The sun., 1903-10-25
The Question Of Popular Education

| We are again overwhelmed with CORE
spondence on the subject Of religion, at
this time on the question Of religious edu-
cation for the public schools, and 1t is
not possible to print it all or even more
than a very small part Of 1t and leave
space sufficient for other subjects which
must be treated in THE Sun.
A letter from the Rev. Mr.. GEER, the
vicar of the Episcopal Chapel Of st.
Paul's, of the great Trinity parish, COM
mands publication to-day because Of Its
source, for with him this activity Of dis
cussion began and because it is sum
ming up Of the position of the advocates
of Christian education for the public
schools. Both sides Of the question have
been presented and ably presented in
our columns, yet the controversy goes
on increasingly among our correspon-
dents; and taught by past experience,
we foresee that it will continue in I'M
diminished volume, and still the question
will be left undecided and no nearer q
decision. Neither side will convince the
other, and practically the same argu-
ments as those we have printed will
continue to be presented by each.
This question OF Christian education is
not peculiar to America. It Ia now agi-
tating all Christendom. 1t is pivotal
question in France. Tho new Educa-
ton bill in England has stirred the whole
kingdom. In Italy, in Spain, in Germany
there is similar ferment.
Meantime, the question Of education
, generally is receiving more attention and
arousing more discussion throughout
/ the civilized world than ever before. Mr..
MosELEY has brought from England dis
t tinguished company to study our Ameri-
can educational methods, and it Is in
vestigating them with laborious thor
oughness; yet here there is no agree
! ment on the subject. At the dinner re-
Gently given in New York to that COM
mission by President BUTLER Of Columbia
University, President HADLEY Of Yale
said very truly that we are ourselves
only e1perimenters in education, that
we need to learn rather than have
authority to teach on the subject.
The most impressive message to Eng
land sent by the American speakers at
! that dinner was Of the practically unan-
imous interest Of the American people in
education. It was pointed out by several
of them that throughout this republic the
one purpose for which public money is
appropriated and expended without pro-
test from any party is the purpose Of
education. OF the budget Of expenditure
I by the municipal government OF New
I York, one-quarter is for the free public
schools only, and in addition large issues
of municipal bonds must be made annu-
ally to provide new school buildings for
the rapidly increasing school population.
! So far from there being any public pro-
test against this great and steady outlay.
the criticism Is rather that the amount
expended is not large enough, that new
schools and new teachers are not pro-
vided fast enough to satisfy the demand.
The eagerness Of the people to send
their children to school s remarkable,
and it is the more pressing as the popula-
ton increases in magnitude and in race
diversity. Children crowd into the
schools at the opening day Of the year 8
session, and they come not creeping like
snail unwillingly to school, but with
brisk and hopeful steps. 1t is the most
impressive phase our civilization pro-
sents. There is passion for education.
The Rev. Mr.. GEER sees only danger
for our society in this passion, for tho
reason that, under the command Of the
State Constitution, the education these
children receive In the State schools is
not religious, and he forecasts tho most
terrible social results from it; but, look
ing back, have the results already ac-
oomplshed under the same constitutional
restriction been bad? In spite Of the
great growth in the population Of New
York and OF the foods of new races which
have poured into the town, is it not now
more orderly, a more decent and a
more law-abiding community than it
was generation ago?
The municipal campaign now proceed
ing has for its single issue an appeal to
the moral sense Of the community. When
was such an issue more potent In New
York than it is nowp When was an ap-
peal to high standard Of public mo-
rolty made more hopefully than 1t can be
made nowr And the electorate to whom
that moral appeal is made is, 10 the part
most hopefully addressed, composed Of
men who received their training In the
public schools
We shall not I'M fertaks to dispute with
the vicar Of ST PkuPs Chapel concerning
religious educate ~, for We respect hiz
earnestness pro. aVIndly, but we do moi
hesitate % uttsr our dissent from hi
gloomy forebodih concerning tho future
of our society. Al ually the principles ol
morality arc now y strong In their bold