The Wilmington morning star., 1945-11-14

Bible instruction and religion
teachings in Americas publ,
schools have been issues over
which men of the cloth, laymer
and zealots the country through
have drangled since long befor,
George Washington slept in any
thing but his own crib. In fact, dit
ferences over how the Bible should
be taught have directly resulted
in the founding Of many of our re
ligious denominations, and to nj
small degree, to the founding anc
existence of many Of our creates,
universities. There is, still, ir
these United States-and North
Carolina, too-a large segment Of
the population determinedly op.
posed to any form Of Bible or re.
ligious teachings in unsupported
schools. And there is a large sege-
ment, too, who approach the sub
ject with a mouthful Of reserva-
tions.
OF all Of these things, Maude
Weber is aware. She'll even admit
that there was a day not 50 many
years ago when she herself had
some doubts.
But no more. Experience born Of
SIX years OF Bible teaching to
children representing virtually ev.
cry denomination and faith has
convinced her that the Bible can
be taught successfully and bene-
flcially to children ranging in ages
from five to 10 years. And what's
equally important, the Bible can
be taught without bringing disturb
ed parents and alarmed religious
leaders rushing to the school door
demanding her scalp.
"The Bible is a wonderful book.
It's lessons are simple to under
stand and simple to teach. And
children, find, are rapt students
once their interest has been
touched" Miss Weber explains.
Bible classes in Wilmington and
New Hanover are not compulsory
courses for any child. Miss Weber.
whose principal teaching efforts
today are being confined to the
High school, directs Bible study
work in all Of the county's schools.
No child, she explains, has ever
been asked to attend one of her
classes or one supervised by her.
What's more, once in a class, a
child can drop out at any time
with probably less explanation
that he'd find necessary to use in
telling mother or father why he
was late from school.
very few children drop out of
a class once it is organized and
teaching begun" Miss Werber says
in referring to her class attendance
records. She lets others search
reason for this interest. She's
satisfied that the attendance-level
is maintained primarily because
minds are normally
curious about the Bible and COS
pei lessons.
Maude Weber became a teacher
of the Bible in the public schools
on about as short notice as any
professional career was ever de-
termined by anyone.
Native Missourian
In her hometown of Novinger.
Missouri little p1 ice almost
too small to be on most maps"
she says-Miss Weber was school
teacher, teaching the ordinary sub
jects most teachers teach in gram
mar schools. Came the depression
years of the '3o's and Novinger,
like most of the rest of the country,
was hit hard. To keep a roof over
their home, many mothers had to
work to augment slim family in
comes. Many children, Miss Weber
found, suffered the consequences
of slackened home supervision,
and, to degree that alarmed her,
certain unfavorable h e
traits began to find expression.
This disturbed Miss Weber. But
it was some time before her dis
turbed feeling found satisfactory
solution.
"A lack of acceptance Of Chris
tan principles was the crux of the
problem as I viewed it then. I
decided that with all, the church,