Evening star., 1948-03-10
Ruling May Halt
Reading in
District Schools
Two Institutions in
Montgomery to End
Religious Instruction

montgomery 10 Enc
Religious Instruction
The Supreme Court ruling against
religious education in public schools
has raised the possibility that Bible
reading without note or comment"
and the reciting of the Lords Prayer
in District schools may come under
the ban.
School officials here expressed the
off-hand opinion that District
schools were not affected by the
ruling, since there are no religious
instruction classes held under Board
of Education rules. But no one in
authority had had time to study the
decision thoroughly.
Meanwhile, religious classes In, two
Montgomery County schools will be
discontinued, according to DR.. Edwin
w. Broome, head of the County
Board of Education. The schools
are Sherwood Elementary School at
Sandy Spring and the Gaithersburg
High School, The action was taken
as an administrative step, without
the action of the board, he added.
1t was Justice Reed, in his dis
senting opinion Monday, who raised
the constitutionality of Bible read
ing In the District schools.
Reed Sees Ban on All "Aid."
The jurist said that from the
tenor of the opinions of the other
justices, he concluded that "any
use OF a pupils school time whether
that use Is on or of the school
grounds, with the necessary school
regulations to facilitate attendance,
falls under the ban."
The Board of Education rules
here allow opening exercises which
include a reading of the Bible
without note or comment and the
Lords Prayer"
Justice Reeds dissent stated that
the opinions of the majority of the
Supreme Court mean to him that
I any such actions would be among
the practices referred to as an laid"
in establishing religion. He cited a
number of practices of the Federal
Government which are "aid' by the
State to religion. The District, under
the direct control of Congress. was
cited as an example because of the
Bible reading.
Counties May Be Affected.
Justice Reed pointed out that in
some States, courts have held that it
is constitutional for school author
tiles to prohibit the reading of the
Bible in the public schools.
Meanwhile, school authorities In
Arlington and Fairfax Counties con-
ceded that the ruling might affect
their programs for religious educa-
ton in the public schools, but with
held comment pending an examina-
ton Of the decision. Although there
are no such classes in Prince Georges
County, situation does exist which
may come under the court ban.
G.. Gardner Shugart, school super-I
intendent of Prince Georges County,
said two schools in his area grant !
leave from school to attend religious
classes conducted in local churches.
They are the Mount Rainier Ele-
mentary School and the Brentwood
Elementary School.
Mr.. Shugart said it appeared that
this practice might have to stop but
that he was going to ask for a legal
opinion before taking any action.
w. r. Woodson, superintendent OF
Fairfax schools, said there was
possibility" that the ruling would
affect the course provided in his
county but that he could not be
certain until the ruling is examined
A similar view was expressed by
Supt. Fletcher Kemp of Arlington.
Study Is Optional.
These two systems, like those in
so other Virginia counties and cities
allow pupils to attend religious edu-
cation classes for one period each
week, on school property.
The study is optional, however,
and is permitted only on written
request of parents, Mr.. Woodson
said. The instruction costs, includ-
ing payment of teachers, Is borne
hy interdenomination councils on
religious education.
Supt. Woodson and Supt. Kemp
said the Supreme Court ruling prob
ably would be taken up soon by their
respective school boards.
Mr.. Woodson added, however, that
local action on the matter in likely
to depend on advice from the State
Board of Education.
The ruling may also affect at
least one school in the District. the
Janney Elementary School, which
has religious classes before school
hours.
Miss Nell S. Hiscox, principal. ex-
planned that it was not a school
activity but sponsored by the P-TA.
A series of meetings, covering the
various denominations, is held about
four times year, she said. The
program began several years ago
when the PTA became interested in