Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-03-06
rHE ATTACK UPON THE SCHOOL SYSTEM.

The thoughtful observer of the times
must be impressed with the fact that the
discussion Of the educational system OF the
country is assuming renewed Importance.
A recent open and pronounced attack upon
cur common school scheme in San Fran
cisco journal, in which church authority
cites in support of his opposition to the
system of common school education, CO.
religionists of differing faiths, and whom
he is bound to recognize as outside the pale
of what he deems the true scheme of sal.
walton, brings the question, at least locally,
to the surface. Discovering the fact that
as people we have grown beyond the sys-
TEN in few respects, he quotes his oppo.
nents in religion in their attacks upon the
scheme for failure to teach religious doc
trines, as authority for the allegation that
the system is itself bad. The truth is that
these distinguished clergymen of this State
whose assaults upon educational methods
ignore religion as one of the necessities that
in intellectual culture, fall into the same
error that he does, and, we suggest, pur-
posely and selfshly, to wit the pointing
out of supposed errors as sufficient
reason for the abandonment Of the system,
rather than the advancement of reasons for
readiustment, if need be, of the scheme
of popular education to the growth and
development Of the age. To discover
error, to pick out flaws in construction,
bias ever been the precursor for the mere
sectarian to cry "down with the fabric. +"
But the promoters of such criticism have
been few, and the great body of secsarians
themselves have refused to recognize it as
the voice of wisdom. The common school
scheme of the country may have its de.
fects, but the ignoring of theology and
sectarianism is not one but if it were, it
affords no sufficient reason for superseding
the system with one looking to division
of school funds, the selection of teachers
by church authorities, and the introduction
of sectarianism in all its varying forms
into State plan Of education. It is GER
tainly late hour in our national life in
which to set up the plea that the State ex-
ceeds it's functions in providing methods for
culture of the intellect of youth late day
in which to dispute the right of the State
to interfere in any way with the parental
authority. Surely the history OF our nation
has not proven that the common school
non. religious system is less to be desired
than the ignorance resulting where educa-
ton is committed solely to parental and
church authority. If the indifference Of
parents is not established by the history of
| the country in this matter, nothing has
been demonstrated. Ii the perpetuity Of
a State is matter of concernment, it is
one for the State in its governmental rela-
ton, and the right to preserve it by sys-
TEN of unbiased and undiscriminatiDg
culture of the youth of the land rises SUI
parior to the desires or predictions of any
parent or body of parents in church or
other organizations. To surrender the right
of the State in this respect is to surrender
the right to provide for the State intelli-
gent citizenship, right that is based on
the truth that in popular education pulses
the most vital principle of State vitality,