Evening star., 1962-01-13
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Reaction to Proposed Bon on Relation in Schools

~ - - - - Sd
Christian ethics be restored
to their rightful place as the
cornerstone of our children's
moral and spiritual heritage.
Indeed, Protestants, Roman
Catholics, and Jews should
at least be able to agree on
the Ten Commandments as
the boundaries of ethical be-
havior, and the Psalms as
songs of praise to God.
America, in spite of its
worldliness, is still basically
Christian in it's patterns of
worship and standards of
conduct. Our public schools
must, therefore, reflect the
culture which we wish to
maintain. Christmas and
Easter are part of our COM
mon life. We do not insist
that Jewish children celebrate
them. Indeed, it is my expert
ence as a teacher that jew
ish students are often absent
from school for their religi-
GUS reasons. That is their
privilege. But by the same
token they should recognize
that the plural society in
which we all participate is
still, however, nominally,
Christian, and that in a
democracy the majority rules.
For myself, as a historian
and a Christian, I find the
democratic way of life we be-
lieve in to have been ham
mered out over the centuries
at great individual cost by
believing Christians, and I
am convinced that it will be
possible to maintain it only
in a Christian context.
Edith C. Lowry,
Professional lecturer, His
tory Department, American
University.
Il + x
Many years ago when I
was in the seventh grade here
in the District, there was the
son of a rabbi who consid-
cred it an honor to read a
verse from the Bible at the
opening of class and at
Christmas time he wished us
all a merry Christmas and
we wished him a happy holi-
day for the Feast of Lights
which comes about the same
time of year. I don't think
it hurt him because I heard
he also became a rabbi like
his father. In those days we
never heard of any objections
and everyone seemed to be
happy to get along together
regardless of our differences.
When my daughter went
to Junior high and high
school, more often than not
a Jewish boy or girl on the
student council led them in
the service at chapel assem-
bly, and they always chose
their own favorite verse from
the Bible for the current sea-
son.
Instead of damage to the
educational process, as
claimed by some, this little
experience of a religion other
than theirs should enrich
their knowledge of other peo-
pie and their customs.
No one to my knowledge
ever was forced to partici-
pate in these customs, so why
try to interfere with the es-
tabliShed customs of the land
and risk building up more of
the prejudices the Anti-def-
amation League has tried so
hard to eliminate?
I, for one, would hate to
see this happen as 1 have
met many fine Jewish people
who are noted for their good
deeds and kind hearts.
B. G. Carmack.
= 4 x
Our country was founded
on the principle, that In God
We Trust" Should we not
give honor and special recog-
milton within our schools to
God who permitted the
founding of a free land where
those who desire can worship
God as they think right?
Could we do less? To do
otherwise would be the ges-
ture of an ungrateful people.
My children have been for
tunate to attend a school
where the special holidays of
both Christian and Jewish
alike have been recognized
with colorful and educational
programs in which the chill
dren participated and which
the parents, both Christian
and Jewish, have been able to
share and enjoy. Through
this l have seen the crea-
ton of better understanding,
more consideration and toler-
ance of one another's reli-
giouS beliefs. I, for one, have