"They try to stonewall you," Chester said. "Tome, the city does not take this issue seriously."

Paddock was unavailable for comment yesterday.

Fantini said that the school district'senrollment policy allows parents to transfer theirchildren to other schools within the city withease.

"The transfer applies to any problems, not justthis case," he said.

School Committee member Henrietta A. Davis saidthe district would attempt to be more sensitive toany complaints.

"I could certainly see how people would beoffended," Davis said. "I'm open to suggestionshow to deal with this."

Ball said he hoped the issue will become mootwith the opening of the new Agassiz and HaggertySchools this fall.

Chester said. however, that he may pursue theissue even after the district vacates the tworeligious schools.

Cambridge Library Tablets

"This seems to be a part of a pattern inCambridge of disregard...of the separation ofchurch and state," said Chester, a self-proclaimedatheist.

Earlier this week, Chester threatended to suethe city if it did not remove a collection oftablets in the Cambridge Public Library whichincluded the Ten Commandments, several proverbsand writings by St. Paul the Apostle.

The writings are a permanent part of thelibrary, which was built and donated to the cityby Frederick Hastings Rindge in 1889 on thecondition that the tablets be "maintained foreverin the same position or...some equally public andconspicuous position," according to the building'sdeed.

In response to Chester's protests, libraryofficials have posted a disclaimer next to theexhibit which says that the city is not endorsingany religious beliefs or attempting to impose anyparticular views upon library patrons.

While Chester has called the disclaimer"unacceptable," Reinstein has said that CLUM willprobably not pursue legal action against the city.

"There are significant mitigating factors inthis instance," Reinstein said