The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1888-12-13

about to be taken in Boston the issue OF
which is being watched for with no little /
anxiety both by those who sustain and by |
those who oppose the public school. The /
complexion and attitude of boards of ed
ucation depend upon the result. Ever
since the elimination of an alleged OBJ |
jectionable textbook and the substitution
of an expurgated edition of another the
secular and the sectarian press have seas
oned their arguments by acrimony
enough to make the contest bitter as
well as interesting. Woman's influence
has been solicited and some Of the stand
ing arguments against her political inter-
ference have been entirely lost sight OF
by both parties, and the female vote In
the approaching election will eclipse any
movement of the kind that has yet been
attempted. This introduction of woman
as an element in this contest, bitter
enough in itself, can scarcely be regarded
as an omen of good for its amicable set
Element. But her suffrages are in de-
mand and she is spurred on too, it is
charged, by clergy heretofore little con-
cerned about her political rights and by
no means disposed to nourish her extra
VACANT notions of mans oppression. But
it is religion that has led to this outcome.
After two hundred years of immunity
from religious war the feud reappears In
new form. federation in the strict
sense there never has been, but cons
| ciousness of weakness and of the futillty
of any attempt to successfully enlist the
services of the state has caused narrow
minds and weak hearts to spend their
energies in petty tantalizations OF those
differing in belief. Americas divorce
ment of church and school was an expert
ment in the educational and religious
world. The experiment has proven a
success; our people are better educated
and more generally religious than those OF
any other nation in the world. The nature
of our institutions calls for intelligence
among the masses. Hence the state is
the proper authority to assume the edu-
cation of the child. Either schools must
educate their pupils to cherish the same
institutions or they make mistake and
our government must suffer in conse-
quence. To mold the youthful masses
into one homogeneous whole with like
instincts and aspirations should be the
acknowledged function of all schools,
public and private. This fitting for citi
zenship, this preparing of man to live
with man is the grand purpose of the
public school, and to see that every child
beneath the flag imbibes this solemn no
ton is the duty of the government. Let
the family, the home and the church give
what religion they will, the state cannot
should not interfere. The failure Of
Europe and our own cherished experience
have taught us to look with jealous eye
on any approach toward a union or com
promise with any sect or any creed.
In considering this question which now
stirs many disputants to wrath it would
be absurd, however popular it might be
|
schools with the whole blame of precip
itating the present crisis. One class pro
nounces the public school ungodly, an
other class persecutes, ostracizes child
rem because when in the public schoo
they cannot participate in the peculiar
phase of goodness often introduced. Re
hgion, technically considered, has NJ
place in school for the education O
citizens. Such public school is mon
strosity, a hybrid, a Siamese union with
out consistency.
The Bible in the school has been thu
cause of much ill-feeling and the persis
tency and inconsistency of its votariel
have done not little to build up the pri
vate schools so often heartily condemned
1t should be banished until people ART
calm enough and rational enough tt
recognize that it may serve other than ;
religious purpose. Studied, however, i
must be even by those who deny its in
spiration if they wish to escape the charge
of lack of culture Literature is replet,
with biblical illusions meaningless tt
the unmitiated. Without the Bible ant
Shakespeare there can be no appreciation
, OF literature, and it is remarkable tot
} that many private schools send thei
pupils abroad into the world without tn,
slightest acquaintance with the beauty O.
) the history contained in that book tina
| furnishes the theme for SO many homi
lies and the inspiration for so man!
noble works. Yet prejudice will not Civ,
the Bible to the public school as a worl
of profane history and literary merit.