The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1876-03-23
partyisn in schools.

Arc our schools to be run in the in
terest of political par!y?. The ques-
tioh of sectarianism in our education
al institutions has elected much dis
cussion and sometimes of angry
character, and the public mind pretty
much everywhere has settled down
into decided opposition to sectarian-
ism in schools. Indeed, before the
question was broached by politicians
for the purposes of making party cap
ital, the fundamental law OF this State
had, in the most plain and emphatic
language, declared that .no religious
or other sect, or seeis, shall ever nave
any exclusive right to, or control over
day Y,n,t Of the school funds Of this
State" The evident object of the
trainers of our constitutions and the
people who adopted il, was TO exclude
ireiigiOu us, or sectarian teachings, from
the pnblic schools and il would seem
as though all the noise and confusion
of political demagogues upon that SUBJ
iect was without reasSn or the least
paIliation or excuse, and all the fright
that has been exhibited by q certain
class was manifestation of the most
inexcusabIe ignorance. But no such
law exists in d, regard TO
the running of the peoples colleges
i'm tile interest of political parties, and
we regret TO be forced TO believe that,
in some instances, teachers in orr pub
lie institutions of learning prostitute
their high calling to base partisan pur-
poses, and in their tone and, bearing
towards youth under their charge,
manifest their partisan bigotry and in
tolerence. An instance of this kind
has been brought TO our attention,
which too frequent repetition there
of, may compel US tovcnfilate. Teach
ers in our schools are not employed to
give instruction in party policies, nor
is it any part of their duty to give ex-
hibitiOns Of their partizan spite and
malignity before the youth who may
be committed to their care and instruc-
tiOn. The money that is raised by
means of taxation for the support OF
schools is contributed alike by people
of every shade of political opinion,
and the children of the whole people
are entitled to the benefit wiiictIit was
intended to confer. Our public in-
structors may be amply qualified for
tie ordinary duties of their calling,
but when they step aside from the
business that properly belongs to the
school-room and enter the political
arena they can't fail to materially ii,-t
jure their usefulness, and in many in-a
stances will justly earn only conthfne-
ly and contempt. There are few of
them who have acquired that profound
knowledge of craftsmanship, or who
are so thoroughly versed in politics as
to qualify themselves to teach even tile
youth under their charge the path they
ought to tread, while even some Of the
most pretentions among them, are
profoundly ignorant even of the pro-
visions of the Constitution OF the
country, the history attending it's
adoption, or the principles laying at
the foundation of our Federal system
of government. There is really more
danger to be apprehended from the
political false teachings of these in.
compeients in our public schools than
would result from sectarianism, were
that even possible, and the law should
put quietus Upon every effort to di-
vert those institutions from the pur-'
poses for which they were created. ~: