St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-10-30
THE SCHOOL QUESTION. !"

out of the papers of the ''school ques-
tion." The discussion has run on the
assumption that there is such thing
as school question. The matter dis
cussed is not such at all. 1t is a ques-
ton of religious instruction. Perhaps
that term is too broad. 1t certainly is as
far as it includes the great underlying
laws OF moral conduct, which form the
foundation of all religions, for these are
properly inculcated in all the public
schools. There is no common Christian
curriculum which all the sects accept,
so the term narrows to one of instruc-
ton by each sect in the tenets and
dogmaS which are peculiar to it.
1t only touches the schools of the
country in propositions which have been
made to obtain portion of the sc hool
money. or the use of the school ma
chinery to impart UNCONVENTIONAL In
struction. These attempts are based on
the recognized value OF the first impress
slons which the youthful mind is given,
the desire to pre-empt the young minds
with what are esteemed vital teac hings
and truths, and thus barricade them
against what is considered error. This
desire is undoubtedly intensified by
recognition of the manifest tendency of
the time, leading to strenuous efforts to
counteract it in the oncoming genera
tons. 10 this is due the misnomer.
All these efforts have been and will
continue to be futile, because the set of
the current is against them. Those of
US whose school memories run back
thirty or forty years can recall how gen.
eral was the practice of opening the
public schools with a prayer and the
reading OF ii portion Of Scriptures. The
practice is as infrequent now as it was
common then, and Indicates how de-
cided is the bent of popular opinion
against any, even the slightest, connec-
ton of the schools with the teachings of
any of the religions. For this the very
variety of churches is cause, though
probably minor one. The impossible
lty of giving instruction in all; their
inability to unite on any common range
of instruction, has forced the general
abandonmentof all such teaching. An
other and the larger cause, which can
not BE- ignored, is the increase of indif-
ference to sectarianism which pervades
all classes, and which takes on the as
pect of irreligion.
That those having charge of the pres
ent and future interests of the churches
should seek to counteract these tenden-
cieS is but natural and proper. That
they should try to get access 10 the
young more frequently than on Sundays
oil hot
TEEN the matter so important both to
their churches and to the youth that
they feel that it is imperative that a
part of the secular day should be given
to il, and that the schools themselves
cannot be devoted to better work than
in giving such instruction, is also nat
ural. But with the schools absolutely
barred by an memorable public opinion,
what is the best course open to them?
The very efforts which have been made
under what is called the Faribault plan
is an admission that the parochial school
does not answer. Parents are FESTIVE
under the double expense and under
the impact of popular opinion in favor
of the common school. They cannot be
held to the church school.
"a Catholic Onlooker' contributes to
the Independent an article in which the
situation and the various efforts at rem
edies are reviewed and another one sug-
gested. This is simply the provision
by such churches as wish to Of places
OF in struction to which the children of
their congregations can repair after
school hours and receive the instruction
prescribed by each church. The church
would provide rooms and teachers, and
no connection with the public schools
would exist In the remotest degree.
This plan has certainly the strength of
common sense. 1t has, in addition,
what the writer perceives, the immense
advantage over the parochial schools of
not seq regating the children of differ
ent denominations, which tends so
strongly to impair the feeling of CON-
mon brotherhood; land" the writer
says, 1.-The youth of the nation would
grow up togeth er in common friend
ship, each one holding fast to his re-
ligious principles while respecting the
honest and honorable principles of his
neighbor."