The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1859-09-08

THE BsBLE IN TIRE PUBLIC ScHooLs.-It will
have been seen, by the report in Tuesday :
HERALD, that tho troubles in connection with the
reading Of the Bib!o in tho public schools have
moi as YET ceased, and that that long ques-
ton is as far from q settlement a. ever. In
juno last tho Board Of Education, after CON
siderable opposition on the part of many of the
members, passed resolution requiring the
daily sessions Of the schools under their juris-
diction 10 be opened with tho reading Of the
Scriptures, the resolution to so into effect on
the iirst day OF August following The annual
vacation Of the schools. however, commenced
on tho last Friday OF July, thus rendering the
resolution imperative until Monday last, the
day on which they reopened. Notwithstanding
tha resolution Of the Board, and the severe
penslties which its Infringement imposed,
tho teachers of the schools in the Fourth,
Sixth and Fourteenth wards received posi-
tive instructions from the local Board
of Trustees to open their schools as they
had done before the vacation. Az may be
imagined, the teachers found themselves in a
most awkward predicament, subject TO tho cross
Gre Of two parties in authority, loss of pay the
penalty If they disobeyed the one, dismissal
the penalty of disobedience to the other I'm
der these circumstances they pursued the course
which seemed most prudent. They were
appointed, they argued, by the local
Board were subject to its orders, and
the central Board could not, therefore, Justly
withhold their wages. They are of course
willing to obey the proper authority, but the
difficulty is to decide where the proper au-
thority lies.
We have here state of things for which
nothing but good sense and moderation can
provide prompt remedy. The Board may, it
is true, refuse to pay tho salaries of the teach
crs who decline to comply with their instruc-
tons; but il is questionable whether, if the
matter be brought before a court of law, they
will be sustained in their action. It is to be
hoped that they viii not push matters to this
extremity. The question at issue Is one of
religious conscience and not Of public expe-
diency The reading of the Bible to the pupils,
although a beneficial thing in ITSELF ceases to
| be advantageous if made the means of dissen-
sion or OIL tne EXCLUSION ITOHl tAS SCuooiS vi q
large proportion of Roman Catholic and Jew
ish children. If it were necessity or an es
sential feature Of public policy. we could un
derstand the pertinacity with which it il
pressed. In the Sunday schools and in home
instruction there are, however, abundant oppor
tunities for making children acquainted will
the Scriptures. and we therefore see no reason
why the scruples of one class OF religionist
should be violated in order to accommodate
the religious zeal or fanatical views of another
We recommend the Commissioners to retrace
their steps as the easiest mode Of getting out o.
their present difficulty Should they decline
to do so, then an effort must be made to get
the Legislature to eniighten them as to the
! proper construction of their duties The sub
iect was not even alluded to at the meeting Of
! the Board of Education last night