The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1876-02-02
For THE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN.
RELIGION IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

Whatever views may be held as to the ex'
pediency or inexpediency of the system of
popular education at the expense Of the
State, known 90 he public school system,
44.:.a 4.:.a ir.so s:his stios Il is aet our rarposo4
to enter, there Fan bt nc doubt that the
difficulties which environ it are increasing
instead of diminishing. There not only lies
against the whole scheme the objection that
the government has no right to tax the peo-
pie for the education of their children, an
objection to which the answer of DR.. Sears
in his recent address, that "The government
and people are one,' does not seem sufi-
cient, since it would give to the majority un-
limited power of taxation over the property
of the minority; there is not only the grave
and momentous question with the Roman
Catholics in reference to the exclusion of
the Bible from the schools, question which
is being very rapidly decided in favor Of
Romanism and against Professionalism, but
there is the still graver question in reference
to the exclusion of all religious influence
and teaching of every kind. The annual
message of the President recommends sys-
tenn of education free from all religious, athe-
istic, or infdel teaching. A correspondent
of the Illustrated Christian Weekly, in the
last number of that journal presents US with
bona fde instance Of the working of the
system. A lady, teaching in free school of
town where there is mixed population of
Protestants, Roman Catholics, psgans, and
infdels, had occasion to reprove scholar
for profanity, and on fragrant repetition Of
the offense, to punish him by keeping him
in during recess, explaining to him the
grievousness of the ofense of taking the
name of God in vain. The next day she
received a note from one of the School Board,
stating that complaint had been lodged
against her by the father of the boy for re-
ligious teaching in the school, and for punish
ing his son for not conforming to her relg-
ious views. She>was Saly admonished by
tie member of the School Board that Sec
ond offense of the same kind would be
brought officially to the attention of the
Board.
She asks very pertinently Of the editor Of
the Weekly what she shall do. She cannot
allow profane swearing publicly and in pre-
sence of all the school, and yet she cannot
prevent it without inculcatiDg and enforcing
religious views? The editor of the Christian
Weekly respectfully refers the matter tc
President Grant, who cares as much about
it as professional tippler does about the
laws against illicit distilleries. We refer the
matter to the Christian public, not certainly
in any spirit of captiouS opposition to the
public school system, but under grave sense
of the embarrassments under which that sys
TEN labors; and of the necessity laid upon
its friends to meet these issues openly and
squarely. For ourselves, we very distinctly
say that no advantages that could possibly
accrue through the free school system, would
for moment reconcile US to the exclusion
of religious influence and teaching from iti
schools. That they should be kept free from
all sectarianism, We would most heartily
agree, but if the money of Christian people
ia to be used in supplanting system o.