Speech #920030986

Almost from the beginning religious exercises in the public schools have been the subject of intense criticism. vigorous debate. and judicial or administrative prohibition. Signflcantly. educators and school boards early entertained doubts about both the legality and the soundness of opening the school day with compulsory prayer or Bible reading. Particularly in the large Eastern cities. where immigration had exposed the public schools to religious diversities and conflicts unknown to the homogeneous academies of the eigtheenth century. local authorities found it necessary even before the Civil War to seek an accomodation. In 1843. the Philadelphia School Board adopted the following resolutions:. "Resolved. that no children be required to attend or. unite in the reading of the Bible in the Public Schools. whose parents are conscientiously opposed thereto: "Resolved. that those children whose parents conscientiously prefer and desire any particular version of the Bible. without note or comment. be furnished the same." 40 A decade later. the Superintendent of Schools of New York State issued an even bolder decree that prayers could no longer be required as part of public school activities. and that where the King James Bible was read. Catholic students could not be compelled to attend." This type of accommodation was not restricted to the East Coast. the Cincinnati Board of Education resolved in 1869 that "religious instruction and the reading of religious books. including the Holy Bible. are prohibited in the cornmon schools of Cincinnati. it being thetrue object and intent of this rule to allow the children of the. parents of all sects and opinions. in matters of faith and worship. to enjoy alike the benefit of the commonschool fund."42 The Board repealed at the same time an earlier regulation which had required the singing of hymns -and psalms to accompany the Bible reading at the start of the school day.