Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-11
All Schools Should be stnte Schools.
r. saws be unholds narish schools, but would

All Schools Should be stnte Schools.
LIE saws he upholds parish schools but would
have all schools State schools. 70 the
child must be impaired instruction in no mean
degree that the man may earn for himself an
honest competence and acquit himself OF the
duties which society exacts from It's own
prosperity and life. The imparting of this in
struction is primarily the function of the
child's parent. The State intervenes when-
ever the family cannot, or will not, do the work
that Is needed. As things are, tens OF thousands
or children will not be instructed II parents re-
main solely in charge of the duty. The state
must come forward as an agent OF instruction;
else ignorance will prevail. Indeed. in the ab-
sence of State action. there never was that uni
versa instruction which we have so nearly at
tanned and which we deem necessary. In the
absence of State action believe universal In
struction would never in any country be posi-
BILE. No tax is more legitimate than that for
schools, and it should be disbursed by State
officers for this specific purpose.
unreservedly favor State laws making In
struction compulsory. Instruction is so much
needed by each citizen for his own sake, and
for that of society, that the father who neglects
TO provide for his children's instruction sins
against the child and against society, and 1t
Dehooves the State to punish him.
The Duty and Right of the Parent.
OF course. first principles must not be forgot
ten, and, since the instruction is primarily
the function of the parent, the parent enjoys the
right to educate his child in the manner suit
able to himself. provided, always, that the edu-
cation given in this manner suffice for the ul-
terror duties of the child toward himself and
society. Compulsory education implies attend
ance in schools maintained aud controlled by
the State only when there Is no attendance in
other schools known to be competent to imparr
instruction in the required degree. The COM
pulsory laws recently enacted in certain States
OF me Union are, to my Judging, objectionable
am confident will readily be altered in ap.
preaching legislative sessions.
With the body of the laws and their general
intent in the direction of Fastening universal
instruction, am IN most hearty accord. Our
State school system 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 olher devo-
nonai exercises from the schoolroom.
The State School Unsatisfactory.
THERE is dissatisfaction with the State school
as at present organized. The State school,
1t is said. tends to the elimination of reli-
gion from the minds and hearts of the youth of
the country. This is my grievance against the
State schools to-day. Believe me. my Protest
ant fellow-citizens that / am absolutely sincere
when new declare that 1 am speaking for the
veal of Professionalism as well as for that of
Catholicism. am Catholic, of course, to the
tiniest fibre of my heart, unflinching and un-
compromising in my fauh. But God forbid
that l desire to see in America the ground
which Professionalism carries exposed to the
chilling and devastating blast of unbelief Let
me be your ally in stemming the swelling tide
of irreligon, the death knell of Christian life
and OF Christian civilization, the fatal foe of
souls and of country.
The State school is non-relgious. 1t ignores
religion. There is and there can be no positive
religious teaching where the principle of nom
sectarianism rules. 1t follows, then, that the
child will grow up in the belief that religion is
of minor Importance; and religious indifference
will be his creed. The great mass of children
receive NO freside lessons and attend no Sun
day school, and the great mass of the children
The State need not teach religion, but for the
sake of its peorle and for its own sake ii should
permit and facilitate the action of the Church,
but 1t hinders this action. Let the State look
to ITSELF The mind which 1t polishes is two
edged sword, an instrument for good or an in
strument for evil. 1t were fatal to polish it
without the assurance that IN all likelihood it
shall be an instrument for good.
Schools Without Religious Teachings.
VoU say the State school teaches morals, but
morals without religious principles do not
61lst. SeCularS anu uDDeHeVeTS Will lnIeTpOS6
their rights. 1 do not impose my religion on
them, nor should they impose heir religion Of
secularism on US. Again, there are differences
among Christians and Catholics would not in
hict their belief upon non-Catholics, nor
should Professionalism be inflicted upon Catho-
lie children. Some compromise becomes neces-
sary Taxation without representation is
wrong and while the minority pays school
taxes their belief should be respected.
America Is trying to divorce religion and the
school, although religion pervades our systems
and the school was originally religious through
and through. AS a solution of the difficulty.
would permeate the regular State school with
the religion of the majority OF the children OF
the land, be it as Protestant as Professionalism
as can be, and I would as they do in England.
pay for the secular instruction given in denOmi-
national schools according TO results; that is,
each pupil passing the examination before
State officials, and in full accordance with the
state programme, wo Id secure to this school
the cost OF the tuition of pupil IN the State
school.
Another plan: I would do as Protestants and
Catholics in Poughkeepse, and other places In
our country, have agreed to do, to the great
satisfaction of all citizens, and the great ad-
vancement OF educational interests In Pough-
keepsie the city school board rents the build
ing formerly used as parish schools and at The
hour of 9 A. M to that of P. M. the school Is in
every particular State school, no religious In
struction coming between the hours named
and the school being IN charge Oh the city |
school board.
In conclusion protest against the assertion |
that the schools of the nation have their |
enemies among the Catholics. The Catholics |
are loyal to the country and demand the |
Christian State school.