Evening star., 1949-01-26
Ar|ingtonAwaits
Legal Advice on
Religion Glasses
School Boord Asks
Opinion on Whether
Ruling Is Violated

'uS ID NiOtOtCO
The Arlington School Board today
awaited an opinion on whether re-
hgiouS education classes in ele-
mentAry schools violate a ruling oi
the Virginia attorney general.
The question was referred tc
Frank L. Ball, jr., board attorney
last night after county groups on
one hand asked that the religious
instruction be halted while others
requested continuance of the pres
ent system.
The reference to Mr.. Ball was
made at the suggestion of Board
Member Colin C. Macpherson. Be-
fore that, however, Mrs. Elizabeth
Campbell. acting chairman, declared
that the board felt the present sys-
tenn is legal.
"The board made its deternnina-
ton last September Mrs. Campbell
said. "N There has been
no change in the attorney generals
ruling since we made our decision"
Group Presents Petition.
The Arlington Provisional Com
mittee for Separation of Church and
School, the Seventh-day Adventist
Church of Arlington and the Wash
tngton Ethical Society asked that
the present program be discon-
tinued.
The Arlington Committee for
Evangelism presented a petition
bearing 200 signatures which re-
quested that the program of the
Arlington Council of Religious Edu-
cation remain undisturbed in the
lS elementary schools. The petition
was read by the Rev. Warren Lee
Oliff. committee chairman.
Religious education has been
taught in the schools since 1929
under the council, which finances it.
Glasses are made up of fourth, fifth
and sixth grade pupils who are en-
rolled only at the request of their
parents and who are taught on
released time.
Regulations adopted by the school
board following ruling of the Vir-
ginia attorney general which, in
turn, came after a Supreme Court
decision in the Champain, ILL.,, case,
provide that school employees must
have nothing to do with the program.
Glasses, however, are held for the
most part in school buildings, but
In rooms not used for public school
classes.
Asks End of instruction.
Speaking for the Provisional Com
mittee, L. D. MacIntyre asked that
"sectarian religious instruction in
public schools be discontinued"
Mr.. MacIntyre. who also is presi-
dent of the Washington Ethical So
ciety, said: 1--WE firmly hold that the
place for sectarian religious instruc-
ton is ones home and the church
of ones choice if the separation of
ohprch and State Is to*be fact"
ANDREW j. Robbins, pastor, and
AI R. p. johnson. elder, of the Ar
lington Seventh day Adventist
Church, presented a petition which
recommended that the board per-
init only secular education to be
carried on in tax-supported schools,
and that no church be allowed to
disrupt the public school program
to teach religion to it's children on
public school time and on public
school property. 3"
Lawyers Fees Approved.
In other actions, the board:
/. Approved, subject to final
action by the Circuit Court, lawyers
fees for services and expenses in
connection with defense of suit in
the State Supreme Court of Appeals,
challenging legality Of the board
The firms Of Medley & Garnett and
Ball & Mccarthy submitted bills of
81, ,739 and 81 900, respectively. Both
firms earlier had represented the
board in the Circuit Court without
charge. No bill was presented by
Edmund D. Campbell, who also
participated in the case.
2. Approved Supt. Fletcher
Kemps recommendation for ap-
pointment of Mrs. Mavehe Eggleton
r. NJ, as the first negro school
nurse at an annual salary of $4,000.
8. Approved appointment of the
following teachers:
Mrs. Doris M. Wampler, Mrs.
Henry G. WELDON, Mrs. Jane F.
Capozzoli. Mrs. Alma F. Brown,
Victor Blue, jr.; Miss M. Lee Bailey,
Lewis w. Francis, Mrs. Catherine
r. Newton, Daniel w. Walter,
Francis M. Campbell, Mrs. Lois c.
Agnew, Mrs. Patricia F. Butler and
Mrs. Madge ]. Cramer.
4. Approved employment Of John
Coppack of Howard University to
teach instrumental music at the
Hofman-Boston High School for
Negroes. Mr.. Coppack will instruct
on a part-time basis a group of
children who purchased their own
musical instruments.
5. Granted a request by the Ar
hngton Lions Club for permission
to hold a horse show in Washing
to-Lee High School stadium on
June Is.
6. Granted permission requested
by Claude Richmond, Washington
Lee High School principal, for an
audit Of high school athletic ac-