The New York City school system’s program of released time for religious instruction was lauded by Mayor Robert F. Wagner last night as a factor which has helped to strengthen the nonsectarian schools. The released time program, under which some 100,000 children are excused from classes for one hour a week for religious instruction in institutions of their own faith outside the schools, has been opposed by many Jewish organizations on the grounds that it violates the principle of church-state separation.
Mayors Wagner lauded the program at a dinner marking the 20th anniversary of the Coordinating Committee on Released Time of Jews, Protestants and Roman Catholics. Former Senator Herbert H. Lehman, who signed the released time bill into law, when he was Governor of New York State in 1940, also addressed the dinner.
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