The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1954-01-30
(Heprinied from the Christian
Science Moniforl
Special TO the Christian Science
Monitor

SAN DIEGO. Calif.-Re Restrained
from teaching religion because of
minority group objections, San
Diego public schools have turned
TO teaching about religion. and
no one has challenged the pro-
gram.
Closely aligned with the pro-
gram is an effort leading to moral
education.
The undertaking. now we'll into
its first year of operation, re-
places one in which pupils were
released into charge Of church
groups desiring TO conduct classes
in religion. That earlier effort
raised protests from religious
groups which did not wish 10
participate.
The Board OF Education hated
the released-time program with
adnfNed reluctance. II decided
that il is the duty Of the schools
20 help our pupils develop
strength Of character adequate
for the times"
Twofold Challenge
The challenge to the schools IS
two-fold the board agreed
/. Public schools must put re-
newed emphasis on the moral and
spiritual values which the people
wish 10 see in the character and
conduct OF their children.
?. Public schools must stress the
Importance OF religion and de-
velop a program OF moral and
spiritual education based on the
values shared by all religious
faiths. They must continue to
build respect for religious free
dom.
The next step after reaching
this point OF agreement was to
assign Miss Florence A. Adams of
the elementary schools an q
Wayne Laughery. high-school
teacher, 10 devise manuals to be
followed by teachers. Their work
required an intimate knowledge oil
laws touching upon religious edu-
cation in public schools. and OF
methods which might be used IN
claSsrooms.
Manual OF Instruction
The elementary manual, en-
titled "A Guide TO Moral and
Spiritual Education" contains de
tailed instruction and material
for teaching the first six grades.
Children are taught, but not COM
PEELED, to say grace at luncn
time. That is q kindergarten les
son, the child being led IN one
of a group of ready verses. other
verses are taught in the FIRST
grade for use as bedtime prayers.
BY the end of his experience
in the sixth grade the pupil VIII
have an opportunity to learn OF
the existence OF God, a basic
assumption: a reverence for God,
respect for personality. loyalty to
national ideals; responsibility for
elf-direction and STRENGTHENING
Of character; reverence for and
pursuit Of worthy goals; the Col
den Rule; brotherhood, and SEN
sitivity and creative ability These
are definite goals OF the program.
Junior high-School pupils, IN
GLIDING seventh. eighth, and ninth
nade members. begin the CLEAN
ing OF the best thoughts from
the worlds great literature, not
including the Bible lest this
should arouse public protest But
the pupil does learn what such
men as BENJAMIN Franklin ond
Horace Mann thought Of God.
Significance OF Holidays
The manual for junior and
senior high-school use leans
heavily upon the imparting OF q
knowledge OF the spiritual sig
nificance OF the holidays OBJ
served in the United States The
origins and purposes Of Thanks
giving and Christmas cannot be
taught without teaching about
religion. Use is made Of spiritual
values in teaching about such
community programs as Junior
Red Cross. the Crusade for Free
dom, the Community Chest. and
others. Children learn the history
and tradition hound mn, IN fha