Rock Island daily Argus., 1892-09-20
ALTGELD ON SCHOOLS.
THEIR RELATION TO PARENT AND TO
THE STATE.

| rhe Democratic Candidate for Governor
of Illinois Discusses Various Questions
| Having to Do with the Control OF
Parochial Schools.
| Judge Altgeld was interviewed by a
| News-Record reporter regarding his
views on the school question. He was
| asked: "Am l to understand that the
| Democracy does not believe in controll-
| ing the education of children in the
| state?"
| The Democrats believe in compul-
ory education" was the reply. They
pelieve that every child should be edu-
ated, and that if not otherwise provided
| tor should be educated at the expense of
he state. The public schools of the
state should be controlled by the state
md should be free from at least sectarian
religious teaching. They should not be
Utilized by any one religious sect to inn
press its particular doctrines upon the
impressionable minds of youthful schol-
lrS.
But what about parochial schools:''
was asked by the interviewer.
Theoretically the state school system
is for the purpose of taking care of all
those children whose parents cannot or
private schools. There was a time in
the history of the world when there
Were no common schools. Every learner
had to purchase teaching of some pri-
vate tutor or school. But the public
school system, well managed, backed by
the immense resources of the state, has
practically superseded in the business of
education, especially in the primary and
al
vate schools. But the parochial school
system, being an adjunct of a church, an
auxiliary of religious teaching, has sur
vived along with a church religion. AT
the time they were established the
church, wisely thoughtful of the welfare
of its youth, provided combination of
secular and religious instructions by one
and the same set of tutors. Thus the
parochial school, being a part of the
church as much as the Sunday school is
part of the English Protestant
churches, it cannot justly be assailed.
There is nothing in the common-school
system or in the fundamental theory
upon which it rests which prompts the
belief that it should be forced upon peo-
pie who are unwilling to accept it. AS
already explained, it is maintained to
supply efficiency and not to wrench
the control of the education of children
from parents"
"Do the Democrats believe in compul-
sory educationT'
''They do, most emphatically. They
believe that no child should be permit
ted to grow up neglected, but they are
opposed to state interference with par
ents who do educate their children"
''Can the state accept as legal such ed
ucation as is provided in a parochial
school over which it has no control?''
"If it could be assumed that the state
is more regardful and more tender of the
welfare of its children than the parents
of those same children then this point
might be open to discussion. But we all
know that while parents make trivial
mistakes concerning the management of
their children in educational as well as
in other matters, still the intentions of
parents, being admittedly good, no sem
sible man will argue that the state
should intercede and dictate to the par
ent particular course of treatment or
discipline for the child"
'Should the state exercise control over
the parochial schools?"
mo; for the state contributes nothing
to maintain them. If these schools do
anything or teach anything contrary to
law the state can stop it. When it be-
came obvious that the railroads were
making unjust determinations between
their patrons the state stepped in and
undertook to rectify the abuse of power.
Likewise if it were apparent that the
parochial schools We're teaching doc
trines contrary to the welfare of the state
or people, or, if they Were mistreating
the scholars or in any way miseducating
them, / should say that the state ought
to step in and correct the defect. But
have never heard that any such charge
is made even by the most virulent ene-
mics of the parochial schools. 1t is ad-
mitted that they are good from an edu-
cational point of view"
"Should the state inspect them and see
TO it thst they have no Objectionable fea-
tures?'
'sNo. Upon the same ground the state
might inspect the management of the
home circle in order to see that a parent
does not maltreat his children, or that a
husband does not misuse his wife. The
of the state is that where
complaint is not made no abuse exists.
Thus the schools need not be inspected,
because there is no presumption of an