The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-01-03
FRIDAY, s.: JANUARY 8. 1873

Orp COMMON SCHOOLS. - hcV. Fa'heI =,
Mamie. q. :. B.. priest in charge OF the A
Catholic congregation at this place, has c
taken upon himself big job. in under +
taking to destroy the Common schooi 9 :,
system of Indiana. and one which we ),
doubt his capacity to carry through sue K
eessfully. Most intelligent people nave 4
progressed beyond the age of fishting
against education. and we think ne VIII
find II an herculean task to convince
them that they are now in error, AMI a
induce them TO be willing to relapse 10 q
the state OF the dark ages For sew
eral weeks past he has been Illuminating
from the pulpit against the system III
general. ana particularly against thai
portion of il now Taught b. Nj. Lon.
Green. in Jasper. The result is severs'
OF Ms fearful members. uader the dread
OF his threatened accommodation
from the church, and numbcrless imag-,
mary dire and terrible evils 10 follow
not the least o: which is his retusa! to-
pray for them - have taken their chill
dren from the school. aud are deter
mined 10 let them grow MP in CON-
parative ignorance. Well, this being q
glorious free country, where all III sGcn
matters can do es thcs please, this
is their right, and no o.e but their ewn
children can blame them for exercising
IL ii they desire TO.
Bat nth the school trustees il is diff
ferent matter. They are sworn officers,
with certain funds committed to their
hands 10 he used only as the law Of the
State-and not Of Father Aaude- III
reefs. and for the security and faithful
application Of which they are solemniy
sworn. and also bound in penal bond
with security. They have been expenr'
ing this money a. they thought pubic
interests and Justice to the children de-
manded. giving each year aboat $500 "
to the church schools. and $225 90 to tina
taught by Mr.. Green. The church
echools have been conducted under thu
Rev. Fathers supervision. just as he de
sired. and taught by teachers hired b.
him for his congregation by the year
and the money derived from the schoo
fund going into the general church funf
or being deducted from the teachers an
nual salaries.-the Examiner graciousl
licensing. without the usual public e1
animation, whomsoever the Rev. Fathe
recommended. In these schools III
catechism has been taught regularly All
without objection on the part Of al
one. as one of the most important bran
ches of education. AS consequence Il
church schools have been flourishing
numbers. crowded every winter to e
cess with small children, growing u
under the shadow Of the church, al
their teachers paid for out Of rhe pu
lie fuuds.-while the only other scho
in town has not been near so large, a.
generally composed Of children mo
advanced in years and studies.
And now comes the break of tn
happy condition. The Priest havi
Withdrawn from Mr.. Green's school
portion Of the children attending, the
by virtually interfering with and usu
ing the duties of the school Trustees
the town, they in turn have determil
that tie teachers of the church schc
shall not be longer paid out of the CO
mon fund, unless they are legally ex'
ined. licensed and employed. and Il
schools taught legally. and in Il
branches, which will exclude the c.
chism, as no one contends that ii Is
Of the legal branches Of education
Indiana. Thus it bids fair to becon
fact that st. Joseph's congregation
have 10 raise nine hundred dollars N
this year than it did last to pay expen
This, however. it is abundantly ablt
do, but it is well to face the facts. 81
are inclined to blame the school trust
and cajoe them into paying out the
ney As usual. But they should not
blamed. if they do not. as they are
lie trustees, certain 10 be sued in c,
and brought into great deaf of per-
trouble and expense, If they de'
from t'4eir plain duty. We unders
anotice has been served upon the to
ship trustee also, notifying him no
pay any of the teachers in the town
unless their schools are taught leg
thus intending to prevent the teac