Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-11-06
Public Sch ,0ls-Trustees-Catholi cs-C0nsis-
tency and Quak erisn.

MIR. HERALp.-Do the Public School Trustees
mean to go half or whole way over TO the views OF
the Catholics by accomplis hng the ridiculous sys-
tenn OF expurgating the booksl Must the abest his
| torical works Of modern Times be mutlated! Mus
| Hume and Robertson be prescribed as partial and
nendac! ous histcriansl Must the school books in
use for hall century be blaekensd over or torn TO
tatters! Must We exculpate the Catholics IN the
burning OF JOHN Hussl Must we believe that Gran
mer was AN area hypoerite as well as our arcbbi-
shopi Must we submit 10 all this to excite the de-
rision Of the Catholics, and give the public school
trustees an argument TO approve their claims and
get the control OF their chldrens education 1t is
an in'at TO lteraiure-a genlfecti-n to prejudice
q begging for the continuance Of their power and
monopoly untouched.
These once applied 10 the Catholic priests for
assistance in expurgating their school books They
have sihce been told that this only another
dence oil their incompetence TO discharge the func-
lions they have assumed; and moreover, that the
Catholics cannot meet them on this ground. he
trustees tell us in their late reply, that Z" it is their
intention to prosecute the work OF eXpurgation until
every Just cause of complaint is remove ed" Pray
gentlemen, don't excite the rlsibes Of the whOle
community and place yourselves on the four dation
Of Catholics, by calling Percdrie' doing penndnce,
and finally, this work of absolute supertroga.ion!
You may coax and acknowledgements and
pupge until doomsday, bat you cuIpaby obtuse
il you have not discovered long ago that nothing
Catholic schools W i'll suit the Catholics.
Now do not wish TO see any Of the pecularties
OF Popery stamped upon the public schools, but let
them be free also from either the negative positive
al the introduction of sacred music into the schools
few years ago After the tedium of study nothing
can produce such healthful relaxation to the miad
ana render the spirits so buoyant, active and cheer
iu, as singing. Instead of relaxing it acccerates
improvement in the other brances Of learning. But
the Quakers, being dominant in the schools, trown-
ed 1t out to their everlasting shame aud the regrets
OF many who wanted independence to lift their vol
ces in its defence. In the national schools of France
Germany and Prussia, music was long ago introduce
cd, and has proved highly advantageous. A very
excellent gentleman, a trustee, introduced the sub
ject before the board Of trustees some years ago.
TIE Friends tried hard to crush it in the budpartt
eulArly he who showed such eholer at the examnl
tion have mentioned in a former paper. He was
ready to vote il down instanter. Now to show the
worse than ostracssm Of their legislative system,
this gentleman of liberal views. phanthropic mind
and great attention the discharge OF his functions
q trustee whe introduced il, expunged as soon
as possible tordariBg TO coniravene the wishes OF
"a few" His name was left out Of the ticket; and
when he attended at TIE organization Of the sectim
which he had served attentively for years, ne
compelled to retire from the ern tn victim
If prejudicenot to speak and bigotry
Now If we must repud ate secfarianism, let it be
both negative and positive. Let the schools keep
pace with the improv ements OF the age. Let them
be superintended by men Of liberal views; and let
trustee be allowed TO throw cold water any thing
that may shoot be yond the pre- udices Of his
own illibsral system.
Why don't the Quakers support the Public School
in deed well as IN rosd disappearing schools Of
their owR they not bigofted as the Catholics
and ifthey were poor would they not call out
loudly for their share of the fundsl Let us have
consistency. They tell the public schools are the
best in chrstendvp, but still they will not permit
their progeny to enter them! They remind me of
staunch lsrealite- one Of your redoubtable coteH-
psrares Of the quill-who, when presiding at poll
ticai feast stood brandishng his knife and fork
roast pig, vocie rating its delicious qualities 10 the
gaping gentiles But burst Noah partake! All no!
His faith forbade. CRiro.