Jewish Historian Opposes Religious Instruction in U.S. Schools

Continuing introduction of religious teachings and practices into the American public school system will make it impossible for the school to achieve its primary goal–the creation of en enlightened, united American people, Dr, Jacob R. Marcus, historian, said here today in a baccalaureate address at the State Teachers College graduation.

Dr. Marcus, professor of history at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Cincinnati, and director of American Jewish Archives, said the battle to bring formal religion into the public schools is being fought on two levels: “a hushed but very real rivalry between the forces of Protestantism and Catholicism” on the one hand and a move to unite all Americans in the hope that “a broadly based religious conformity will better aid the American people to cope with the dangers now threatening this country.” He warned that a rapprochement of church and state would “do violence to one of the most sacred of American traditions.”