Separate Jewish Schools in Quebec is Only Solution Now, Exponent Declares

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Alderman Joseph Schubert, one of the three Jewish appellants in the appeal to the Privy Council on the Quebec school question who advocated separate Jewish schools, stated in a press interview that the Privy Council decision must lead to unity among Quebec Jews for establishing separate Jewish schools.

“The main reason I have adopted this attitude was because it is the only one in accord with the spirit and letter of the British North American Act,” he stated. “Government schools being out of the question as far as Protestant and Catholics are concerned, the Jews have no alternative but to ask for extension of the same rights as are enjoyed by the other minorities in this province and Ontario, Protestants and Catholics respectively. Any other opinion would have caused a position to arise which would have antagonized other elements and would not have helped the Jews materially.

“Jewish residents of Westmount, Outremont and other suburban municipalities are placed in a more difficult position than the Jews of Montreal proper because the 1903 act, which considers Jews as Protestants for educational purposes with limited rights, is circumscribed by the limits of Montreal City and did not apply to the outside municipalities,” Alderman Sonubert continued. “I expect that the act will be amended to include either the Island of Montreal or the whole Province in its territory. It must be understood, however, that this will be only a temporary remedy and not a solution of the problem.

“It is quite difficult to express an opinion on the Judgment rendered by the Privy Council since I did not have the opportunity to read the full report, yet I believe that it was a good move to have the Privy Council decide once for all this intricate question and render decision which will at least settle the legality of the matter.

“The fact that my attitude has been sustained and interpreted as legal both by the Supreme Court of Canada and by the Privy Council justifies my action and will I hope, convince those who were harsh in their premature judgment toward the minority report, advocating separate Jewish schools, that my stand was the only logical one under the circumstances.

“It is very difficult for us Jews to adapt ourselves to the idea that we have no legal right to be represented on the Protestant school board or on the board of education which have at present jurisdiction over the education of our children.

“I believe. however, that the decision of the Privy Council will bring about a closer union among all classes of Jews in respect to school questions and therefore, it will make it easier to again present our case before the Premier and Provincial Parliament, which I hope, will find a just and suitable solution to this vexing problem.

“If the appeal of Messrs. Hirsch and Cohen had been sustained the results would have been immediate. All we would have had to do would be to ask for appointment of our representatives on the Protestant school board and the matter would have been perhaps ended with appointments.

“As it is now a solution will not be realized for some time, the length of delay to be determined by the acuteness of the problem and by the attitude of the Premier of Quebec to the problem.” Mr. Schubert declared.