The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1891-11-19
Gents.
Sectarian Control of Schools.

ScctarlAn COntrOl OF ScnOOlSs
There is no need to enter at length upon
the debate which few persons have started
over the transfer of the school buildings at
Faribault and at Saltwater We are glad
to notice, in many ways, weakening of
the lines of prejudice and fanaticism that
have made, in the past, anv temperate and
logical discussion on the subject almost USE
less. Both sides are learning wisdom. toll
Grafton and the virtue of concession. The
time was when the Protestant insisted on the
reading of the Bible in the public school as
an absolutely necessary condition; and the
Pioneer Press shared in the general outburst
of wrath that greeted the proposition to
abolish it. But now the courts have en-
forced the principle, and the public not only
acquiesceS in it. but approves it as cOrOl-
larry and consequence of non Sectarian edu
cation. The time was, too, when the Cath
Olic body would have resented the mere
idea that it should consent to remove from
any church building the visible insignia of
the faith. throw out its own textbooks and
adopt those prescribed by the state, and
conform in all external particulars to the
public school established by law. There is
thus a distinct gain on both sides. and
promise of that future coming together
which we believe to be inevitable. At the
same time. while we doubt the efficacy of
public debate as a means of Fastening this
desired dconsummation. and deprecate the vio-
lence of accusation and reply, we may add
that harmonious adjustment of the school
question cannot come by any half. way COM
promise, depending upon a secret under
standing for its maintenance.
There is but one possible position on the
essential point. which is that public instruc-
tiOn must be absolutely separated from re.
ligiOus teaching of any sort or name. There
must be no holding to the line between
Catholic and Protestant. There must be
acceptance of the district system. the dis
persiOn of pupils among the schools accord
ing to residence. and perfect ignoring of
any religious tests or qualifications as to re-
ligion among the teaching force. The free
dom of belief on both sides must be guaran-
teed. or rather the question of belief must
be left out of sight as completely as it is in
the training of hand and eye and brain to
proper use of any other sort of tools. When
this much is admitted all around then the
question of freedom to give religious in
StructiOn out of school hours to any who
may come voluntarily to receive it, and to
those of all faiths without discrimination,
will appear to have lost its Importance.
We have not the slightest fear of a secta-
rian control of schools in any state. and
least of all is there danger of it in Mime
sofa. The coming together on common
ground of patriotic and public spirited
Catholics and members of other religious
bodies who are animated by the same spirit
of loyalty to our institutions depends solely
upon the rapidity with which the inevitable
fact that public education must be wholly
divorced from any religious meaning or in
tent shall force recognition. That process
is going forward rapidly, but it will only be
retarded by any discussion which appeals
to the evil passions of the past. whether 1t
be Catholic or Protestant who raises his
voice for incorporate action. From an ed
itOrial in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.