Formulate Jewish Stand on Religious Teaching in Public Schools

A statement of conclusions and recommendations for a Jewish position on the inclusion of religious matter in the public schools curriculum has been forwarded to the Joint Advisory Committee on Religion and the Public Schools of the Synagogue Council of America and the National Community Relations Advisory Council by a conference of Jewish community and religious leaders called by the two organizations.

The conference had before it three widely differing proposals advocated by those who want public schools to teach religious matters. They were: a proposal that the schools incorporate in their curricula a “common core” of religious principles, drawn from the three major faiths; a proposal that the schools teach so-called “moral and spiritual values” derived from religious teachings, and a proposal that the schools teach “about” religion in an objective, factual and impartial manner.

Participating in the parley were some 100 community leaders, community relations workers and rabbis representing Orthodox, Conservative and Reform congregations and rabbinical bodies. For the first time in such discussions, the views of Christian churches and Christian educators were presented by outstanding non-Jewish spokesmen.

The recommendations will be formulated in a draft statement of principles by the Joint Advisory Committee and then will be referred to the constituent bodies of both the national coordinating organizations which called the conference. In final form, this set of principles will be used as guides to policy for all American Jewish organizations and communities.

At the conference of lay and rabbinical workers, Bernard H. Trager, NCRAC chairman, reported that in recent months repeated requests had been received by the NCRAC and the Synagogue Council for a statement of position which could be used for the guidance of local community councils, federations and welfare funds, rabbis and congregations.