Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1890-07-11
IRELAND'S PLEA.
The Catholic Archbishop Ably Defends the
Parish School.

ST.. PAUL. July 10.-The third days ses-
sion of the National Educational Associa-
tion was called TO order promptly, another
immense crowd being present The Com
mittee on Nominations reported the selec-
ton Of Vice Presidents, Secretary and
Treasurer, which was adopted. Geo. u.
Brown, of Illinois, submitted a resolution
favoring annual reports on the progress in
pedagogical observation and inquiry during
the year, and it was adopted.
The first subject of the morning was
Compulsory laws and their enforcement
Archbishop ireland, of St. Paul, read the
first paper on the topic, ''The State school
and the parish school; is union between
them pOssible.n He said in substance: Il
will be permitted TO make at once my pro-
fession to faith. | declare most unbounded
loyalty TO the constitution of my country.
desire no favOrs ! claim no rights that
are not in consOnance with its letter and
spirit. The rights which the constitution
allows do claim, and in doing so l am but
the truer and more loyal American He
upheld the parish school, but would have
ALL SCHOOLS STATE SCHOOLS.
To the child must be impaired instruction
in no mean degree that the man may earn
for himself an honest competence and ac-
quit himself of the duties which society eX-
imparting Of this instruction is primarily
the function of the child's parent. The
State intervenes, whenever the family can
not. or will not do the work that is needed.
As things are, tens of thousands OF chill
dren will not be instructed, if parents re
main solely in charge of the duty. The
State must come forward as an agent OF
instructions else ignorance will prevail.
Indeed in the absence Of State action,
there never was that universal instruction
which we have so nearly attained, and
which we deem necessary. In the alb
sence of State action.rI believe universal
instruction would never in any country be
possible. No tax is more legitimate than
that for schools, and il should be dls0ursed
| by State officers for this specific purpose.
| unreservedly favor State laws making
| instruction compulsory. Instruction IS so
much needed bv each citizen for his own
sake and for that OF society that the father
who neglects to provide for his child's in
structiOn, sins against the child and
against society, and it behooves the State
to punish him. OF course first principles
must not be forgotten, and since instruc-
ton is primarily the function OF the parent,
the parent enjoys
THE RIGHT To EDUCATE HIS CHILD
in the manner suitable to himself; provided
always. that the education given in this
manner suffice for the ultcrior duties OF the
child toward himself and society. Com
pulsory education implies attendance in
schools maintained and controlled by the
State only when there is no attendance in
other schools known to be competent to i'm
part instruction in the required degree.
The compulsory laws recently enacted In
certain States of the Union are TO my iudg-
| ing. Objectionable in a few OF their incl
dental clauses. These, am confident, will
readily be altered in approaching legisla-
tive sessions. With the body Of the laws
and their general'i intent In the direction OF
Fastening universal instruction / am in
most hearty accord. Our State school sys-
TEN is our pride and our glory, and regret
there is necessity for the existence OF the
parish school The spirit of the parish
| school, if not the school itself, is widespread
among American Protestants, and is made
manifest by their determined opposition to
the exclusion of Scripture reading and
other devotional exercises from the school
room There is dissatisfaction with the
! State school as at present organized. The
State school, il is said, tends to the ellml-
nation Of religion from the minds and hearts
Of the youth of the country. This is my
grievance against the State school to-day
THE STATE SCHOOL l. NON-RELIGIOrs.
II ignores religion. There is and there can
be no pu.itive religious teaching where the
principle Of non-sectarianism rules. ltfol
lows then that the child will grow up in the
| belief that religion is of minor Importance
and rel giOus Indifference will be his creed
The great mass Of children receive no fire
side lessons and attend no Sunday School
and the great mass of the children ol
America are growing up without religion
The State need not teach religion but tol
the sake Of its people, and for its own sake
ii should permit and facilitate the action OF
the church, but il hinders this action. Lei
the State look to itself You say the State
school teaches morals, but morals without
religious principles do not exist. SecularS
and unbelievers will interpose their rights
do not impose my religion upon them, nol
should they impose their religion OF secu
larism on us. Again there are differences
among Christians. and Catholics would moi
inaict their belief upon non-Catholics. nol
should Professionalism be inflicted upon
Catholic children Some compromise be
comes necessary. Taxation without repre
sentation is wrong and while the minority
paws school taxes their beliefs should be re
| spected America is trying to.
DIVORCE RELIGION AND THE SCHOOL,
although religion pervades our system anc
the school was originally religious through
and through. / would do as Protestants
and Catholics in Poughkeepsie and Other
places in our country have agreed to do &c
the great satisfaction Of all citizens and the
great advancement of educational interests
In Poughkeepsie the City School Boarc
rents the building formerly used as the
parish school, and at the hour of a. IN. tC
that of p. Ill. the school is in ever7 part
State school, no religious instruction com
ing between the hours named and the schoo
being in charge of the City School Board
In conclusion, / protest against the asser
ton that the schools of the nation have
their enemies among the Catholics. ThC
Catholics are loyal and demand the Chris
tian State school.
Oscar Cooper, of Texas, read the next
paper on the same general subject. Mr.
Cooper holds that compulsory educational
laws contravene the fundamental idea
which is dominating the development OF
American institutions, viz, a minimum OF
law thoroughly enforced, and maximum
of freedom with a maXimum Of law and d
minimum of freedom. Rather than com
pulsory laws he favored better schools.