Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1860-02-02
For the Grilian and Telegraph.
Objections t. Public Schools Stated and an.
gWered.
No. (2.)

No. ~
The second objection urged against Public
Schools ia based upon tho religious dfleren
css existing in our State.
II is assumed that children cannot be eiu
Gated withom haring some sectarian religious
principles instiliea into their minds ant
therefore Public Schools must necessarily mil
itatc against tie interests Of some Of the De-
nominations Of Christians among US.
We have stated the objection fully, In or,
der that we may consider it properly and
meet it fairly.
In answer to this objection, we assert thai
the religious principles which seem inseper-
able from system Of Public education, are
those only which ARE assumed By the govern
ment Of our State, and which are common to
all protesting the Christian faith, and there
fore, the inculculation of those principles arc
in perfect accordance with our Constitution
al rights as eitzens.
AS the objection does not come from Jews
or Infdcls, but protesting Christians. We will
address our arguments to them alone. When
we speak Of certain religious doctrines, taught
in Public Schools, we do not refer to any d.
rect instructions given by the Public teacher
but to those ideas which are found in the
text books generally used. The doctrines to
which we allude are the existence Of God
Divine Providence, the morality of the Dec
alogue and Human accountability To this
we may add reverence for Christ and the
Christian Religion. These doctrines may
not be found in didatic form, in our school
books, but they may legitimatcly result from
the general course of reading and instruction
admitted. Now these very doctrines are adj
mitted facts in the government of our State,
they run thro our statute book, 8 and are con-
tinually referred to in our Judicial proceed
ings. To instill them into the minds of our
children, the State would be doing nothing
more than preparing them for the fulfilment
of their duties as citizens.
They are the common principles of Chris
tanity, ard consequently cannot prove ad-
verse to the interests of any Denomination Of
Christians.
But tie objection assumes, that the inc,tlca-
ton Of Sectarian doctrines is inseprable from
Education.
This we deny.
When VIC speak Of sectarisn principles, we
, Of course have reference to those only which
exist among us.
1t will be admitted that there is no connec-
ton between Sectaransm and Arithmetic,
Grammar, and Geography, &c. and there
fore, the Sectaranism, If taught at all, must
be found in the regular text books Tor read
ing.
But TIE possibility of school books with
out Sectarianlsm, is proven by the existence
of books carefully prepared in which per.
haps there is not an idea which may not be
found endorsed by some author approved by
every body of Christians.
! know that difficulties have some time.
risen in reference to the use of certain books
in Public Schools, but we have not known {
, case in whi:h there was any real necessity
for it.
Some have been very jealous for Biblt
reading, and the recitation Of n particular
form Of the Decalogue, but We cannot sec
how either the one or the other, must neces
sarily be part Of the exercises of Public
Schools. We believe the Bible too sacred t.
be mere text book in schools, and the Dec
alogue belongs to the church and not to tn,
public schoolroom.
| We can sec no just reason for introducing
any book, or any exercise, into Public schools
to which any denomination Of Christians cal
reasonable object
All efforts to introduce religious instruc
ton beyond those general principles foun'
in our government, arise from confusing til
dutie. of Church and State. Let both keel
in their proper sphere. and there will be n
collision.
The State derives either advantage or in
jury from the intellectual education. or III
ignorance of her citizens, hence she may at
tend to her interests by establishing Publ
Schools. The religious opinions of a maj
do not affect the State, and every one is lef
TO his own choice.
But in conclusion, Protestant teachers O
all denominations encourage those Of a diff
erent persuasion to patronize their schools
with the plea, that they are not sectarian.-
q IL IL. an.nnrnnn Pr,nieaiants To So, thai