The Nevada Democrat., 1859-06-08
WHOLE NO. 296.
Religion I'm Pubic schools-A Hebrew View
OF the eeuestion,
From the San Francisco Cleaner. ]


We do not wish to be considered as as all in
terested In the contest which has for several
years past been carried on BY the Catholic
priesthood on the one hand, aud the greater
portion Of the directors Of the public schools on
the other, so far as Catholicism or Protestant
ism is concerned. We are perfectly willing to
let the parties fight their own battles; we have
no concern with the prejudcles of either side,
nor is 1t Of any material advantage to us TO see
either the one or the other prevail But there
is an abstract question of right in the matter.
which Israelites are at full liberty to discuss,
without subjecting themselves to the charge of
partzanship Now we hold that both parties
are wrong 10 endeavoring to make the public
school system subservent to their respective .
religious sentiments. The country, rs such,
knows no difference between the inhabitants
who have neither residence here in their reli-
gious capacity; 1t regards them all alike as
subject to the laws aud all are alike entitled to
any benefits which II can confer through uni
formity Of duties aud privileges. If, therefore,
one Of these benehta should consist, which is
actually the case, in the establishment ofschoos,
Intended to convey information on general top
les, such as reading, grammar, history geogra-
ply, aud mathematics; there is no implied con-
tract assumed by the government to give in-
struction in religion likewise. In the just
enumerated branches all are alike Interested,
and they could aud should be conveyed in gen.
eral terms, so as not to interfere with the con-
scientious or supposed conscientious convictions
of all the scholars who are likely 10 attend II
Is for that reason, that books should be used
which contine themselves TO facts, simple nara
tlon, or, at most, general moral reflection,
without permitting the author 10 convey In q
covert manner, his own peculiar ideas, or those
Of his sect or political party, 10 the shape Of .
school geography, or history, or grammar, or
spelling-book. -
1t is possible to do all this; and, being posi-
BILE, It should by all means be done. And In
accomplishing this much, the republic has done
all in its legitimate province for the scientific
aud moral progress OF the entire community.
II has nothing to do with their several religious
opinions, aud the dutiea which every one for
himself considers obligatory; consequently, 1t
cannot assume any charge Of religious train
lug 10 any manner or quantity. The Bible.
even, has no proper place 10 the public school
under this aspect; and no prayer, except o
mere acknowledgement Of q experimenting
Providence, and an invocation Of His name in
the most general terms, should be enforced,
nor should the scholars be even compelled to
listen to any which has it's origin in the princi-
Piles of any sect or class. We think series Of
short prayers could readily be composed, which
might be termed universal and uniformly ac-
ceptable, embracing all the necessary ideas Of
u divine moral government. without trencbing
|
Bible reading II might be practicable to write
a history which would embrace all the main
facts, 10 be used like any other narrative Of
| events. But the moment sectarians step 10 and
demand that any portion Of the Scripture shall
be read from any particular translation, or
that prayers shall be recited which belong TO
any particular church, they at once require o
submission on the part Of others to their do
tation, and ask Of the State 10 give Its authori-
tative sanction TO their dogmas, however lin
tied this may be; and they thus place the GO
vernment In the unfortunate position TO settle
by q Legislative, executive, or judicial decision
as to who is right or wrong, 10 purely religious
questions.
viii the ruling majority now In the country
be willing to abide by the legitimate deduction
| from their present demand and give in their
adhesion beforehand when times and relative
numbers changer Suppose, for instance, that
In one hundred years from this date, the Israeli
ties and their associates Of other creeds (fOr
stranger things have come TO pass) should OBJ
tain the majority Ia Massachusetts,. what would
the Protestants say, were It to be demanded
that all public teachers, under penalty OF dis
mssal should open the school exercises daily
with reoiting the Ten Commandments in He
brew, and repeating the Shemang Yisrael Hear
| O Israel, the Lord our God. the Lord Ii oue,)
aloud, and that all the scholars should utter the
words audibly aud distinctly, SO as to enforce
uniformity to the prevailing religious senti-
menti
what would jealous Protestants say, were a
Hebrew school-board to convert oil public
schools into so many nurseries Of Jewish ideas
at the expense of the State I" They would say,
with a good deal of truth, that II ne yer entered
| the mind OF the early trainers Of the State laws
to constitute Judaism the basis Of education,
and that the assumption of the power by the
accidental majority in the board Of control,
would be violation Of the original compact
creating the school fund.- and the perversion Of
the law setting apart portion OF the State rev.
enues for the support of educational establish.
ments. They would be perfectly right 10 thus
arguing; Israeites would have no equitable
right to act In this manner, and no denuncia-
ton would be too severe against those who for
got to act justly the moment they obtained the
numerical power to trample on the rights OF
others. But will any one enllghten us In what
the enforcement of certain religious exercises
on the part OF the present managers OF schools
all over the country, IL q whit more Rational
and concatory Jewish children attend school;
| they have right to be there; taxes are levied
| from their parents for She support of the yari-
Gus institutions, 1t il but just that in repub-
lie, or any well regulated State. all should have
the same burden. Yet the moment our chill
dren are entered into their respective classes
and divisions they are at once made to feel
that they have duty to perform which they
would not submit 10 II they bad their own
choice A hymn is sung TO being whom their
parents have not taught them to worship;
book called tie New Testament Is read aloud,
though at home they have not heard it spoken
Of as a work in which they ought to believe;
prayers are recited in which. young as they are,
they cannot conscientiously join 10 Short they
are at once abridged in their religious convic-
tiou, through the wrongful acts of an rrespon-
sibIe majority of school managers, or the equal
ly irresponsible clamor of supposed public
opinion, and they have no other redress but
either to submit. or to quit the institution 10
which they are, from circumstaDces, compelled
to imbibe their mental training. Our children
are confessedIy the minority. Still the minor
itv too has rights, inalienable privileges, Of
which no majority can deprive them without q
violation of the simplest principles Of liberty