Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-10-31

Mr.. Editor In your issue of the 18th inst
a communication from j J. P, touching the
schools of Milbury, was Of such character
that inattention seemed TO be its proper an
swer. "Why have we no such troubles in
Worcester? Because we have men in author
ity, and in the private walks of life, who have
souls above such littleness. God keep them
sol Ills refreshing to meet them in this time
OF drought am no bigot, Mr. Editor" We
are happy TO have long known that most of
the men in authority in Worcester are above
littleness; but such, it is believed, do not pa
rade the declaration before the public The
ittleness and bigolry with which the officers
IN Millbury, having care of the schools are
charged, consist in doing precisely what the
law requires of them and any officers who do
not do as much are liable to its penalty. Our
common schools are established by law; and
the same law provides for board OF officers,
whose duty it marks out specifically. The
law leaves 10 the discretion OF those officers
the selection OF all the books to be used in the
schools, with one exception. AS the Word of
cially provides that the Bible shall be used in
all our schools. 1.-The school committee shall
require the daily reading OF some portion of
the Bible in tile common English version but
shall never direct any school books calculated
to favor the tenets of any particular sect of
christians, to be purchased or used III any of
the town schools" That the version of King
James, which is recognized by law in England
hv tufIa
Tor more than two hundred and fifty years. is
the version designated by the law, is too man
itest to require assertion. That the Douay or
Catholic Bible "is calculated to favor the ten
cts OF particular sect OF christians, is equal
ly clear 10 any one who ever read the notes
accompanying it. The circumstance upon
which the remarks Of j. j. p were founded,
was this: a teacher III one of the primary
schools IN Mlilbury required little girl TO
repeat, after her, the sixth commandment
"Thou shalt not kilt The girl did not repeat
it. The teacher said, "WilI you not repeat it!"
The child answered, 'No, | won't!' and hav-
ing made this answer three times, the teacher
made her sit down, and told her she must not
come to school again, until she had permission
from the committee. Tie committee approx
ed OF the action of the teacher, and directed
that the Bible should be read in school,
either by herself or by such scholars as
she might call upon. A communication in
this mornings Spy seems 10 call tor notice
from Milbury The writer says, "In my last
communication, a fortnight ago, | spoke of
case concerning a scholar in one of the public
schools in Millbury. / am happy to state that
the committee of the school, beng made aware
of the circumstance, promptly put stop to
the odious measure" The committee have
never admitted that repeating the command.
ments or the Lords Prayer by any one is sod
Gus, nor that it is improper to read or repeat
any portion OF tile only book which the law
provides shall be read daily in all our public
schools. The writer says, rs child 10 be
whipped and turned cut of school because she
sees fit to obey her parents" He informs us
that he is no bigot. Is he not sufficiently ac-
quainted with the law to know that in school
the teacher is III the place OF parent that
she has the same legal right to enforce obedi-
ence to her orders i'll school that the parent has
at home! The parent has no more right to
interfere in the government OF the school than
the teacher has TO intel tere with the govern
ment at home. If the parent exceeds Ills au-
thorlty at home the law will protect the child !;
and If the teacher exceeds her authority the
same law will correct the evil None are SO
high as TO be above the law, and none so low
as to be beneath its protection. The mainte-
nance of law is the issue upon which demand
is made for stout hands and willing hearts,
Catholic as well as Protestant" GlOriously,
most gloriously have they responded 10 the de-
mand, and it is unfortunate that any are lett
behind who advise parents to place Bible of
the Catholic version, which he knows is cal
Culated to favor the tenets of particular sect
of christians, land therefore knows is express
ly prohibited by law, in the hand OF any pu-
pill in the schools OF Massachusetts,, anu direct
him to read that and no other. Everything
which the law will allow to quiet the bigotry of
ignorance we are willing to tolerate, but to in
sist that a book shall be admitted into our
schools because it fayors the teneIs of partic
ular sect OF christians is as clearly against the
law as any act of the boldest rebel. 1t is said
the Douay Bible is introduced with the com.
mon English version into our schools near us.
Ii can hardly be into the schools near to, and
with the knowledge OF our yigtant public
prosecuting officer.
The schools in Grafton are in able hands.
In Millbury the laws that be will be obey ed
j. j. p. closes his communication in this
mornings paper, by saying that he may 90 to
the legislature. This is the proper course. If
the laws are wrong, the legislature alone can
correct them. "The rights offreemen" should
be protected but il is no part oither rights
TO embarrass our common schoo by endeav-
oring to force into them books which the law
expressly prohibits. NJ.
Millbury, Oct. q, 1861