The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-04

circulated in Maryland: I'VE wish 10 be
understood that il is not our purpose TO
Interfere with the public schools We
only desire such modification of the pres
ent common school system that the con-
science Of parents will be respected"
Dr. bartlett. of Baltimore chairman OF
the archdlocesan school board, says: II,
Catholics. believe that the fundamental
principle Of the school system, that of af-
Iording. a primary education for every
cnlld or school age in the United States, is
vital one for the Nation"
me German American Catholic societies
May. 1880, declared: I'VE concede the neces,
s,ty OF compulsory school laws, the neces-
sity Of public schools and the right Of tax
aIl0h Tor such purposes"
The New York Independent very recently
addressed the following questions to the
plshGps OF the Roman Catholic Church in
the United States:
"First-Is IL the policy of your church to
OBTAIN division OF the public school fund.-"
Second-Would you countenance a move
in view
The answers Of twenty-nine bishops were
later issues, I believe, continued the an
sNerS. l have seen only the issue Of Jan.
II The answers OF that issue represented
the extremes Of opinion in the Catholic
Church on the school question, from Arch
bishop Ireland and Bishop Keane to Arch
bishop Katzer and Bishop Zardetti AS a
unit, the bishops deny the existence of any
movement, or plan, or policy for the di-
vision Of the public school fund, though
II DSl OF LuEIn IdNCf some IQOQi1c1tlOn
the present system which would satisfy the
conscientious convictions Of their corelig-
lonistS on the education question Three
declare that they would countenance such
q movement, but cOnditlonally. One of
them. the Rt- Rev. Or. McGOvern. Bishop
the right OF the state shall be protected,
and that liberty Of conscience shall be
guaranteed to all men" In conclusion. he
will not maintain inviolably for others the
same rights as he asks for himself. The
bishops, however almost unanimously de-
precate the discussion OF the question in
the present state Of popular feeling on the
subject Several declare they will not take
any action, but will wait for an awakening
sense of justice that shall voluntarily ac-
cord some consideration to the conscien-
tiOus scruples OF the Roman Catholic body.
In all Of their letters there is recognition
or the necessity of a public school system,
accompanied by a hope that the system
may at some future time be modified
as to do away with the feature they now
md Objectionable The letters were writ
ten without previous conference. and may
be taken as fair indication of the feel
the Catholic Church.
The Independent editorially comments on
these replies, but tails into that tone, Of
leAslVe ana parronizlnS, which l regard
as the unfortunate characteristic of the
| whole discussion. There is a suppostion
| that the other side is not worth considering:
| that any other plan than the present is
| chimerical. 1t says that the answers
| seem 70 be frank" and advises the public
| what they say and 10 believe that they
| are mot masking their real Intentions"
| an offensive ntimation that the prelates are
usually given TO double dealing.
With regard to the reported movement in
New York and Maryland to petition the
Legislature for grants for parOchial schools
| the ecclesiastical authorities disclaim ali
connection with it. Whatever there may be
| in the movement it seems to have arisen
| THE QUESTION OF MONEY.
| Another TO he rid Of ",
with this subject is that there is intended
| a division Of the school fund, and that the
| state is asked to pay for religious instruc-
| ton in denominational schools If by d.
| vision of the school fund is understood the
| policy TO pay over to the authorities of any
| denomination a portion of the public school
| funds for the use Of its schools, I would
| say that 1 know of no one among the
| friends of the UNCONVENTIONAL plan who adj
| yOcates or favors such a division. The
| school funds could be controlled according
| 10 the statutes of each State or munich
panty, and paid to teachers for work
| actually done, just as, in many places pri-
| vate and UNCONVENTIONAL charitable institu-
| tons are paid from public funds, so much
| Der capita, for work done for the public by
| these institutions The State Is not asked to
/ pay for religious instruction; the basis of
| ton Impaired, which the State uses and
| pays for when given in her own schools
| Dr. John BaScom, late Of the University of
| March, 1880, sums II up in few words.
| He says:"'The public Is interested in a GER
tain kind and measure of knowledge, and
| not in the external performance of the act
OF lmpartng knowledge. The. State
| has accepted the education given in
e%eeence to that in be state Schools P0a an
| the same time IL has not recognized these
| schools in the distribution of money The
| support of two sets of schools is thrown
on the conscientious taxpayers. and he is
| told that his redress lies in giving up a
| method To which his convictions have led
| tation.'"
What are the plans proposed by the de-
nominational schools? There IS one en-
| entitled IAN act for the promotion of edu-
| cation throughout the State of New York -
| This is the proposed bill which aroused such
| opposition few months ago among a large
| number OF persons who perhaps had never
| read of its provisions. The bill, shorn of
| individual or body shall have established a
school for the free education Of youth IN
| Reading, writing and arithmetic, and such
| school shall have been in existence for the
| fifty pupils in regular attendance, and shall
| have been submitted TO a satisfactory in
| spection and examination thereof by this
| state, or local board Of school trustees, OF
| such other persons as may from time Ia
time be designated for the purpose, the per.
to receive from the State or city. county OF
| district, each year, a share of all State OF
| other moneys now directed TO be appOr-
| toned and distributed among the common
| schools. as directed by Chapter 555 Of the
| laws of 1854; second. such sums shall be
| paid, provided such schools shall be always
| open for inspection. and that the pupils shall
| have passed a satisfactory examination ir
| accordance with the uSageS and regulations
i'm force for the public schools of the State
| third, the provisions of this act shall apply
only TO primary and grammar schools, oil
| schools in which the course of study is sub
1 Stnntial liz PIual to that i'm in the Dilbli(
| schools of the State
This is the Dill in brief. 1t has never beer
| presented in the New York Legislature
| though it was claimed that IL would go VI
with a petition signed with 100000 names.
| The POughkeCpsie plan provides for the
curriculum of the public schools in demon
| national schools and practically makes
them a part Of the public school system
| while leaving the school under denOmina
| tiOual control in all things except secular
instruction The plan IS 50 called from th'
| compromise between the local authoritie:
Of the city Of Poughkeepsie and the pas
tors Of the Roman Catholic Church there
| The teachers are required to undergo thu
usual examinations prescribed by the board
Of regents of the State University.
| THO Observation-Disclosures plan, intro
| duced in Minnesota in these places by con
sent OF Archbishop Ireland, was a mod
| ficatiOn of the POughkeepSie plan. The
| parochial school buildings were rented u
the school authorities for 81 a year, it j:
said, with a tacit understanding that tht
| religious teachers were to be retained. anC
that Catholic pupils were TO be assigned
| 10 the schools taught by the sisters. anC
| that IN other respects the school was 10 bC
| a public school The plan was abandoned
| after an experiment of one year, because
it proved TO be nothing more than tbs