New-York daily tribune., 1858-12-03

T-rstoes Of thst Wrd and in No-. o. 26 and a. 10
.fe same ward, and No-. Is ara -. and Primaries
Nos and + II the Slxth War aud n Nrs II ani 80
aud tts male department 81 No -, 10 the Fourteenth
Ward in which i Las not been read ior many wears
as bef-re stated. With TIVE exception, peraaps of
some district in the portion Of TIE
isanc there l. not chif IA tie city, inclndrg the
roncoi famiIg wsris, tsst i not within hsf ue Of
an excellent school in which the Bible IS an always
has hcen, r-e ularly read.
The power 10 compe religious conformity is one 80
uuu-usl in our Ilstlinlions and Iabi- % abuse,
that this question u on lmpOrtaLt one. Inls Board
.Olld lot no,e riGTe the cause II eircaton than by
usuIpu. powers Which II does not posses, and in-
ycv ~ the city 10 expensive and di:cretitabe war
oi uiur cticu- mandanu-e- and quo Usrantos In the
- INV the subject OF tie Sacred Oracss Of
God. Tie School fy-tem Of this State was estlb-
li-ed IN 1913. Tie laws regulating i Lave been a.
InOst anrualy amended ana often revised From The
beginning, local districts have been organized, with
thelr boards Of trustees, 70 manage tLeH -clOos IN
/ their own WAY. 1hufc districts number about
1900. In some Of them the Bible is read ia the
schools in other. not Il has never been proposed
that those in which it is read should compel con-
formity On tie Iar Of the others; aud, while the ques
ton Of religion tud Of reading the Bible In the scno0ls
Las been constant subject Of discussion throughout
Chis'endom foi half century law of this State
has, been passed fOr the State at large, or for
ts city to compel tho opening OF any OF the co NJ
non schools with reading the Bible Tie Committee
tlrk this omission s exceedingly significant and in
porisIt in rightly coustGuing any Schoo! law OF the
S'ate.
Tie School Law of this city was but AZ extension
e tie State system t. the city. Tue first act was e1-
titled " An Act TO extend 20 the City ant County OF
"Now-Icrk the provisions Of the general act IN re-
"l4tion to Coiomon schools" and provided 'ectlo1
Il Iee tna for ne purposes Of the Act, esch OF me
EoverAl Wards into winch tie city was, or Inisnt be
DIVIDED should be considered as q separate town.
Sutsccueut act. including the present School Law,
expressly provioc that oil the schools shall he undrr
the suya rvisop and government OF the Comuii--
"sCIeTs, Inspectors and Trustees oi the W ard II
switch they are located.
The whole power Of tlis Board in this regarl il
power of exclusion-a power to exclude tTym the
school, books, teachings and practices which should
he ot asiye TO the denomuatiunal pecdartcs ot any
religious sect. II gave 10 power 10 require auy par
Gcnlar toscLog or the Use Of any particular book;
ard left tis power of exclusion, limited as It was,
Should be abused ana an attempt made 70 cont roi the
proper freedom Of the schools il was provided tna,
fy 20 construction should the Board have power I"
eXcluoc tie Holy Scrj lures selections FROM them;
ard IN case auy-'if sny Of the several versions ol
tie Holy Scriptures should be- in ne in school, the
Board should Dot have the authort! to exclude that
version md require the Of another or IN any man
ner to decide what version should oe used ~ auy al
the schools. The Committee proceed 10 argue the
PORT, and sum up rs follows -
These clear aid positive provisions II !aw-the
stIorg Implications and pIesumptions from various
portiors OF the aw-the absence of any provision 10
The coutra,y-tbe settled policy oi the State for 10
years and Of the city FOR 10 year. all concur ID placing
bels Of th. Board would not Themselves have aoy
voice in the natter even in their respective Wards
were il not that by the lay Of 1871 They were made
ex oi,o members Of the Board If TIusteeJ in their
respective Wards. This Committee, therefore, eA'
press their opinion With confidence, tnat there NO
law authorizing this BoIrd to enforce the readng ot
the Bible in the Public Schools against the wishes Of
the local authorities ard inasnnch as the often re-
ucatcd and consistent recommendation OF the Boari,
during ts whole existence, strongly eXt ibs It's wishes
in tie matter With which this CUmmtee folly concur,
tie Committee recommend the readoption of the fol-
ing preamble and resolution:
Uhea 1t is due to the Lssthfa moral training Of tie plps
position Christian pie thr the bible,
vhou, be read az the opening OF our schoos
I
ES-d Tto this Board most cordially recommend 70 the
various local Boards School Officers hs practice be OBJ
s,rvrc tho aud Primary Schools al dis city,
within thciT iu.s6i.tion, re.lectyely
OLIVER IA LEE
WN f. CT RTlS. Committee
T. {. BENEDICT,
WM X. EAGER Jr, BYLAW
WILLIAM NJ. TNLEOJ
Al these gentlemen were present a Tie roll call eX-
cept Mr. Tweed for the purpose of supporting their
report.