Every Sunday, “Back in the Day” looks at an article that ran on this date in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin. The items are verbatim, so don’t blame us today for yesteryear’s bad grammar.
HILO >> Nearly 500 persons came out last night to register protests of the Board of Education’s proposal to seek abolition of the hour a week released time from schools for religious instruction.
The hearing was conducted by the School Advisory Council on instructions of the State board before the board takes action on a resolution asking the Legislature to repeal the …provision requiring schools to release students on request.
But the predominantly Catholic audience, wearing paper badges reading "For Released Time," left no doubt … where it stood.
It loudly cheered more than a score of speakers, many of them Catholic and Protestant clergymen, as they spoke out against the board proposal. …
The Reverend Francis Kelliher, pastor of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, saying he was disturbed by "a climate of irreligion," said the released time provision is not 100 percent effective but better than any other approach in sight.
… Kenneth McAtee, who presented a petition with 1,900 signatures, said legal moves intended to establish freedom of religion have been twisted to seek "freedom from religion."
He said the hearing "questions the integrity" of parents who want their children released for religious instruction.
… Council Chairman Ruth Tabrah, in opening the hearing, noted that the council had had numerous complaints that the released time program disrupts classes, but not one word in support of it. …
A review by the State board found that the released time periods disrupt the program for remaining students, that many students excused for religious instruction do not attend such classes at all, and that the churches where such instruction is given are so far away in many cases that too much time is lost in travel for an effective program.
Those who testified last night argued against these contentions, drawing loud cheers from the audience. They said cafeteria duty, athletic participation and other activities and chores disrupt classes more than released time. …
