Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-11-30

the use of the Bible to the detrment Of
the schools. 1t was better they argued to
save the schools than to break them up by
the arbitrary reading of the Scriptures
The religious training of our children does
not depend upon the common schools.
They were not instituted for that purpose.
The home, the sabbath school and church
afford ample opportunity TO become ac-
quainted with the Bible. The common
school was established for the Instruction
of all the youth of the land, without re-
gard to race, condition, sect Or denonlna-
ton. They cannot exist upon n narrower
basis. Were they seciarlan they would
be exclusive All those WHO might be OPP
posed to the sect ruling in the schools
would keep their children away from them.
suffering them to grow up i'll ignorance,
or educating them at private schools. The
consequence would be that while this state
of things continued a large proportion OF
children would be brought up in igno-
rance, and finally the common school sys-
TEN itself would be oyerthrown.
The idea upon which the schools are
built, and upon which the State taxes the
people for their support, is that they are
necessary to educate youth 50 that they
shall be capable of dscharging inteili-
gently the duties which are requredlo be
performed by each and every citizen in a
government where all the people have 4
voice as to its form and management, and
where their will is the sovereign law. Any
thing therefore which conflicts with the
universal education of the children, which
Restraints them from attendance upon
school, conflicts with the idea at the ioun-
daton of the common school system. To
give this idea still more power our educa-
tors are agitating and advocating compul-
sorry measures to promote attendance up
on the common schools, but they will urge
such measures with poor success while
any class of our people feels impelled to
withdraw their children from the schools
on account of management, either relig-
ious or otherwise, not in accordance with
the fundamental principle of the common
school system. Compulsory measures
would not only be opposed by the class
feeling injured, but by all who would OPP
pose injustice to others as though it were
done to themselves. 1t may be said that
the use of the Bible is not sectarianism,
but that does not appear to be the Roman
Catholic view of the matter, and their
opinions are entitled to consideration,
whether we agree with them or not
There is chapter in the Rev. Charles
kingsley's recent work upon the West
Indies which may be read with profit in
connection with this subject. He found
in the island of Trinidad that the attempt
on the part OF the government 10 give the
schools religious character, first resulted
in keeping three-iourths Of the children
from attending any school and causing
them to grow up in ignorance, and finally
destroyed the schools and the system upon
W II ivy WIG DttSANi II itksA tttG -
eminent finding the schools were failure,
abolished the distinctions complained OF,
placed the schools on non-sectaran
basis, and they have since commenced to
prosper. An institution called the Queen S
Collegiate School was changed from the
old plan to the new in 1870, having moth
ing to prevent creed or race from partici-
pating in its benefits, and called the Royal
College. Its inauguration was participa-
ted in by Protestants and Roman Catho-
| lies alike, and half the board of directors
We're Of each persuasion. With this ex-
ample before him Mr.. Kingsley, Il minis
ter of the Church of England. approves
the course pursued, and maintains it in az
guments which we believe to be christian
rs well as sound and statesmanlike. Let
us have education for the largest number
of the people possible. The insuumen-
talitcs devoted to the understa nding OF
the Scripture and the growth of religion
will accomplish more alone on II basis OF
general education, such as is consistent
with the true idea of the common school,
than they can in conjunction with secta-
rian schools which narrow the basis of in
telligence and cover the land with igno-
rance
A private letter received in New York CITY
from gentleman of high character for intel
ligence and reliability, who has been for
sometime temporary resident of Arizona,