?ac and Synagogue Council Hit Linking of Public Schools and Religious Instruction

Objection to both “released time” and “dismissed me,” or to “the utilization in any manner of the time, facilities, personnel, or ?ds of the public school system for purposes of religious instruction” has been announced jointly by the National Community Relations Advisory Council and the Synagogue Council of America. Several weeks ago, the same organizations announced the ?eation of a joint advisory committee on religious instruction and the public school, give guidance to Jewish communities.

The joint statement was released after authorization by the executive committee of the NCRAC. It had been adopted by the Fifth Plenary Session of the NCRAC, held March 15-17; and on April 2 the Synagogue Council in plenary meeting adopted an identical statement. Based on a resolution adopted by a joint conference of the NCRAC ?d the Synagogue Council last November, after two full days of deliberation, the statement has the support of the major rabbinical and lay synagogue organizations, as well as the NCRAC. The text of the statement follows:

The utilization in any manner of the time, facilities, personnel, or funds of the public school system for purposes of religious instruction should not be per?tted. We therefore believe that Jewish communities are justified in objecting to ?leased time or dismissal time programs.

Where such programs cannot be avoided the following statement is presented for community guidance:

(a) Religious instruction of children is the responsibility of the synagogue, the church, and the home; and not of the public schools.

(b) Jewish communities are urged to maintain as a major community responsibility a program of religious education wholly independent of the public schools.

(c) Inherent in dismissal time are many, though not all, of the faults of released time. Nevertheless, when confronted with the necessity of a choice, we regard dismissal time as less objectionable.

(d) Where a program of released time or dismassal time is in effect, or may be adopted, the Jewish community shall insist upon the following safeguards against possible abuses:

(1) No religious instruction shall be given on public school premises.

(2) The administrative machinery of the public school system shall not be employed to record or encourage attendance at religious instruction centers of students who avail themselves of either program.

(3) There shall be no proselytizing on school premises.

(4) All children participating in such programs shall be dismissed together, and all grouping, separation, or identification by religion or by participation or non-participation in such programs shall be avoided.

(5) Children shall not be assembled on public school premises for the purpose of being led to religious instruction centers mor shall any representative of such religious instruction center meet the children on such premises to facilitate the operation of either program.