The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1890-10-23

rests on substantial basis OF facts. II
the parochial schools were open to in
spection which Is now forbidden as sacrl-
legious and an infringement on the rights
OF conscience, land no one wants them to
submit to any such grievous infiction,
it would be found that instruction In
English Is not attempted In many OF
them and that in some others where En-
glish is taught" it is taught as poorly
as German is in our pubic schools, when
no special teacher for that language is
employed. But we are denied this test,
and must look to the product OF the
schools and judge the school by their
proficiency in English. II fail to specl-
fy instances it is from reluctance to give
names because OF the undesirable motto
riety thus given to those whose names
are used. The proof must be left to the
people, just as Col. Villas leaves the peo-
pie to gropc for proof that the Bennett
law denies the nigh. OF trial by jury to
those prosecuted for violating its provis-
ions.
Fortunately, no personality is invoiv-
ed IN citing facts to prove the statement
that the public schools are being crowd
ed out by the parochial schools.
BY hasty computation, find there are
20 parOchial schools in Manitowoc county
outside the cities of Manitowoc and Two
Rivers. 1 have had, for years, relations
with the schools of the county sufficient
ly close to readily notice deterioration or
progress eitherin attendance or efficiency.
There are few public schools in the neigh
borhood of these parochial schools, ex-
cept when diversity of nationality and
religion prevents, which have not dwin-
died In attendance to such an extent that
the abandonment OF the district organ
ization might not be advised as judicious
Before the establishment OF these paro-
chlal schools, the public schools men
toned were in flourishing condition.
Similar reports come to me from other
counties, and some to the effect that the
district organization had been abandon
ed and the territory attached to adjoin-
ing districts.
The parochial school is always found
in these neighborhoods in which the pub
lie school was meeting all necessary de-
mands for elementary instruction
The first systematic step taken toward
the destruction of the public school is to
denounce it from the pulpit AS goddess
ana immoral, and to threaten those who
adhere to it with the displeasure of the
church. Has Col. Villas no word of repro
baton for the invasion Of parental rights
by the clergy in matters of secular edu-
cation?
The sentiment which sustains the paro-
chial school is necessarily hostile to the
existence of the public school, as it is an
tagonistic to secular instruction separate
from religions. 1t appeals to all denomi-
nations and to all nationalities to estab-
lish schools Of their OVID. What will be-
come of our public schools when this
sentiment, abetted as it now is by the
democracy OF the state, is in the ascen-
dant? Their loss may not be felt if the
instruction they give is not permitted to
perish with them.
Ii the public school is to be abolished
by the force Of public sentiment, then
that which is substituted should fully
compensate the public for the loss, by
teaching what the public welfare de-
mands. Col. Villas exhibits great solicl-
tude for parochial schools and deprecates
any effort to induce them to do, in part,
what they deny the right of the pnblic
| school to do, under the plea of parental
rights" He speaks in pathetic terms of
the widowed German mother whose con-
science is sorely distressed because her
child is learning English. 1t is probable
that though he had opportunity for OBJ
serving conditions as they are, he would
prefer to reason from assumed premises,
il by SO doing his logic would run with
the current of parochial school feeling.
That flows in one channel, and splendid
possibilities may follow alliance with or
gained effort. And then the "something
which happened to drop in Milwaukee
last spring. robbed every fact of its force
when opposed to that power of gravita-
ton which caused something to drop
IN Milwaukee" Those who could before
see nothing Objectionable in the Bennett
law were, after ''the drop in Milwaukee"
at once overwhelmed with realization
OF its enormities and its capacity to op-
press and destroy. Those who up to that
time had been in hearty sympathy with
the principle of compulsory instruc-
ton in English, have either lapsed into
"innocuous desuetude" or are manifest
ing in opposition all the zeal of sudden
conversion.
The principle upon which the denomi-
national school works is, that secular
and religious education must be COM
bined. There can be no separation with
out doing violence to conscience and
parental rights. AS the state has no right
to interfere with religious instruction.
1t has no right to interfere with it's COM
plement, secular instruction. Thus every
thing pertaining to the child or to the
family which can be invested with re-
hglous feature, is sacred from statutory
law. Ii this idea of education is the cor
rect one, then the public school system
whose province is to provide for secular
education separate from religious, is
based on false principles and should be
abolished. The state can make no de-
mand on the parent and will be denied
the privilege of furnishing opportunities
Tor lmparting instruction in English.