Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1858-01-30
THE ANTI-SLAvERY BUGLE.
EDUCATION IN IRELAND.

|
George Sumner. Esq, of Boston, delivered be.
the Young Mems Association Of Troy, N. ",
on the evening Of December lst., q lecture on
in Europe. We Extract a portion rela.
to Education.
A striking illustration Of the evils which must
result from an attempt to make the common school
system the agent Of proselytism, is afforded by the
history of Ireland. For years, her schools we're
bound down by the most oppressive features of re-
ligious intolerance. England made two success
i've attempts TO convert the nation to thebelief of its
Established Church, through it's seminaries Of learn
ing. There was a stringent provision OF law in
past DAYS, which forbade n Catholic to teach school
under the most stringent penalties. For tie first
offence, the punishment was transportation, and it
it was repeated, the usual rewards for treason
hanging, drawing, and quarterirg-were bestowed
upon the believers Of n different faith who dared
sow the seeds of education. Nor is it long since
the effects of this arbitrary distinction passed away.
As late as 1914, the keeper of a Dublin boarding
school sued an English attorney for the support
and tuition of his children for half q year, The
fact that the children had been boarded, lodged and
instructed for six months was not to be denied,
but because the proprietor of the school was a
Catholic, he could not by law claim any reward for
service rendered. This was as late as 1874.
The first schools or colleges established by the
English Government in Ireland wero VIGOROUSLY
and confesedly sinks of proselyteism. Every at
tempt was made to convert the students to the faith
of the Established Church, and though a district
might contain thousands of Catholics, and not n
dozen Protestants, penalties were provideded by
law against every Catholic who should attempt to
teach school. Nevertheless the provision was evad-
cd. Catholic children were gathered together un-
der the shade OF hedges, and instructed by teach
ers of their own persuasion. And thus was estab-
lisbed what was known as the hedge school.
Towards the close Of the last century, the Brit
ish Government made ON attempt to establish a
system Of education in Ireland which should have
no regard to religious belief. Five millions of dol.
lars were Appropriated, magnificent buildings
erected, a directory established, and a code Of reg
ulations formed. 1t was decreed that while good
morals and a re gard for the teachings Of the Bible
should be sedulously inculcated no attempt should
be made to Interfere with tho religious belief or
preiudices of any pupil. And so the system wen,
into operation, upon q non religious basis. under
which no proselyteism was to be attempted. But
in a short time, the leaven began to work. and the
eleven foot thrust itself forth. Tho children, once
separated from their parents, and brought under
the domination of these schools, most strenuous at
tennis were made to drive them into a system OF
religion. The institutions were transformed into
converts, and their great purpose and object was
the Conversion Of Catholic children to their Protest
antism. In 1884 John Howard, the philanthropis'
having finished his inspection of the prisons and
asylums of Great Britain, turned his attention t
these converts, and reported that the five million:
of dollars were being expended in imprisoning
starving, beating and converting fourteen hundred
Chatholic children. A committe was appointed
upon The strength of this charge to examine int
the matter, and reported the same state Of facts
Of course, after such a complete and thorough ex
pose the deception could be no longer maintained
The convent system fell through, and Ireland re
turned again to a condition Of complete ~isolatio.
from all eforts for the dissemination Of knowledge
When will rulers learn that it is impossible tt
dictate how subjects shall think or believe. Thii
treatment of the schools and teachers in IRELAND
is one great cause of her present degradation
The English government will have to answer for it