Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-09-10
DISTRICT SCHOOLS AND CHURCH
SCHOOLS.

speakers. some reference was hlsV
made 10 the District Schools. IL is
important that there should lie no mis-
understanding on these matters.
The necessity OF religious training
for the young, We believe, is
conceded by all people who are
rellgiously inclined. What that In
structlon should be may be subject Of
great difference Of opinion. Each de.
nomination desires that the children Of
its members shall be taught H. peculiar
tonets. Thisis only reasonable. Inn
pressions made upon the youthful mind
are the most vivid and lasting, aud n
child trained thoroughly In certain doc.
trines il likely 10 hold TO them In after
life.
The common schools cannot aud
ought mol to be made UNCONVENTIONAL
Az 10 whether there could not, with
proprlcty, be some general ideas OF
Deity aud the obligations Of mankind
to n Supreme Being presented TO chill
dren in the public schools, there may
be some question. but the tendency
all over the land, II TO shut out rclig-
ion altogether from the schools sup
ported by taxation, no that even the
infidvl may have no cause 10 say that
his rights are infringed by what he
regards rs improper teaching to his
children.
However, there IL no law In this
Territory prohibiting this. II Is a
matter Of common consent. The law
does not prohibit religious teaching
but II provides for free schools sup
ported by taxation, and II IL clear that
under this system II would be i'm
proper 10 introduce any instruction
that could be construed NJ scctarian or
which would give ofiense to jew or
Gentle, Catholic or Protestant, Iniidol
or "Mormon."
hut granting that every Lattor'day
saint can see the importance Of proyid'
ing some religious instruction for the
young, the establishment Of good
schools where the doctrines OF the
Churah may bo taught becomes M
actual necessity. This cannot 10
accomplished without money. And
the funds cannot come from the public
treasury. The means must he furnished
by the members Of the Church.
Wherever II Ia practicable, then,
there should he n Church school or
schools, OF the kind established In Pro.
vo, In Logan and In this city. The
tuition fees charged la them are not
sufficient to sustain them. The
wealthy and benevolent should impart
Of their substance TO mako such schools
nil that IL designed In their establish
ment. Suitable buildings are needed
here aud In other places for the pur'
pose. Voluntary contributions by way
Of endowment or temporary help
would be- money well spent.
Hut the masses Of the people lind
that when they have paid the taxes
which are now no burdensomc, thoy
have no money TO spend either by dona'
ton 10 Church Schools or for the tuition
OF their children therein. Are they to
keep their children out Of the District
Schools and thus lose the benefit OF
tile money they are compelled TO pay
for school taNesY
Certainly not. There Ia no such
design In the plan OF Church schools
II IL not desirable that the District
Schools shall bo Injured In any way by
the establishment Of Church Schools
nor that members OF the Church shall
be In any way oppressed. The Latter.
day Saints Collog. In this city, which
IL doing most excellent work, has
no primary department IL would by
folly, then, 10 expect small children "a
stay out OF tho District Schools
And even II there were accommo'
dations for them all In the Church
Schools many parents would be unahl,
To pay the tuition fees In addition tc
the school taxes.
Tho Church Schools now advised are
to be high schools. A common educa
tlon can be obtained In tho District
Schools. When children have SUM-
olently advanced, the older ones, Il
possible, should be sent TO the Church
schools where they may take mor'
advanced studies aud be instructed In
religious principles.
II Ia desirnbl, TINT tho DIsirIct