The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-10-21
AN INTERESTING DISCUSSION.
A Remarkable Defence or the Public
schools BY a Catholic Priest.

To THE EDITOR OF The suN-Sm: l have
read with interest your letters In relation to
the public schools as sent you by different
correspondents
In all these letters there appears to be more
or less of q spirit Of sectaranism. and espe-
cally is this so Of the good Catholic clergy
man who argues FOR the parocha school for
the simple reason that he believes II gives
religious training while the public schools
do not and therefore are inferior to paroohial
schools.
Archbishop Corrigan frankly admitted
that the Bible was forced out OF the public
schools through the agitation OF the Roman
Catholic clergy That left nothing but seoul
lar things to be taught Now the Catholics
are clamoring for religious training ana con-
demning the public schools because they
don I have IT, Why didn't they let it alone
in the first placer The reason Vas WI, that me
reading OF Scripture was from Bible not ac-
and they didn't want Catholic children to
listen to such Bible
Of religious training than a simple reading
Of Scripture and prayer az the opening oi
the day. school work. Ihey eIaim n, 'h tbs
time Of The children in drilling them upon
the catechism and similar things. 50 the
child can repeat it. answers their iGea OF
not be a e1igious child. He, comes to look
upon those things as lie would on the muiti-
plication table. and they mean no moro 70
This constant drilling Of child upon, cat
echsm. and similar matters verses s, ana nrd re-
erly taught in a school from religious pont
OF view Is one that knows what 1t 10 to be
good boy or girl when out OF school ne s same a.
as in. 1t Is not one who swears ana ngnte a.
soon as he IL out Of school Tho latter is tho
parochial school child. You will zee much less
Of it In the child of the public schools This
and wrons s n. par area ehd has very little
oft. He's bigoted and selfish.
Then. the Catholics wish to force upon the
public teachers OF their faith and oroer anu
compel the Protestant children to have
thrust before them all day garb represent
Ing some Roman Catholic order; That's
Bible to a Catholic for the READINGS whole
some and lasts but few minutes; the garb rs
constant reminder OF Romanism and 10 re-.
Rarb into the schools. and with that a. an en-
tering wedge more will follow,
A fox once rolled stone down hui into "a
frst fearina him, Alter the geese VIZ. fooled
to think no harm would oope Of IT the ion
rolled down himself and grabbed a goose BY
with this carb bus mess, The foxy priests
want to roll stones down the hill and then they
want to roll down a fox who will grab money
for the SUPPORT Of parochial schools LOOK
out for the foxy trick. a.
The proof Of the pudding is in the eating,
Tn. Catholics Of the United States to-day 90
n morals Hss as &c DO tho @ @ IS and
iisionlsts. Visit our prisons and see the
great preponderancs Of Catholic criminals :.
population we're carried out there would be
Only about IA per cent That proves thst the
much-lauded religious training OF the Catho,,
responsibility. il docs not lessen crime and
criminal tendencies as Protestantism does.
Then. all this teaching Of the srperhn,miaihn
power OF the priest not NJ LOT 'nS s" rsyo.
ton from it. This school question ia one OF
rule and politics Of that Church. 1t belongs
to the parents to decide what they want Tor
their Children and not for the priest to i in n:
trutle himself into the home and order what
this or that child shall be taught :, Ih s,.s
the kid, that he may hold him for his own use l;
and bereit later on, even Il he does stunt bis
education-so long as h holds him he. the ins
estabIished there We, the priests, don't
want the people educated; we can't govern
The work Of our public schools to-day IS
out for Instructions. That breaks up the
Sad in ps T He a aRd BE- ss0 ar1 GOOD
on all DAYS but those for -instructions," and
on those days he's little villain. He Ia. "a, an
strnctions, and thinks he can't be kept for
any iii deeds. 20 he raises particular mischief
that day.
a child ont OF school regularly for any reason
whatsoever? Such thing, only break into the
chlld's work and upset, the day for him. II
tho Instructions" Of the priest were worth
fg. thet boy would be the best boy on that
dav. If they made a difference at all, but 1t
only shows that these instructions are
valueless.
For four hundred years the Philippines
have been educated by this same Churoh,
and look at those people to-day. The Church
ard politician looted them all these years, and
the Church dumps. tbs, bones OF her subjects
into public field for the purpose If the rents
for the graves are not paid on time. Her sub
jeCts can't even own their own graves. but
all this Ia a source Of gain 10 the Church, so
It's practis d-void Of religion az 1t H.
The public tolerntes this matter, but this
screaming for public moneys for parochial
schools. and this scheme. TO force upon the
pnb,ic schools this rarb, Is thing that won't
40 and must be shut ont. All praise 70 our
Superintendent OF Public Instruction. who Is
fair enough to see that this garb business is
bun dodge to get hold upon public schools
Let us all preserve them They are for the
people. and are the greatest Institution Of
this free country Of ours, FAIR PLAY.
BROOKLYN, Oct. II.