The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-10-09
EroD, The CHICAGO Tribune,
Fr0Ds ne CHScuQO ITEOuEe'
Rible-Reading in the Public Schools

about the late exclusion of bible-reading as
one of the regular daily exercises of the
public schools of this city is, that the ac-
ton was taken in the most quiet, matter-of-
fact way, and that it was approved by an
almost unanimous vote 10 tho board. This
sudden disposition of the matter has at
tracted criticism even from those who do
not condemn the exclusion. But if the
question had been formally discussed, it
would have attracted the interference of
partisans on both sides, and probably have
created contention that would only have
been hurtfnl to the public school system
in any event, AS it is. the board have con-
tented themselves with directing the sus-
pension of bible-reading in the same man
ner as they would dispense with any single
exercise, or any particular text book, or
any feature of discipline which, 10 their
minds. might be omitted to the advantage
Of the schools. Several clergymen have
publicly acquiesced in the propriety of the
action Of the board. among whom are
the Rev. Clinton Locke Grace church,
Prof. Swing. the Rev. Robert Collyer, the
Rev. @. LhThompson. of the Fifth Presby-
terian church, and the Rev. DIR. ID. Fallows,
of st. Paul's Reformed Episcopal church,
Some Of these haYe preached dis
courses in favor of emitting the bible ex-
ercises in the public schools,
In examining the merits of the case,it is
proper to understand the legitimate purpose
Of the American public-school system. 1t
is system whereby the state undertakes
TO furnish comon-school education to all
who are not otherwise provided for. 1t is
not an exclusive, but rather supplemental,
system. 1t is founded in the demands of
civilization for general diffusion of ele-
mentary secular knowledge among all
classes of people; and the consideration
which the state received for its expeudi-
lures in supporting it in its increase of in
telligence and usefulness, and the decrease
of vice and weakness incident to ignorance,
thus furnishing higher order of citizen
ship than would otherwise be attained 1t
is not the province of public schools, sup
ported by taxes, to teach specialties, either
domestic or dogmatic. What may be &C.
quired in the family, in the churches, or
the Sunday and UNCONVENTIONAL schools,
does not come within the scope of the
public school, except in so far as the fami-
ly, the churches, or the private schools
partake Of the common school character.
If a father wishes his son to make a
special study of civil engineering, or
law, or medicine, or theology, or a
mother desires her daughterto become q
skilled musician or artist, it is neces-
sary to give the child some special in
struction in this particular direction; the
public schools could not accomplish their
purpose and divert their resources to any
specialties whatever. So those who de-
sire to afford their children special re-
liglous instruction, either general or dog
matte, must avail themselves of other and
more appropriate facilities at hand. There
is ample time for this every day before
and after school hours, and during the
whole of Saturdays and Sundays, when the
public schools are closed. The Catholic
parents may send their children to public
schools to sit along side of the Methodist
children, and the Unitarian or Hebrews
may study reading, writing and arithmetic
side by side with Episcopaliaus or Baptists
if religion is not mentioned and dogma moi
discussed; and each and al of them may
find ample opportunities for religious ex.
ercises outside of the public schools, where
such exercises do not naturally belong
If it be said that the reading of thu
bible without note, comment, or explana
ton is not dogmatic instruction, the an
swer is, that it is a meaningless and in
comprehensive exercise for children, anC
should be dispensed when in the publ,
schools on that account. 1t is dogmatic i;
one sense, since version of the New Tesla
ment is read which is believed to be incor
rect by the Catholics, who constitute NOR
than third of the population of the city
and since another large class of citizen
and taxpayers reject the New Testamen
altogether as a religious book. But tn
scriptures, if not interpreted, have N
significance to the child of the averag
school age, and Interpretation runs a
once into creeds and sectarianism, ant
creates antagonists. No school boar(
would dare to authorize its teachers to ex
plain the chapter of the bible which it ha
been customary to read as he or she dog
matically believed it, for such an explain
alton would inevitably partake of Judaism
or Catholicism, or Methodism, or Episco
palianism, or Baptism, or Unitarianism, o
Presbyterianism, or some other of tn
numerous iSn1s into which religious belief
are divided. To enter into this, it will b
universally conceded, would be to intro
duce an element of discord that would lea
to the speedy destruction of the whole sys
TEN of public-school education. 1t wi
scarcely be denied that the reading of tn
bible, either at random or in broke
series Of chapters, one day, without ex
PLANTATION or Interpretation, can make n
other impression upon the large mass O
school-children than that of dreary, dis
ciplinary exercise in which they take n
interest and from which they derive n
good, because they do not comprehend il
The school board have merely droppe
such an exercise from the school hours.
The intelligent reading of the scripture
to children, which includes their explanc
ton, is provided for in this country by
system as general, enterprising, and fal
reaching as the public schools We refe
to the American Sunday-school system
which makes this specially, and in whic
all the churches take part. Thi
system reaches the poor through tn
mission-schools as we'll as the rich
the more gorgeous churches 1t ha
literature of its own, including historical
biographical, chronological, and dogmati
textbooks. 1t has its catechism for chi
dren, and its aids and Observation-Disclosures fo
teachers. 1t interprets and explains tn
scriptures on day especially set aside fo
religious devotion and study, and in
manner to command peculiar reverenc
from those who partake of the instruction
The public school, supported by gener;
taxation. cannot undertake such instru,
ton; and, without it, hurried and uLinte
hgent biblo-reading to children must be @
irksome as learning Pollock's Course
Time" by heart as punishment for il
fraction Of school rules.
The dropping of bible-reading as re,
ular school exercise has no direct copne
ton with the Catholic controversy on tn
public school question, except that it d,