Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1872-07-19
For the Free Press and Times
Non-Sectarian Public Schools.

| Editor Free Press and Times
The fact that the Roman Catholics have lately
asked for /. portion Of our school money 10 De
expended under the direction Of their worthy
Bishop, preteats to our citizens serious sub
ject Of thought, and one worthy OF very care
ful confederation. On lis surface, it appears
to present the subject Of our common schools
only in it's religious or sectarian aspect. This
view of the subject was treated BY Father
Lynch, in his late article in your paper, in a
fair and candid msnner, Sc it sppears to him
/ But this view is really : superficial and an er-
roueou. one, and one that ID the cause Of much OF
tho ,rouble in the common schools in our cOun-
try. Let no one think that would dispense
with RELIGIOUS instruction or that mold it as OF
M account in the eiuca ton of our children, for
do consider it Of the utmoGt importance, bu; ltf
Mace is in the family, the church, and IN the
/ Sabbath schools. Religious instruction II II rs
| ANYTHING. is sectsrisn, and no child should De
| eompelei to listen to 1t, contrary to its wishes
/ or the wishes Of its parents. But cur common
| schools are founded upon this proposition
! that crerg CHILD has d right 10 demand O me
| STATE IN opportunity TO acquire good Jdir
| business education. and that The state has me
/ rigltt0 insist that erery child shall lmProre
| that opportunity, and acquire such an eaHcd-
| ton.
| and compel the children TO attend them, up 10
certain ace 1t is Just as detrimental TO the
! Stste AMI contrary to the spirit of our common
school system, for parents to have their chill
dren educated at select private schools as II
would be for the Catholics, or any other sect. to
have portion Of the school fund and e1pend II
for ,ecfarisn rchoolE Our common school tys-
ten con;emplAtes all the children being educated
together, iust as We are all citizens Of common
State and country.
Our common schools are 10 fact the crsdei
Of liberty, and the nurserieS Of freemen; boy
educated out Of our common schools or who doei
not attend them : certsin portion Of his time, II
not really qualified to lie a citizen lie may ny
associating with others that are educated there
make a psssable one. but he is usually drag
on the community. as fSr as useful citizenship II
concerned.
This nav sound and appear strange to educa
ted foreigners but IS they never had the training
acquired 10 our schools, they are nc
EXPECTED to know or realize it. an;
with al due Difference to them, VI
must decline to accept them SIS advisers in tn
matter. | should as soon select man thA
never real law, to pretiie in our courts as Chic
Justice, IS to select one that was not 3 gradual
Of our common schools, to Sdyise and contr
them Our New England system Of commol
schools hss made our country what 1t IL, AN
Of freedom and home for the oppressed Of s.
nations, and we mean to keep il so by keepln
that system up in its purity. The South under
stood this in the rebellion. when they called q
the soldiers Of the North YANKEES" an epi
tibet originally spilled to the citizens Of Ne
England, the home Of common schools.
It was the principle Of freedom &" inculcS;e
in and developed by our common schoo,s tbs
warred sgainst slavery 20 long and finally col
quered ii.
Therefore the question is not, whether tn
sect or thst shsll control the schools. or hs7
their portion of the school funds, but the re-
oueItion IL that the school shall be ncn-tect'
ran and shall be controlled by the State
A CITIZEN.