The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-01-16
The Public Schools.

The following communication written
by former citizen of Rutland County,
an lrishman by birth, will be read with
interest. Mr. Welch is no bigot, but
practical observer of man and things, and
is fully competent to Judge of the subject
he treats upon as developed in New York
City.
10 THE EDITOR OF TIE HERALD -
"Catholicus" informs us in last Sun
days HERALD that "the Catholic Church
demands UNCONVENTIONAL schools, and this
can be the only satisfactory solution Of
the question And why capnot our
children meet together to learn the sci.
ences as their fathers meet and practice
them in the everyday affairs of life? 1t
is very poor compliment to a man and
his wife, and their pastor to tell them
they cannot Undue their children with
their peculiar faith sufficient to counter
act all they are likely to hear to the con-
trary in our public schools, which amount
to nothing at all, comparatively speaking,
and would become still less were it not
for the insolonce and threatened power"
of such bigots as "Catholicus. For in-
science it is Of the most offensive charac.
ter; for he says, as plain as words can
say it, that children are moulded by
Catholicism can only learn evil, or, at
least, are much more evil than those of
Catholic mould. That is modest to say
the least, when We contrast the product
Of the system "Catholicus' deems so per-
nlcious with that that has never listened
to a word except from Romish lips as
for instance, the semi-civilized robbers
and cutthroats Of Mexico, the still more
degraded, il possible, hordes of South
America, and those other hordes one can
reach in days ride from the city of
New York-thc gibbering theivish and
fantastic heather that swarm along the
banks ofthe ST. Lawrence. Is not tree
known by its fruit?
But what is taught in our public
schools is not what's the matter; it is
what is not taught; and that is Roman.
ism. This would be done, the Roman
Pontiif tells on every occasion he feels
called on to treat the subject, if he had
the "po,cer !" and "Catholicus," with an
obeisance like Hindoo fakir and a hol-
low-sounding thump on the breast, utters
dolorous Amen These are the PEG.
pie who remind us so often of the "riqhts
and guarantees Of the constitution. "
What blessed constitution that would
have been had "Catholicus" and those of
his leather had the framing of it But
they seem to entertain serious donbts of
their being enabled to amend" it very
soon, so they demand sectarian schools
as the next best thing. Sectaran is the
proper word and this demand, if com.
piled with in the case of Roman Catho.
lies, must be in the case of the Jews and
every other sect in our land. The most
precious principle in our constitution
would thus become dead letter, for
children thus educated would take it to
the ballot box, and the question would
not be who is the fittest, but who is the
Catholic who is the Protestant? who is
the jew? "Catholicus" tells us that the
Catholic Church knows too we'll that the
heart of the young is like soft wax !" the
Church is therefore anxious to secure all
OF this soft material possible to cast and
cool in its mould. A very natural desire
on the part OF those with whom the
warmth necessary to a recast THAT is, the
rebirth spoken of by our Lord and with
out which He assures us we cannot enter
the kingdom of heaven is rendered a
dead letter.
"Catholicus" tells us what the word
education really means 1t means
leading forth-5udding forth ! and then
he quotes the Popes syllabus of 1864,
which says the Catholics cannot approve
Of system Of education unconnected
with the faith and po,eer of the Church.
That is the way the man sought to lead
and bud his horse into living without
eating, but when he thought he had him
educated the stupid brute up and died
That man might have been a classmate
of 'Catholicus' in his favorite 'denomina.
tional school.
Finally, will 'Catholicus' tell us what
he considers should be the central princi.
pie Of all true education, especially the
spiritual, lore or force, and of what the
one and the other is born