The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1894-04-19
GoD IN THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

4 we nave received communication
from gentleman in this city taking
exceptions to some remarks made by
the Superintendent of City Schools, as
reported in our evening contemporary
of last Saturday He stated that "Pu-
pills should be taught lessons in patriot
ism, love to God. society, respect for
those in authority. etc, but it should
be done in a delicate manner Our
correspondent takes exceptions to the
teaching of love to God" and attacks
it in very strong language.
We do not publish the letter because
it would, we are sure, give offense to
many people of various views as to re-
ligion who believe in Deity, though they
may not believe alike as to His person
atty, His essence and His manifesto
tons The writer of the letter is an
intelligent able man, but avows him
self an atheist and his expressions are
such as would be likely to stir up a
controversy which would not be suit
But we will give voice to his senti-
ments in regard to the complete seoul
arization of the public schools. In that
we think his views are correct We
would not dispute with him on religious
grounds nor open the way for others
1 to do so through The Herald, but we
agree with him that if love to God"
becomes a part of the tuition in the
district schools, it will be a step to-
wards the teaching of belief in some
particular God, and then to the manner
of expressing love to Cod which
would lead to the introduction of re-
hgious tenets in the schools
The reason why religious teaching is
not permissible in the public schools is
that they are open to the children of
all classes. The Jew does not want his
children taught Christianity The Prot
estant would not have his child taught
Catholicism. So with all the various
denominations. And the atheist objects
emphatically to having his offspring in
structed as to any kind of Deity. The
only way to prevent trouble on this
point is to bar out all religious teach
ing and make the schools completely
and exclusively secular.
The school law of Utah provides that:
mo atheistic, infidel. sectarian, or de-
nominational doctrine shall be taught
in any of the district schools of this
territory Moral instruction tending to
impress upon the minds of the pupils
the Importance of good manners, truth
fulness, temperance, purity, patriotism
and industry shall be given in every
district school"
1t may he argued that love to God"
is not sectarian or UNCONVENTIONAL doc
trine, and it certainly is not atheistic
or infdel And we believe the majority
of people would offer no objection to the
inculcation of love to God as a part
of daily tuition. Many people hold
that this is essential to pure morality.
And they think that belief in a Su-
preme Being is necessary to the promo
ton Of those virtues which it is Ge-
sirable to cultivate But the infidel and
the atheist have ground of objection
when any reference to God is made in
the schools and they have rights in
common with all other classes of the
community.
People who desire their children
brought up in faith towards God may
instruct them at home or send them
to UNCONVENTIONAL or Sunday schools.
But the public schools must not be
made the vehicle of such instruction, or
somebody's rights, prejudices or beliefs
will be infringed. Secular schools must
be entirely secular. They cannot be
partly religious.
We think this can be secured without
difficulty. We do not believe the gentle
man whose instructions have been ex-
cepted to desires to introduce any sec
tartan doctrines into the schools nor,
as has been intinated. that he prefers
for teachers persons of a particular de-
nomination, because we have sifted that
and found there was nothing in it. The
Herald will support the motion to keep
religion completely and entirely out of
the public schools of this territory, and
that, we presume, will include all ref
erence to Deity.