The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1890-05-29
PRESBYTERIAN IDEAS CONCERNING
PUBLIC SCHOOLS-DAVID @. WYLIE
IN EVERY THURSDAY.

PUBLlC SCHOOLS-DAiID IL w LIE
IN EVERY THURSDAY.
The schools must be kept true to the
purpose of their founders If anything
can be proved it is that the organizers of
our common schools were reverent,
Christian men. They were wise and
thoughtful and knew that it would be
impossible to teach morality without
resting it upon some higher authority
than mere expediency. They well un-
derstood that true morality must have
divine sanction and authority, and they
sought to give it this authority in religion
free from sectarian bias. This was the
platform upon which they stood.
There must be devOut and reverent
attitude maintained in all the schools with
respect to the high claims of religion in
general and of the Christian religion in
particular. The school system cannot
last if it is allowed to become an enemy
of true religion. And it will become
such an enemy if teachers are forbidden
to mention the name of God and of Jesus
Christ in the presence of the pupils.
This is the cherished aim of the secular
lists, who desire to eliminate every YES
tige of religion and morality from the
schools. The American people, we are
fully persuaded, will never tolerate such
a system. There is too much of the gem
uine religious element in the country to
permit of such thing. Whatever else
the State does it must not set itself up,
with all its vast resources and powers, in
opposition to the claims of the Christian
religion. The common schools must not
be secularized; for, as a certain writer
says, "To the successful pupil under an
H., N.n la
Make that goddess, and his life is made
goddess"
The tendency to eliminate the moral,
ethical, and religious from our schools
must be stopped. The current of public
thought must be turned in another direc-
ton, and it can be turned by thoughtful
and earnest discussion. Instead of less
morality and religion there should be
more in all the schools and books.
Only in this way can our common school
system accomplish the purpose of its
founders.
There is getting to be widespread
alarm upon this question which means
well for the future. Religious people of
all denominations are beginning to
arouse themselves from their stupOr of
indifference. The Roman Catholic
Church has claimed from the beginning
that education should rest upon religion
upon the Christian religion. The only
weakness in their position is that the
Christian religion means with them the
Roman Catholic Church. They have
made many assaults upon our schools as
goddess Careful thought and investiga-
ton will convince one that the schools
are not goddess, but that they are drifting
in that direction. Better have sectarian
schools than goddess schools, where the
minds of the pupils are never lifted above
the present hour.
1t is admitted that we have in our pub
lie schools a very serious question. So
many parties are concerned, so wide is
the difference of opinion among good
men, and so great are the interests in
volved, that many minds are seriously
troubled. But these considerations make
it all the more important that the ques-
tion be carefully and patiently studied.
However. it seems evident that, as the
State claims superiority in the domain of
education, since it has the power and the
wealth of the community in its posses
sion, and since it has the necessity ubiq
uity, that, therefore, it should direct the
minds of the pupils in the right direction,
| 1t should educate all future citizens to-
ward morality and religion and not away
| from these great subjects. 1t should not
simply ignore these important subjects,
aud therefore cast reflection upon them
as being of no value. So far as it goes
the State should educate the whole being
body. mind, and spiritual nature, and
the education should be symmetrical, and
not one-sided. If the State cannot do
this it should pass the whole subject over
| to the Church or commit it TO the family.
One thing is beyond dispute-the State
cannot be neutral upon moral and religious
| questions.
The welfare Of our country and the
permanency of our free institutions de-
mand that there be in all our schools a
respectful recognition of the being of
| God, the immortality of the soul, per
sonal responsibility, the claims Of Christ
iauity. and the authority of the Bible.
In all the schools the Bible should be
read, prayer offered, and the precepts of
morality enforced upon the ground of
divine authority and sanction. A great
mistake was made when the Bible was
permitted to be banished from any of the
common schools. Ii is the source of our
liberties. the fountain OF our best litera-
ture and noblest English. IL is also the
basis Of our Christian morals, and 10 be
ignorant of it or ignore it is inexcusable
and criminal.
In a word, if not already there, the
schools must put themselves ON the side
of truth, justice, humanity, morality, re-
ligion, God, and the greatest Of all teach
ers, Jesus Christ. Only these principles
can establish Nation upon a sure foun-
dation. The family, the school, the
State must be firmly linked TO the throne
of Almighty God. Let this republic
honor God, His truth, and His Son, and
He will establish it among the Nations
of the earth, and its fame, power, and in
fluence for good shall extend in all di
rections and carry the blessings of civil
and religious freedom, with peace and
prosperity, to all the world.