Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-09-02
EMPHATIC DENIAL.
A False Public School Statement PofntedIy
Contradicted.

circles in Rock Island with an aim to
create prejudice that in the city of
La Sale, H., where people of Roman
Catholic faith largely predominant
among religious denominations that
the schools were absolutely in con-
troll of the church of Rome, and not
long since a member of the Rock ISL
and board of education was heard to
announce with apparent authority
that LA Sale had dropped her last
non-Catholic teacher" Anxious to
ascertain the truth of the matter.
the ARGUS sought the informa-
ton from the most reliable source
the superintendent of schools of La
Sale, who, by the way. is not
Catholic himself, and from him
comes this unmistakable answer,
which needs no words of comment:
La SALE, H., Aug. 24.-ED-
IToR ARGUS: l deeply deplore that
the unfounded rumor that La Sale
had dropped her last non-Cath-
Ollie teacher should have been circu-
lated in Rock Island and have been
believed by MANY of her citizens.
But credulity nurtured in the soil of
rooted prejudices easily believes a
falsehood, and just as easily impro-
yises an excuse. The policy of the
management of the schools of Rock
Island is matter that is of no par
ticular concern to myself, but when
the policy Of the management of the
schools of La Sale. in which | am di-
rectly interested. is unjustly as
sailed. and this false accusation is
used as the pretended reason to vim
dictate policy which shamefullv dis
eliminates against pure womanhood,
simply because it has been reared in
the precious teachings of mothers
religions faith, | feel that | owe it to
La Sale and to the liberal minded
people of Rock Island that such a
falsehood should be refuted by incon-
trovertible facts
In many respects La Sale has pre-
scented an example of religious toler-
alton exceptional in the history of
cities. The question of religion has
never entered as factor in the cleo
ton of teachers in this city. Had
the people made that a direct issue,
no Protestant could have been
elected, for the city is probably more
largely Catholic than any other city
of its size in Illinois. The policy of
the board of education has been,
when it could he done without pref
udice to the interests of the schools,
to elect teachers from the graduates
of the La Sale High school. l be-
lieve this is not an unusual practice
in other cities. When vacancies oc-
cur. there are generally many appli-
! cants, for teachers once elected usual
~ are sure OF life position. Since
the larger per cent of the applicants
from this city are Catholics, and the
board being likewise constituted. it
follows naturally that religion has
but little to do with the election of
teachers. The election simply hing
ing on the qualifications and on the
personal following of the applicant.
/ presume that is the policy of Rock
Island-or does it differ in minor
particulars?
The present corps of instructors
consist of 20 teachers in the graded
schools, two instructors in the High
school and superintendent of all
the schools. The reason the number
of teachers is not larger. is because
the pupils of the parochial schools
outnumber the pupils of the public
schools. There were six Protestant
teachers connected with the schools
last year, or about % per cent of the
entire corps. 1t has been even
larger than this. The superintend-
ent of schools has always been a
Protestant. My predecessor had
charge of the schools for 10 years
Four of the highest positions in the
gift of the board of education have
been held by Protestants for years,
and had not the principal of the
High school and the two grammar
school principals resigned of their
own accord at the close of the school
year, they would have been re-
elected. Neither would there ever
have arisen condition whereby
they would not have been reelected
because of their religious belief.
What is Rock Islands Position?
Is Rock Island prepared to put at
the head of her schools a Catholic?
Is her board of education willing to
employ for score of years q per
cent of her corps of teachers from
Catholic applicants? If not, she
ought to be silent regarding the Dol-
icies of those communities who show
larger spirit of unselfishness and a
greater degree of Christian for
bearance. OF what avail is it for a
young lady to graduate from our
High schools, with the expectation
of teaching, if when she timidly asks
for a position to teach, the cold
blooded insinuation is flung in her
face, You are Catholic" or You
are a PROTESTANT" Such action is
un-American; it is un-Christian and,a
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