The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-02-27
A Perilous Scheme.

A proposition comes from Roman Catho-
lie sources to all Christians and Jews to
unite to secure religious education In
the public schools, by demanding time
and opportunity for the religious guides
of the children TO supplement the Sec
ular education with religious instruc-
ton. That is, as We understand it, the
religious teaching provided for under this
plan would be strictly according to the
preiudices and convictions of tho parents
and o for any prOsolyting purpose, the
Roman Catholic, Protestant and Jewish
pupils each receiving the instruction under
their own spiritual guides.
This seems on its face entirely fair and
we do not doubt that the intention OF those
making the proposition is honest and
sincere; but any division Of the schools or
0 1.-THE pupils in the schools according to the
religious belief OF their parents Is both un-
desirable and impracticable. II it was at
tempted, more especially in a great com
munity like New York, it would result in
breaking down the school system. The
war OF creeds would be sure to enter In
anu NlTultlI Ifllk lOuE 'bHlIbH tISN over lt
school instruction would be provoked.
Moreover, a very considerable part OF the
parents at this time resent religious in
struction OF any kind whatsoever, as was
Indicated recently by a fathers withdraw
ing his son from a public school simply
because he WIS obliged to listen to the read
ing Of the Bible.
The schools being public institutions
supported by general taxation, and there
being here no State religion, il is obvious
that they must Of necessity be practically
secular in their instruction, for there is no
system Of religious teaching which would
command general assent or which would
not provoke widespread resentment. Pros
clyting might be debarred from it by rcgu-
lations made in the strictest terms possible
and II might be honestly disavowed by all
the religious teachers as an animating pur-
pose, but the suspicion Of il would never be
quleted; the impulse to it would be unre-
strainablc In teachers feeling that they had
a commission from Cop,
Undoubtedly it may seem hard that
Roman Catholics who esteem education
without religion a veritable ~curse-mak.
ing, as the Rev. DR.. MCSwEENY declares,
clever unbclievers - should be com
p,lled OF themselves TO support In the
boroughs OF Manhattan and The Bronx
sixty schools, with more than forty thousand
pupils, in order 10 secur1 religious instruC-
ton for their young; but there Is no other
way in this Republic, Thoy must volun-
tarily bear the burden, il they feel that
thoy cannot throw it of con I~cicntiously,
just as they bear the bur len Of support
ing their churches. Parents and priests
who want religious cdu"ation for children
must provide it In schools distinct from the
public school system or as a supplement
to the secular instruction which alone can
b" furnished by genera. tczat,on. Nor is
this as great a hardship ~ Il appears at
iirsI glance. 1t simply impose on parents
a religious duty which tbcy ought willingly
to bear II they feel that It's performance Is
requisite to the salvation Of the souls OF
their young. They do not expect the State
to assist in the provision of such instruction
in their churches, and why thcy have any
more reason to ask for it in the case Of
schools for their children?
Asthc publicsch arc n prime necessity
to our civilization, the maintenance Of our
popular government, uo'hinE which will
interfere with their q. aouti .' ,lNie, can H.,
allowed to enter into tacIu, and ti..!, il,
No conceivable plan for ~" restriction of
religious education when would not con-
stitutc such u disturbance or Which could
counterbalanee by any POSSIBLE advantage