Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-06-17

Galloped through the white internal
Powder cloud;
And his broad-sword was swinging,
And his brazsn throat ringing
Trumpet loud;
Then the blue
Bullets flew,
And the trooper jackets redden, at the touch Of the
Rlebreath,
ANA FOUNDER, rounder rounder roared the iron six
Hurting death!
THE BIBLE IN PUBLIC scHooLs.-Circalar
Of the State Superintendent.
A controversy has for some time been in prog
ress in the city of Wstertown, in this State, in
respect to the reading of the Bible in the Public
Schools. The Board of Education Of that city
have passed a resolution as fellows: RESOLVED,
that the reading of the Bible aud all forms of
prayer be discontinued"
The attention of the State Superintendent t-
Lyman G. Draper, has been called to the mat
ter and he has issued circular, which has been
distributed among school officers throughout
the State, cmbodying his opinions n the prem
ises. This document coming as it does from the
State Superintendent of Public institutions, and
officially too, is an important one It's great
length procludes our Publishing it entire in
our paper, and we can only give an outline of it
The state Superintendent regrets that there
should be differences Of opinion in respect to
the use of the Bible in Schools. While the
Constitution very properly prohibits sectarian
instruction, it cannot be construed as applying
to the total exclusion of the Bible, or repeating
the Lords Prayer. The Superintendent pre-
sumcs The reading Of the scriptures and offer
ing prayers, is a common practice IN the schools
Of this STATE, when in accordance with the wish
es of the Teacher and as to the practice in other
countries he remarks:-
"Reigious instruction is impaired in the Pub
lie Schools of the most enlightened countries in
the world--in some Of them it is secfariau, but
III many it il not. In Great Britain, France
Prussia, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Bavaria
Saxony, Austria, Norway, Sweden ard Swift
zerland, more or less RELIGIOUS instruction is
given IN the Public Schools, and even in Russia,
it is National maxim that religious teaching
constitutes the only solid foundation Of all use
fnl instruction"
The Superintendent cites the opinions ofmany
eminent statesmen Of Europe on the Importance
of religious education; also the opinions Of the
early statesmen & founders of our own Republic
period. After referring to the expressed senti-
} ments ofeminent men and giving historical facts,
he concludes on this point as follows
'With the weighty opinion Of Il WASHING
y TON, q FRANKLIN, an ADAMS, q BROUGHAM, q
WEBSTER, 4 STOWE, and a MANN among Pro
tostants, and GUIzOT and a MEILLEUR among
enlightened educators of Catholic countries, to-
gether with the almost universal experience of
OF this country, with my own personal obscrva-
tion of nearly forty years, | am unwilling to be-
lieve that any other than the happiest results
would be likely TO follow discreet, un-sccta-
ran use of the Bible in Public Schools, the III
culcation OF moral duties and obligations, and
the opening Of the daily sessions Of the school
with prayer"
The Superintendent urges the propriety Of re-
ligous instruction in schools from the history Of
the past and the necessities Of the present. We
give the conclusion Of his circular entire:-
Of majority Of the School Board prefer to
have tho common version OF the Bible read in
school, it is their right to claim their preference;
if a majority prefer to have the Douay or Cath
Ollie edition read, it is their equal right to have
it-but, in matter Of this kind, the Board in
fairness and justice Should faithfully represent
the wishes of The district. But Let the Bible be
read, whatever be the version, reYerently and
Iimpressively, and the blessing of the God Of
the Bible will never fail to attend it.
If the teacher sees proper with tie consent
| or approval of the School Board to make re,
marks to his school of Il moral character and
application, he should be extremely cautious
and not travel out of his way to lug in any
thing that could, even by the NEST fastidious,
be construed into sectarian tendency. Such
conduct would be bgoted uncaled for and nm
liustiiable-a direct infringement Of the Con-
stitution and a violation of all confidence re-
posed by the district in the judgment and pro-
priety of the teacher; and would in my opinion.
be sufficient cause Tor his dismissal
Thousands and tens Of thousands of iudici-
Gus teochers, i'll the Old Would and the New
constantly impart moral instruction to their nm.
pills, without ever Cnce obtruding or DESIRING to
obtrude, their views or opinions upon religious
tenents or scctarian differences / should have
10 fear of any such narrow minded obtrusiens
and violation Of good faith, in the teachers Of
Wisconsin; while, on other hand, to carry ont
the spirit Of moral instruction, on all suitable
occasions, devoid OF all sectarian tendencies
would, beyond all question, make the most en-
during beneficial Impressions. 1t would be folly
nay worse than folly, to say that nc moral IN
structiOn whatever should be given in our nub-
lie schools. 1t is done every day, in everv
school III the land-for nearly every text-bool
from the primary reader to the higher works on
| philosophy, geology and intellectual science
convey very properly more or less moral instruc-
ton. and none think Of branding them as seq
tartan
But you may ask, may not majority of tbe
School Board, if they see fit, utterly refuse ia
tolerate the Bible, prayer, and moral instrnc-
ton in the public school, We might obstinate
/ ly and insaney refuse food for our nerisbino
bodies, as well as for our craving immortaI
minds, but we should only spite and iniure orr
selves by so rash and suicidal an act have No
doubt the Board might legally thrust the Bibie
from the school house, and strife the voice If
prayer, for these are not among the studies
specially prescribed by law; but they may yerv
properly be regarded as among the such other
branches of education as may be determined
upon by the Board as the law allows, if the
Board think proper to include them The Dis
trict Board, too, under the advice of the Suner-
intendent of Public Instruction have power To
determine the textbooks 10 be used; and
should ever feel bound to regard with SPECIAL
favor the use of the Bible in public schools. 81
pre-eminently first in importance among fexf-
books for teaching the noblest principles Of Viz
tue, morality, patriotism, and good or1er-lova
and reverence for God-eharity and good will
to man Very respectfully,
LYMAN G. DRAPER.
Sup't OF Public Instruction.