The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-06
TWO SCHOOLS COMPARED
The Purpose OF Them as De-
fined by R. G. Young, Of
Helena.
An Essential Difference In the
Conditions Under Which
They Exist.
4 Paper Read Hsfors the L.ats Lewis and
Clarke County Sunday Sohosl
C~onvsntisu.

4 Paper Read Hsfors the Late Lewis and
Clarke County Sunday school
Convsntisn.
Al the session Of the Lswis and Clarke
oounty Sunday school convention, held in
Helena During the past week. Il. g. Young
read a paper entitled. "Compasison Of
Methods Employed In Public Schools and
Sunday Schools" Before tho convention
adjourned II requested that the paper be
furnished the press for publication. Al
the subject is ono of interest TO many poo
pie the ressesto Of the convention for its
publication 10 complied with. The paper 10
% follows
The purpose Of schools, whether public
OF ssotArian. 10 10 make the highest typs Of
manhood and womanhood; 10 take The
young and rising generation Of both sexes.
and by q y stem Of training adapted to
their age md capabilities to produes oiti-
xens In the broadcast and best sense Of the
torn. Man 10 = complex being, composSd
Of physical, mental and moral or spiritual
natures. Kong. a heather philosopher. CEN
turtles z gave expression TO tho thought
that II Is the destiny of man to have
all tho germs of power 10 pos
sesses developed to their fullest capacity.
This sentiment meets with the hearty APP
prevail Of all men, for 1t 10 not reasonable
to suppose that germs OF power are given
of his active life. There 10 no essential
difference Of opinion among mon a. to the
general nature and character of the phys-
ical element in man. and but little in ref
orenco to tho mental. All concede the sx-
istence of these natures and the possibility
Of and necessity for their rational and svs-
tematio Development; but whom we touch
the moral nature we find SO wide n divera-
snce of opinion that ii seems improbable
that there will ever be q general agreement
upon the questions which spring up whom
ever the subject becomes a topic OF discus
sion. II il the wide difference Of opinion
touching this phase OF human nature that
private md parochial schoo 3.
The state demands in a general way the
cultivation of morals without defining what
mornls are; she requires that the teachers
In her schools should possess good moral
characters. and yet in her examinations re-.
amininQ officer may certify THAT tho appli-
cant possesses suoh qualifications. Il yet
il 10 safe to say that the tenchers emp Dyed
In the public schools throughout tho coun-
try are representatives, OF the best moral
elements of society. and that in the school
room their influence 10 clean and henlthful,
tending to stimulate pupils to the forma.
tion of habits That are pure and elevatlng.
Ihs church il for tho most part satisfied
with the work done In the public schools
along the lines of intellectual culture. but
is not satisfied with tho work done in Quilt
waiting the spiritual side Of the child's ma
tare.
IVA 49, l. A..hs-- ~@~
Atty, while The church insists upon tbs
inouloation of tho principles OF pisty. II
therefore establishes the Sunday school "a
q means of religious teaching and patron
lies the public schools for instruction along
tho lines of mental culture.
Tho public school il established by reason
of universal public sentiment. OK pressed in
tho form Of national and state laws, while
the Sunday school exists by reason OF the
sentiment of the Christian people OF the
country, but has back of IL no laws requif-
ing its establishment or maintenance.
There is, therefore. an essential differ
uce in the conditions under which these
chools exist. manifestinR itself on the one
Aand BY order. system n aggressive vital
ity, and on the other hand by looseness Of
organization and sea csly vitality sufficient
to ho.d its component parts into one peg
fsot and vigorous whole.
Let us examine a little more closely the
general plans upon which these two sys-
tens of schools arc organized.
The state school. - We have said, 10 e.
tablished by law; ID supported by the rev
enues of the state, the same ~ any other
state ont, 81 prise or institutions; 1t IL under
the general supervision and control of a
state officer. who has power to p divide for
and enforce uniformity of plans aud meth
refe ,ence to their fitness for the work TO bu
done; thoy arc paid for their Labor. and
may be removed whom their services are NO
longer desired. Moreover, the Q are pro.
vided at ublio exLense buildings. furni-
tur.. apparatus. and. in fact. everything
thnt is necessary to do effective work.
Besides all this. there 10 in many states a
law com pslling attendance. while in every
state and territory thee is . powerful pub
lie sentiment giving these schools ito ooun-
tenance and SUPP rt.
The Sunday school. on the other hand, IL
established only by virtue of local senti-
ment; 1t lacks the general supervision oar.
law that il 80 e~sssntial TO success in every
department. Of human activity; there 10 nc
uniformity Of organization or methods
except such as may be agreed to
by mutual consent; shsir teach
ers are necessarily selected from
the community in which the school 10 10.
Gated and servo without pay; the Q cannot
~ COuJpulbo J "AA soWS
By such ublio sentiment ~ We have in the
churches 10 not sufficient to secure . salts
factory deg o. Of regularity; there arc nc
facilities Tor giving teaehers adequate pre-
raration. hsncs it Is difficult to obtain them
and even moro difficult to hold them after
they have experienced the difficulties OF
managing their Glasses. These arc = fev
My OF the points Of dissimilaritY between
she two schools. and yet they aIe sufficient
to show that the results must necessarily b
a. unlike as are the wholss IN their organ
ization and management.
In the methods employed these schools
are a. unlike 40 thev are in the genera
plan of their organization. The public
schools are graded and provide for pupil,
passing from class to olnss as the work OF
each department 10 completed. There II
therefore a strong incentive constantly be.
70. . the pupils to DO diligent In preparing
their lessons. The lack OF this aradatiou
aud passage ION class to class 10 one Of
the weak oints In tho Sunday school. ]
ave seen children Ismain in the same
GLASS yoar after year and. at length becom.
ing tired. and perhaps disgustsd, either "a
to another class without Permission o,
leave the school enti oily. II tho time sver
comes when tho Sunday school secure.
specially prepared teachers and adopts q
course OF study that shall provide for p,o.
motion. l shall expect TO see the work much
mo . effective and the schools moro largely
ard raoulnrlv attended