By David Gale
Release-time programs for religious education have grown from modest beginnings to a common staple in many students'' lives.
In 1914, school superintendent William Wirt had a vision for improving education.
Wirt, who supervised schools in Gary, Ind., said he believed that 'Public schools, endowed with the mission of ''the ennobling of daily and common work by making it beautiful'' could solve the great economic and social problems of our time.'
Under Wirt''s guidance, 619 students began participating in a program for off-campus religious education.
From that humble beginning, release-time programs nationwide have grown, reaching a peak participation in 1947 with more than 2 million students in 46 states.
As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Utah high school students are familiar with the concept of release-time; the Church Educational System has built the largest release-time program in the world.
In areas heavily populated with Latter-day Saints, such as Utah and Idaho, approximately 134,000 students take time out from their regular high school schedules every day to attend seminary.
In areas less heavily populated by LDS adherents, seminary courses are available before school.
Nearly 382,000 students in 150 countries participated in the CES program during the 1999-2000 school year.
Although public schools can have no part officially in religious instruction, they may adjust their scheduling to cooperate with religious authorities, but schools can neither encourage nor discourage participation in release-time programs.
All instruction occurs off-campus, giving rise to seminary buildings constructed adjacent to many high schools in heavily populated LDS areas.
Approximately 250,000 students are currently participating in release-time programs nationally, according to a national directory assembled School Ministries.
School Ministries works with 110,000 students in 32 states.
Most release-time programs meet once a week and are staffed by volunteers.
In some cases, local churches and Bible colleges help or sponsor programs.
The goal of these programs is to 'reach every student in America - K-12 - with the timeless truth of God''s Word,' said Bill Bright, President of Campus Crusade for Christ, headquartered in Orlando, Fla.
Bright''s organization is one of many that sponsors release-time programs by providing curriculum and student manuals.
Chuck Stetson, chairman of School Ministries, Inc., said release-time programs are growing nationally around 10 percent to 15 percent.