, presided at yesterdays meeting,
held at the Harrington Hotel.
Guests included the following mem
bers of the Board of Education:
Mrs. Henry Grattan Doyle, presi-
dent; Robert A. Maurer. vice presl-
dent: Mrs. Philip Sidney Smith, c..
Melvin Sharpe and DR.. James A.
Cannon.
Supported by Three Faiths.
In urging that the committee ap-
prove the plan for weekday re-
ligious instruction in the District
schools, DR.. Garner pointed out that
the program had the support OF the
three major religious groups IN
Washington-Prote Catholics,
and Jews.
The purpose of education is to
produce wen-rounded. responsible
citizens" he said. Praising the
achievements and the work OF pub
lie schools. he expressed the view
that religion is not receiving SUI
ficient emphasis in the training OF
youth. The church. he explained,
was to blame for this deficiency,
rather than the home.
A spirited discussion preceded the
vote on DR.. Garners motion, which
was offered as a substitute for
motion presented earlier by Maj.
Gen. Amos A. Fries. chairman OF the
Subcommittee on Curriculum, which
proposed that the committee re-
affirm the 1910 action OF the Board
of Trade on this matter.
Move to Shift Responsibility.
R. G.. Steinmeyer expressed the
view that the plan for religious in
struction in school hours was
move by the church to shift its re-
sponsibility for the religious train
ing Of youth to the Board OF Edu-
cation.
The proposal was described by
Charles H. Bates as an "insidlous
and dangerous attempt to bring re-
ligion into the Government
Following the rejection OF DR.. Car
ner's motion by a vote OF ii to 10.
the committee approved the original
motion offered by Gen. Fries. calling
for the reafirmation of the stand
taken by the board two years ago
against religious instruction in
school hours.
In expressing his opposition ito
the proposal for weekday religious
education. Gen. Fries declared that
its adoption would tend to raise the
question of religious distinction
among school children. 1T strikes
at the home" he declared.
Repair Funds insufficient.
In a report, Henry Thompson.
chairman of the subcommittee on
school buildings and costs. asserted
that Congress. for number OF years
had failed to make sufficient appro-
priations to provide proper repairs
for public schools in the District.
so confirmed has this policy be-
come that school officials find 1t
much easier to obtain funds to build
a new building than to get money
to repair an old one," he said in his
report.
In 1929, he pointed out. Congress
appropriated $529,6l0 for repairs
and improvements to school build
ings and grounds. whereas for 1912
it had appropriated but $4,000 for
this purpose.
The subcommittee recommended
that certain repair jobs might be let
out, with advantage, to outside con-
tractors. 1t also suggested that
greater efficiency might be obtained
if engineers and other custodial en-
ployes were instructed to make minor
repairs. This would not only be a
material saving to the taxpayers OF
the District in the cost of these re-
pairs, but would possibly reduce
their necessity as it would have
tendency to make custodial employees
more careful in the protection of
these buildings" the report stated.
Chairman Keneipp directed the
attention of the committee to the
recent series of articles in The Star
on physical fitness in District
schools. The committee approved
a motion referring these articles, for
It's study and consideration. to the
Subcommittee on Recreation.