Evening star., 1949-02-18
Against School Easter Holiday

To the Editor Of The Star: yae
In your February II issue the Arlington
report upholding legality OF the countys re-
leased time religious instruction Is quoted
thus: IF the arguments of the opponents OF
the program were carried to their ultimate
there could be no school holiday for Christ
mas or Easter because both are Christian
holidays, not part Of the belief OF members
of the Jewish or other non Christian faiths;
therefore, the schools should be kept open
for the benefit of these non-Christian
faiths"
AS one Of the opponents" Of all such
divisive additions to the time tried unity
fostering treat EN- all alike functions of the
public schools. should be pleased to discuss
the reports alleged projection OF our policies.
For discussion, we must separate the two
holidays referred to. 1t would be idle to
contend that religion has not had pro-
found influence in the development OF our
politico-s social fabric, or thatsit has not con-
tributed commercial and social phenomena
which have long since lost their essentially
religious nature. The present Christmas
celebration is an outstanding case in point.
A. top-ranking seasonal factor in our COM
mercial life. with its weeks-long bolsterlng
of store postal, factory and entertainment
staf1s and its unWonted pressure upon
transportation systems, the event. II only
by its commercial ramif1cationS, has become
a major factor in the life,routine OF our
country Literally no one. regardless OF re-
ligious status. can avoid its impact.
Accepting Christmas then as an inevitable.
though not necessarily religious, factor IN
life-routine determination, let us look at the
problem from the viewpoint of school ad-
ministration. I doubt that any one questions
the desirability of substantial break in
the school term. Ideally, perhaps, the break
to be truly "mid-term be later
in the winter. Yet. Christmas, with its ira
ditional near-carnival mood and It's unique
OPPORTUNITIES for short-term employment OF
high-school and college students, can hardly
be ignored. Regardless OF the history OF the
Christmas school holiday it would be sneer
folly, in todays circumstances, to resist the
purely practical demand for permitting the
mid-term break to coincide with the hrmiy
established yuletide.
The difference between Christmas and
Easter is essentially one of degree-though
a large degree. Commercialization of Easter
Is not as far advanced as is the case with
Christmas and the period retains enough
of its religious motivation to justify, in the
interest of the unity provided for IN our
Constitution, its complete and unequlvocal
abandonment as an occasion. for closing the
public schools. HOLTON r. SMALL.
Sword ;. To Cut the World in Two?
To the Editor Of The Star:
When Solomon called for the sword to cut
in two the disputed infant. he infallibly
brought to light the true mother.
An informed and unprejudiced mind must
admit that the incident OF the Norwegian
minister's VISIT to our State Department to
ascertain the commitments Norway would
4t,o In HoNfi e
and most frightening flash Of light by which
the people of the United States can see the
sword being forged here in our country to cut
the world in two-and that is war. the death
of the. infant U. N. which we have Ignored
the end OF civilization. :,
Russias worst enemy cannot say that tssne
wants war and plans for 1t, spending alHtne
PEOPLES money-nor Is Russia afraid.
ELIZABETH w. STEPTOE.