Evening star., 1869-11-08
The Bible I'm the Public Schools.


Bible from the public schools of that city ex-
cites very general attention, bat its nature
seems to be a good deal misunderstood in some
quarters. The Board of Education, after pro-
tracted and stormy discussions, by a vote of %
to Is decided to exclude the Bible as a text book
and the singing Of hymns in the public schools;
andthe impression has gone out that the vote
for exclusion was effected by q combination of
the Catholic members, Israelitcs, and Free
thinkers. An analysis of the vote, however
shows that this not exactly the case. The
Catholics voted in a body for exclusion. but the
Protestants were divided, as were the Israeltes
and Free-thinkers. Some of the Protestant
members voted for the exclusion on the ground
that 1t would remove the incentive for separate
sectarian schools on the part of the Catholics.
III l. Snte evident, however, that the Catholic
authorities do not propose to accept Bibleless
schools in lieu of schools of their own. Laymen
Of the Catholic church may be disposed, for con-
venience, to send their children to secular
public schools, but the Catholic clergy are quite
generally pronouncing against it, on the ground
ihat secular school is a school of infdeIity
where indifference to religion is learned if
nothing worse. Archbishop Purcell told the
Committee Of the Board of Education very dis
tinctly that none of the hierarchy or priesthood
from the Pope down, would consent TO the send
ing of the Catholic children to secular schools
The Catholic Telegraph maintains that the State
has no right to teach, and that the free-school
system ought to be abandoned. Other exponents
OF Catholic opinion argue strenuously for a
division of the public schools moneys that the
Catholics may have separate schools. This
might possibly be practical if only Catholics
were to be provided for; but if the Catholics are
10 have their proportion assigned to them-the
Hethodlsts, the Baptists, the Episcopalians, the
Presbyterians, the Israelites, &C., &C. NAV
demand their quota to enable them to set up
denominational schools, and it is easy to see
that the result would be the breaking down
OF our school system.
Whatever the result may be, it is easy to see
tsOm the signs of the times that the agitation or
this question must go on to a not distant culmi-
nation and test Thus far we feel only a ripple
from The agitation here. The Bible is read in
'he pubic schools of Washington daily by
Protestant and Catholic teachers alike; and We
nave never heard any complaint that any sec
tartan bias has been shown by teachers of either
faith. Our public schools are largely attended
by Catholic children, and we judge that their
parents have full confidence that the influences
upon them are wholesome, and not calculated
either to lessen their reverence for God or "a,
Pfo>elyte them from their own religious belief
Here. the reading of the Scriptures is usually if
not entirely by the teacher, and is made without
note or comment, save i'm the way of explanation
oi historical or geographical points, &c, of an
unSectarian character.
The rule in the Cincinnati schools repealed bv
the Board of Education was as follows:
The opening exercises i'm every department
shall commence by reading portion of the Rjhle
hy or under the direction OF the teacher and
appropriate singing by the pupils. The pupils of
the common schools may read such version of
f1sAsr
'hais may prefer; provided, that such prefer
shce OF any version, except the one now in use.
lie communicated by the parents guardians
to the principal teacher, and that no notes or
mar ginal readings be allowed i'm the schOols ar
comments made by the teachers on the text or
any version that il or may be introduced
Tie version of the Bible mentioned in the rule
above quoted as ''the one now i'm use" is the
hiiS James version The ground upon which
the exclusion was based was that the use of the
Bible and devotional exercises were a form of
worship, and, under the circumstances. a Pro-
ie>tant form of worship, which, it was contend
ed, was expressly prohibited by the Constitution
at Ohio, which says:
mo person shall be compelled to attend erect
or support any place OF worship, or maintain any
iCI I'm OF worship, against his consent; and No
lTt ference shall he given bv law TO any religions
society; nor shall any interference with the
2iits oT conscience DC pc rmitted''
10 compel persons to support and maintain
schools wherein there are religious exercises to
which other persons could not conScientiously
consent, was argued to be a violation of this mart
OF the state Constitution.
The morning after this action was had by the
EcaTd of Education. JHdge Storcr. of the Supe-
IlOT Court of Cincinnati. granted an Injunction
restraining the Board from the execution of its
order. The application for the Injunction was
Placed on the ground that the Constitution of
the State expressly declares that
Religion, morality. aud kn0wIeiye being es-
S'hllal 20 good gOTeTIaIleHt az shall he I.le siuty
Hf the Legislature 10 pass suitable laws to pro-
tct every religious denomination ia the peace
able enjoy nlent of it, moe Of public wor
ship, and To encourage schools and tue means of
Instruction
IL Is argued that the use OF the Bible /, essen
TIA: 10 rriigion. morality, and kn1wledse. and.
therefore. to good goyernmcnt, and that il can
rot be discontinued in the schools without de-
teating the purposes OF those who framed the
constitution.
The question whether the government of the
State of Ohio Is essentially Christian, or whether
The Christian religion is only recognized BY 1t as
an existing part Of the social institutions of a
PORTION Of the people, was fully discussed bef.re
the Board Of Education, and will now 90 before
the Supreme Court OF Ohio for an authoritative
decision In the meantime, under the injunc-
ton OF the Supreme Court, the Bible win re-
main textbook of the schools, and upon the
issue of its exclusion or retention will turn the
election of the members Of the Board Of Educa-
tion next April.