Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-30

A number of complaints have been
made at the office of the state Superin-
tendent Of public instruction of late al
leging that sectarian instruction is be-
ing given in some of the public schools
of Wisconsin receiving state aid.
These have become so frequent that
the state superintendent has determ-
ined to make a thorough examination
and if any public school is giving such
instruction in violation of constitu-
tlonal prohibitions, it will be denied
further state aid. The next apportion
ment of school funds is to be made in
June. To get the desired informatio
Supt. Emery has issued the following
circular letter:
State of Wisconsin, department of
public instruction, Madison, April,
1896. To superintendent of Schools,
Town and District Clerks: Complaints
have been made to this office by resi- d
dents of various school districts in the
state, that ''sectarian instruction" is
being given in some of the schools of
Wisconsin supported by public money,
in violation of the constitution and
laws of the state. The following is
section 3, article 10 of the constitu-
ton The legislature shall provide by
law for the establishment of district
schools, which shall be as nearly uni
form as practicable; and such schools
shall be free and without charge for
tuition to all children between the ages
of four and twenty years; and no Sec
tartan instruction shall be allowed
! therein
Among the provisions of section 554
of the school code, is the following:
And no appOrtionment shall be made
to any city, village or town for any
school district therein for any year
during which such district shall not
have maintained a common school
taught by a qualified teacher for six
months unless the state superinten-
dent shall be satisfied that school was
so taught for three months, and the
| failure to maintain it for the full six
months was occaioned by some extra
ordinary cause, and not arising from
neglect or intent to avoid the legal OBJ
/ legation"
1t seems clear that the constitutional
meaning of common school, in the
law above quoted is a school that is
legally conducted by legally formed
school district and that is free and
without charge for tuition to all chill
dren between the ages of four and
twenty years." and in which no sec
tartan intruction is allowed;' and that
school district that has not main
tanned for any year, common school,
within the meaning of the constitution
has not earned the right to snare for
that year in the distribution of the
school fund income.
The supreme court has decided that
"sectarian instruction. within the
meaning of the constitution is instruc-
ton in religious doctrines which are
! believed by some religious sects and re-
jected by others.
| Section 166 Of the school code makes
it an official duty of the state superin-
tendent Ito discourage sectarian in
struction in the schools"
1t is made the duty of the county su-
perintendent by section 461 of the
school code, ito visit and examine each
district, and all the schools in his dis
trict at least once in each year, and as
much oftener as may be necessary; to
inquire into all matters relating to the
management, course of study, mode of
instruction, text books, and discipline
of such Schools" etc.
1t is made the duty of the district
| clerk, section 462 school code, to re
port such facts and statistics in rela-
ton to the schools, public or private,
in his district, as the state superln-
tendent may, from time to time, re-
uuire" Section 46S, school code,
makes like requirement of the town
clerk, and by section 461, the county
superintendent is required to transmit
from time to time such facts relating
to education in his district as the state
superintendent shall require"
The blanks furnished by the state
superintendent for the annual reports
of district clerks, town clerks, ana
county superintendent embody in
quiries as to whether sectarian instruc-
ton has been given during the past
year in any of the schools of the vaTi-
Gus school districts of the state in vio-
lation of constitutional prohibitions.
Care should be exercised in the an
swers to these inquiries to make them
accurate and reliable. School officers
are obligated to use all proper and
lawful practices of the character men
toned, if they exist anywhere in the
state.
These statements have 10 applica-
ton whatever to private or paroChiai
schools. Their legal right to give Sec
tartan instruction is unquestioned.
They apply only to schools that claim
the right to be classed as common
schools, and to be supported by public
money. Respectfully yours,
J. Q. EMERY,
State Superintendent.