HISTORY OF RELEASED TIME RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Released Time has been around for over 100 years. The idea of Released Time in the United States was first discussed in 1905 at a Sunday School Conference in New York City. The proposal was that public elementary schools should be closed one day a week in addition to Sunday in order for parents, if they so desired, to have their children given religious instruction outside of the school building. However, it didn't really happen until 1914. That year, Dr. William Wirt, superintendent of the Gary, Indiana schools, established a program in which 619 students participated in off-campus religious education. Dr. Wirt believed that the church, home, playground, library, and school were all components in a child's education. The Released Time programs were held on church property. The public school had no responsibility for teachers, curriculum, conduct, or achievement within the Released Time classes.
Released Time grew and flourished. By 1932, thirty states had active Released Time programs in 400 communities with enrollment of 250,000 students. Released Time peaked in 1947 with 2 million students enrolled in 2,200 communities. During this time, favorable Released Time legislation was adopted by 12 states. However, despite the fact that school officials were urged not to allow religious education classes on school property, this caution was not heeded. By 1947 over 40% of all Released Time classes were held in public school classrooms. An Illinois program was challenged in 1945, and in 1948 the United States Supreme Court held that it was unconstitutional because it used the state compulsory education system to aid in the teaching of religious doctrine and because tax supported school buildings were being used. Six denominations responded by passing resolutions in support of Released Time. However, in the aftermath of the Court's decision the number of Released Time programs dropped by twelve percent across the nation.
In 1952 a New York Released Time program was challenged. The state court upheld the program and the decision was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. In the landmark Zorach v. Clauson case (1952), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Released Time. The stipulation was that the program had to be off of public property and could use no public money for support.
Since that time Released Time programs have once again begun to blossom across the nation, even if the concept is yet to be widely known. Programs can be found for all grade levels, and the times of meeting can vary from daily to monthly. State and national organizations are springing up to not only publicize the concept but to encourage the correct and legal function of Released Time programs. As Justice Douglas said in the Zorach case: "When the State encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public events to sectarian needs, it then follows the best of our traditions, for it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public services to their spiritual need."
Released Time has been around for over 100 years. The idea of Released Time in the United States was first discussed in 1905 at a Sunday School Conference in New York City. The proposal was that public elementary schools should be closed one day a week in addition to Sunday in order for parents, if they so desired, to have their children given religious instruction outside of the school building. However, it didn't really happen until 1914. That year, Dr. William Wirt, superintendent of the Gary, Indiana schools, established a program in which 619 students participated in off-campus religious education. Dr. Wirt believed that the church, home, playground, library, and school were all components in a child's education. The Released Time programs were held on church property. The public school had no responsibility for teachers, curriculum, conduct, or achievement within the Released Time classes.
Released Time grew and flourished. By 1932, thirty states had active Released Time programs in 400 communities with enrollment of 250,000 students. Released Time peaked in 1947 with 2 million students enrolled in 2,200 communities. During this time, favorable Released Time legislation was adopted by 12 states. However, despite the fact that school officials were urged not to allow religious education classes on school property, this caution was not heeded. By 1947 over 40% of all Released Time classes were held in public school classrooms. An Illinois program was challenged in 1945, and in 1948 the United States Supreme Court held that it was unconstitutional because it used the state compulsory education system to aid in the teaching of religious doctrine and because tax supported school buildings were being used. Six denominations responded by passing resolutions in support of Released Time. However, in the aftermath of the Court's decision the number of Released Time programs dropped by twelve percent across the nation.
In 1952 a New York Released Time program was challenged. The state court upheld the program and the decision was appealed to the United States Supreme Court. In the landmark Zorach v. Clauson case (1952), the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of Released Time. The stipulation was that the program had to be off of public property and could use no public money for support.
Since that time Released Time programs have once again begun to blossom across the nation, even if the concept is yet to be widely known. Programs can be found for all grade levels, and the times of meeting can vary from daily to monthly. State and national organizations are springing up to not only publicize the concept but to encourage the correct and legal function of Released Time programs. As Justice Douglas said in the Zorach case: "When the State encourages religious instruction or cooperates with religious authorities by adjusting the schedule of public events to sectarian needs, it then follows the best of our traditions, for it then respects the religious nature of our people and accommodates the public services to their spiritual need."
