Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1875-12-03
The Schocl Question.

The uneasiness of the Democratic papers
about the school question, their apparent
anxiety to belittle it, and their constant
reference to il, either in depreciation OF its
importance, or TO show that there is really
no damage impending iu connection with
it, all indicate the consciousness that 1t Is
the coming question IN politics. They
would like TO avoid it, or stave it of; but
they evidently feel an apprehension that
1t will press itself for consideration in spite
of all that can be done to prevent ii.
The catholic bishops, such, for instance,
as Bishop M'Quade, of Rochester, and
Bishop Gilmore, of Cleveland, are much
more moderate in their tone on this ques-
ton sin ce the election than they were be-
fore, but they still MAINTAIN their position
of demanding either proportion share of
the school money direct, or the maintenance
of Catholic schools out of the common
school fund. They are not, they say, the
enemies of tie public school system. Ger
tainly not. They want the schools to 20
on, but they want, also, to have all their
children educated in seperate schools, under
Catholic teachers, and at the public ex-
pense, tho religious part of their education
TO be given after or between the regular
school hours.
Whether, therefore, they fall back upon
demand for their proportionate share OF The
school fund, with which TO carry on schools
under their exclusive control, or whether
they claim seperate Catholic scAoo!s-to be
maintained out of the common fund. deriV-
ed from taxation, we are confronted with
the necessity of deciding not betveen these
plans, but upon the simple question shall
sectarian schools be maintained Mt the
public expense? That is the naked ques
,ion, and is the point to be passed upon
by the popular verdict. 1t is not as to
ho,o sectarian schools shall they be main
tanned, but shall they be maintained at all!
In either of the forms proposed the
schools would not be either public or COM
mon. They would be sectarian, in the
fullest sense of the term.' No child OF
parents belonging to any other sect would
be permitted by its parents to attend either.
the schools under exclusive Catholic con-
troll, or schools taught by teachers selected
with a special view TO their religious con-
victions. The purpose of the demand for
such schools is 10 make them Catholic, or
as We prefer TO phrase it. sectarian.-
Cover the proposition up with whatever
verbiage you chose, and you will have to
come back to the conclusion that the object
is 10 secure the schools in which Catholic
ism shall be taught as a part of the plan ot
education, and at the public expense.
We care little, consequently, for the
particular shape in which this demand is
or may te pressed. We take our stand
| upon the broad ground of hostility to sec
,arianism in the public schools. This is
the only common ground un which schools
free 30 all can be kept up at the public eX-
pense. If the State is in educate her chill
dren out of a cOmIuoB fund, derived from
| general taxation. she must educate all alike,
aud leave elI-ious views IL be incuicated
| in some other way.
The question as TO the complete secuiariza'
tioneducation is another QUESTION altogether
aud can best be settled by itself; the first
and most important question is 10 dispose
of the demand put forth by such represen'
tatiye men as Bishop M'Quade and Gil
more. That is the coming question. We
40 not propose to enter more fully into Its
details to-day but We desire To keep our
readers acquainted with the shape it is
likely to assume. It'll a question which
cannot be ignored or pooh poohed out OF
the way. 1t is living, practical question,
which no ingenuity can evade, and il be-
hooves US to be getting ready to meet it as
intelligently as we may. PltSburg Com
mercidi.