Charges of hypocrisy in the public school system of Baltimore under the present theory of separation of church and state were made in a sermon Sunday by Rabbi Dr. Edward L. Israel of the Har Sinai Temple.
Rabbi Israel cited reading of the Bible in the public schools and Christmas religious celebrations as evidences of hypocrisy and violations of the theory of separation of church and state. He gave as an example an entertainment presented at School No. 69, in which he said a cross was shown, roles of clergyman and acolytes presented, and sectarian Christmas hymns sung.
Dr. Israel urged such hypocrisy be eliminated from the school system, need for daily religious as well as secular instruction be openly recognized, and school children, with the written consent of their parents, be released for religious instruction in church schools or synagogues of their choice.
He said the feeling among educators was that religious aspirations should be given the child as well as secular education. Philanthropy, world peace and kindred subjects, can best be taught by religious institutions rather than public schools, he added, and religion, like other subjects, should be presented in childhood for a realization of aesthetic values in life.
By releasing children from school only upon written consent of parents, all elements of force in pressing religion upon a child would be eliminated, the rabbi said, claiming it was equally as undemocratic not to give time for religious instruction if a parent desired as it was to enforce religious instruction.
He asserted that one day a week set aside for instruction was insufficient, and that religious instruction as well as secular education would profit by such cooperation.
“We have turned over to the public schools practically all available time of the child’s day.” he said, “so now we are asking for release of a part of that time for religious instruction by respective faiths; but by no means in public school buildings or supported by public funds.”
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