The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-01-23

contest, ana the undersigned LulnoI-
an would kindly ask the editor of the
observation-disclosures to allow him a
little space to state the facts as they
are
The Lutherans-w we call them so
for the sake of shortness-ar no
enemies nor opponents Of our public
schools, but consider them as 'neces-
sary institutions, thus openly de-
clared by every Evangelical Luther
an Synod in the State of Wisconsin.
The Lutherans did never insist on
using the public schools to teach
whatever language they think fit, but
| believe that the State has the full au-
thority to command teachers to teach
that language in its schools which it
deems proper. The Lutherans do
not intermeddIe with the bublIc
Sch00ks whatever, but they oppose a
lac which threatens the existence of
an institution of their church, the
blessings of which they have enjoyed
under the constitution of our country
for many years, an institution which
has become dear to them all. They
oppose law which threatens the ex-
istence of their beloved bartSh Sch00Ls,
schools which they have established
at their own expense. schools which
they have upheld at their own cost,
not regarding the fees paid for the
support of the public schools; schools
in which they have the privilege to
give their children an education not
only in the language of our country,
but also in their mother tongue to
give them access to the treasures of
our German literature, and above all,
schools in which they have the
chance to show their children to
Christ, their Savior, every day, thus
preparing them for citizenship be-
meath and for the kingdom Of God
above The Lutherans being no en-
emies of the public schools, they are.
however, friends. warm and intimate
friends of their parish schools, and
that's why they oppose law that has
as the end in view to simply sweep
the parochial school system from ex-
stance. This law is the we'll known
Bennett Jaw, enacted by the Legisla-
ture of Wisconsin at the close of its
last session. That the enforcement
IF this law as it stands will prove
detrimental to any parish school il
The State can easily be shown by the
strict verbal construction o! It's pro
visions. The undersigned will cali
the worthy readers attention only to
a provision made in Section 1 |
Every parent or other person hav
ing under his control child between
the ages of seven and fourteen years
shall annually cause such child to at
end some public or private day |
school in the city, town or district in
which he resides. x = Luther |
ans are perfectly pleased with the |
first part of the sentence: Every
parent or other person having x
public or private day school, but they |
are entirely dissatisfied with the adj
verbal phrase that follows: Sin the
city, town or district where he re-
sides. And for good reasons. Not |
My does this clause deprive the |
father of the right to have his child |
educated at whatever place he
thinks best, but it also furnishes
weapons in the hands of a public |
school board with which such body |
may strike the death blow at any
parish school in our State.
1t is evident that not every school
district can be supplied with par
ochial school. Such school is gener-
ally located about the center Of the
congregation that supports it, which,
however, in many cases spreads over
s or or more districts. We readily |
see in parish school children often ,
meet from or or more districts
If now the Bennett law be enforced,
the children of or S districts my
during the compulsory period fixed
by the respective school boards, be
compelled to leave their parish
school and to attend the school of
the "district in which they reside.
What will be the consequence? The
consequence will evidently be what
the plain arithmetical problem in
volved in this consideration tells US,
viz: private school having an at
tendance from 5 or districts will,
after the act of the school boards,
have the attendance of those child
rem only that live in the district in
which the school is locate1-n. b. =
that school being approved" by the
public school board. e., in figures,
q 4.