The Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, Ohio) 1853-1861, 1858-01-28
Education In Ireland.


before the Young Mems Association of Troy,
N. Y, on the evening Of Dec. lst., lecture
on education 10 Europe We extract portion
relative 10 Education in Ireland.
A striking illustration OF the evils which
must result from an attempt to make the
common school system the agent Of proselyt-
ism, is afforded by the history of Ireland.
For years, her schools were bound down by
the most oppressive features ofregiou intol
erance. England had made two successive
attempts to convert the nation to the belief of
its Established Church, through its semna-
ries of learning. There was a stringent pro-
vision Of law in past days, which forbade
Catholic to teach school, under the most strn-
gent penalties. For the first offence, tbs pen
atty was transportation, and II it was repeat
ed the usual rewards for treason-hangng,
drawing, and quartering-were bestowed up
on the believers Of a different faith who dare
SOW tho seeds Of education. Nor is it long
since the effects Of this arbitrary decision
passed away. AS late as 1914, the keeper
ofa Dublin boardng-school sued an English
attorney for the support and tuition OF his
children for halfa year. The attorney put in
the plea that the teacher was Catholic.
Tho fact that the children had been boarded,
lodged, and instructed for six months was
not denied, but because tho proprietor of the
school was Catholic, he could not by law
claim any reward for service rendered. This
was as late as 1914.
The first schools or colleges established by
the English Government in Ireland were no.
toriously and confessedly sinks Of prosel ytism.
Every attempt was made to convert the stu
dents to the faith Of the EstablishedsChu
aud though district might contain thousands
of Catholics, and not dozen Protestants,
penalties were provided against every Catho-
lie by law who should attemptto teach school.
Nevertheless the provision was evaded.
Catholic children were gathered together un-
der the shade Of hedges, and instructed by
teachers of their own persuasion. Aud thus
was established what was known as the hedge
school.
Toward the close Of the last century, the
British Government made an attempt to es-
tablish system of education in Ireland which
should have no regard to religious belief
Five uilions of dollars were appropriated,
magnificent buildings erected, directory es-
tsblished, and code Of regulations formed
II was decreed that while good morals and
regard for the teachings OF the Bible should
be seduously incucated, no attempt should be
made to interfere with the religious belief or
prejudices OF any pupil. And SO the system
went into operation, upon the non-reigious
basis, under which no proselytism was to be
attempted. But in short time, the heaven
began to work, and the cloven foot thrust it.
sell forth. The children, once separated from
.heir parents, and brought under the domina-
ton OF these schools, most strenuous attempts
were made to drive them into system of
religion. The institutlo s. were transformed
into converts, and their great purpose aud
object was the conversion of Catholic children
to Professionalism. In 1884 John Howard the
philanthropist, having finished his inspection
of the prisons and asylums Of Great Britain,
turned his attention to these convents, and
reported that the five millions of dollars were
being expended in imprisonng, starving, beat
ing, and converting fourteen hundled Catholic
children. ~ committee was appointed upon
the strength of this charge TO examine into
the matter, and reported the same state of
facts, Of course, after such u complete and
thorough expose, the deception could no long
er br maintained. The convent system foil
through, and Ireland returned again to IA con
dition of complete isolation from all efforts for
the dissemination of knowledge.
When will rulers learn that it is impossible
to dictate how subjects shall think or believe
This treatment of schools and teachers in Ire
land is one great cause of her present degra-
dation. The English Government have it to
answer for.