The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1902-04-26
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AN ENGLISH MODEL.

Very interesting to Catholics and
sincerely religious people of. every sect
in this country is, or ought to be, the
new education bill, introduced in the
British house of commons by Mr. Bal
| four on behalf of the government. I'm
| der the provisions of that measure all
parochjal and UNCONVENTIONAL schools,
upon complying with certain specifica-
tons regarding the purely secular in
| struction impaired, are entitled to sup
port out of the public taxes. The prin-
clple upon which the bill is framed is
the only one that affords an equitable
adjustment of the question of popular
education in country whose popula-
ton is religiously divided There is no
reason except invincible prejudice OH
the part of certain large classes of our
own citizens, why similar arrange
ment could not be adopted here
The interest of the state IN the bust
ness of education is solely that of in
surfing morally sound and intelligent
citizenship. 1t is not vitality important
how this end is reached, so that it is
effected. And it doesn't make any
dlfTerence to the state, or it shouldn't
what agencies are employed, so that
the end in view is accomplished. In n
religiously mixed population like that
Of England and the United States there
is necessarily diversity of opinion
with regard to the desirability of re-
ligious teaching in state conducted
schools. Catholics and some of the
Christian sects maintain that any sys-
tenn which excludes knowledge of God.
the fundamental doctrines of faith and
the moral training rooted in these. is
incomplete. that it fails to provide for
the most important matter of human
training. namely. the formation of
character on right principles. These
people hold that they should not be
0oilged 10 support system which they
cannot in conscience use There are
others who believe that all the religious
instruction necessary can be obtained
outside of the schools. and that the
work of the latter should be exclusively.
confined to the development of the in
tellectual faculties. Still others take
the position that religion itself is some
thing that can be dispensed with alto
sether, everywhere; that natural vir-
Tue is sufficient for all social needs.
Not a few would prefer to see aesthetic
7ostility to all definite dognatic creeds
Incorporated in the curricula of public
institutions rather than
he incubation of religious precepts in
my form. The majority of the people
If the United States being outwardly
Indifferent to, religion, are probably in
lifferent TO the question of it's relation
c education under state control.
1t is evident. therefore that there
an be no reconciliation of these d. ]
'erse views on the subject, except on {
ne basis of such a plan as the present /,
English education bill contemplates. !
Jnder the arrangement outlined in I
hat measure, the rights and prejudices
I all classes are equally respected.
hose who pay taxes have freedom of S
hoiee in the kind of. education they e
eem best for their own neeCs. Chris {
ans of every denomination are per h
litted to build their own schools and r
} make such provision as they choose r
or relgious instruction acceptabI BILE to v
lem, and to derive the running ex =
enses of their respective institutions r
ON the public funds, subject only to q
overnment supervision and control in 81
he matter of efficiency in secular in N
ruction. g
That after ALL is the crux of secular n
'ncern in education. the schooling of 5
lie intellect according to certain stan6- II
DIS of proficiency. What else is i'm c.
irted IN addition is a matter of no W
nsequence from the point of view OF u
e paramount necessity of mental cuI
re. therefore, there can be no reason
lie objection to such an arrangement
the one in question, on the part of m m
secularists. Disan- l. l.
oval on any ground except its i'm fo
acticability, implies desire to in til
rfere with that absolute freedom of of
nscience in others which the enemies re
"sectarianism" demand for them te
Ives. This objection is rendered un- o or
nable, however, by the fact that the re
esent Dill is merely a broadening of Sc
scope of a system already in sue an
5Sful operation in ENGLAND ond 49, ne
lere.-Monitor. Gu