New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-28
conuoN SCHOOLS AND RELIGION.

of public education we are not inclined 20 REUSE
hearing to any intelligent and earnest writer hoFeVer
~. v;eus NAV conflict with those advocated BY this
Journal Accordingly to-day give place to the con-
uuncation on that topic from the pen OF respected
correspopdent.-thcugh with some hesitation iof We
cannot perceive that be sdduces anything new either
in the xay of fact or argument Indeed. We think tue
controversy is not advanced whit by all be has to say
about it.
The true question at issue is whether there sha or
shall not be Common Schools. We stand entlrep 10
the affirmative while our correspondent Vrtuan! con-
t,rds for their abolition. What he would have SID
nj, parish schools under the exclusive control OF the
different religious denominations where each msot IN
cn,cate not only the truths Of geography and algebra
lint its own peculiar theOlogic dogmss This is what
his nsp amounts TO- For if you establish any religious
instruction in schools you inevitably make them sects
rim The Catholic will not send his children 70
school where the reading Of the Protestant version OF
the Bible and prayer afer the Protestant IDEAS ex
ert An influence hostile his faith the Presbyterian
escb.vs an Episcopalian school; and the Methodist
Unitarian one for the sufficient reason Eaca dc
mspds that the religious influences to Shich his chill
dren are subjected school shall be orthodox or In &C
cordance with his own convictions.
There is but one alternative and that is 70 omit all
reoious instruction IL this cannot be done there can
be no Common School.
Now it must appear almost needless TO argue that u
n e tho u,post moment 20 the welfare Of the cemmu-
mir, n ire welfare. its harmony. its intelligence its
morality. that there should be system of public edu-
cation open to all without charge and giving to Che
children of the poor as well Of the rich, the means
nsIfn nnh n
s.t,m can only be established by the law of the STATE,
providing for taxation TO support it and Tor officials 20
see that il fully carried out that the teachers are
competeut that the instruction bestowed /" thorough
e., "a order s maintained and all possible improve
! ments from time 10 time introduced, that these
scbooIhouses are good and wholesome and the
attendance as large and regular as practicable The
State bas vital interest in having weleducated popu
ation and in assuring to all its children equal privilege
If instruction. Experience abunlsntly demonstrates
that this end can only be gained by uniform system
made obligatory throughout the State. 1t cannot be
left to the Districts, the Counties but must be en-
forced by general law Still less can II be left re-
lpious denominations Even if this were otherwise
allowable il is notorious that all Of them taken together
cannot and will not give to the children OF the commu-
niy the equal educational advantages which their
right and which it is the duty Of the community to
| assure
The only practicable and efficient system is that OF
Common Schools and against this fact demonstrated as
tits BY experience and approved by common sense the
arguments advanced On the other side to Us Of very
/ little effect
We do not admit with our correspondent Who though
jealous antagonist Of Catholicism perfectly agrees with
its most bitter opponents OF Common Schools that If re-
Isous services are omitted from the latter they are
necessarily irreligous in their tendency Nor do We
believe the instructions Of Sunday, the nculcatons
the Church and Sabbath Schools the religious teachings
parents and friends at home are poor and inefica
cous as be represents lie holds them up in 50 bad
aspect that he would have US believe that The
mere absence of formal worship from school is alone
enough TO produce a rapid decadence ia nhdeiiy
For our part We repe this charge of gross unhlnes
and weakness, aud repe il on behalf Of all denomna
tons of Christians We know that they are not such a.
our correspondent chooses 10 represent and that the
influence of the Church and sunday SchO6,and olanD'
services and teachings is powerful enough 70 remain
N the youthful mind, only through the few hour.
daily gwen 10 study in school during childhood bui
through the years of atter lie-
We maintain that there is nothing irreligOus anti
religious in the establishment OF Common schools tht
only possible basis that of liberation and equal regard e
the convictions of al denominations The School is IN
tended 20 cultivate the ta faculties and store "a,
mind with necessary knowledge The boy is SEN
there, as be is sent to the shop of a mechani:
10 learn trade by which 10 be useful in life. NJ
parent would insist that the eArpeAEer jeEeler VIII
takes bis son as an apprentice should daily preceds hi
Instructions in his hardcraft with specific religion
exercises The church and the faulty would be rehe'
maintain in the youth tie activity Of his religion
impressions. And they ought TO BE- equally avalabl
for thai purpose in case of the child ssst 70 the Com
mon Sehool. And If elerymen and parents are not IN
faithful to their convictions Of duty they certainly
may be- TheChureA and the family are the proper sphere
OF religious instruction AMI special influence The,
have tine set apart for the purpose and approach %,
young mind when it is most open and receptive. The
School discharges different fanction and even II re-
giOus teaching should form part Of its daily course
We may be sure hatit would be ineoagra
GUS unimpressve and Intellectual, and In most cases
worse than none AT al, matter hos pioss aud zeal
Gus the teacher.
We hold il to be the dictate ef good sense. az ps-
tiotism and Of Christian sentiment as well that ybs
ilnies of each dissemination should bring I'd the;r
and daughters in shat they hold to be reliyio.
truth the children should al meet together in the pub
lie school for purposes Of secular education
Of religious divisions The school Is specially intended
to train them for usefulness as citizens and az ctzsa