Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1903-10-30

,therwise I've neglected" We would
ike to have the opinion Of Thomas JEFF
erson on this brilliant proposition.
The system Mr.. Geer advocates private
schools large and small, (of course
equipped according to the means OF
those to be educated under its roof aud
the most elementary kind of education
for the children Of the poor belonging to
no denomination" is worm-eaten idea.
The whole agitation is due to the fact
that the children under our American
system are not "taught religion"
What an idea II our children spent the
greater part of the day reciting 81 be-
lieve" aud passages from scripture the
results would be a passive acceptance oil
dogma at the end of the course the
would be no nearer to God than
the "pagans" to whom Mr.. Geer likens
them. Under the American system -
which by the way is extolled by the
great English publiciSt, Arthur Mosely,
the children are equipped for the battle
of life; fitted to reason on all the great
questions affecting their temporal well
fare, an education essential to the times
while to the parents and clergy is-right-
ly-left the duty of "teaching religion"
And what reflection it is upon these,
that upon the hard worked day school
teacher depends the salvation of the chill
dren. The charge that our children are
"lusty young pagans amenable to all sorts
of evil influences" makes one think that
the fault finders are reduced to the ne
cessity of providing an excuse for their
own incompetency. The narrowhess OF
the idea in this proposition is that those
unable to pay the charges at the school
under UNCONVENTIONAL control would
have to get their religion as best they
could.
There is sound common sense in the
counter argument of DR.. Isidor Singer,
that ''you can teach theology in the
school room, but you can't teach religion
itself. And
the less we tell children of the contra
dictions between numberless philosophic
and theological systems, and the millions
of victims of religious intolerance in the
past, the better for the children now
and the welfare of the American repub
lie in the future"
And is it not convincing point il
our argument that the free thinkers ant
infidels who are really responsible fol
the harm done to religion, were mer
who emigrated from countries having &
system of education under denomina
tional control?
The proposition that each denomina
ton should control its own school sys
tenn and should not contribute by take
to the support OF State school sound
lust-but think OF the outcome If tho"
sands of children can only have the mos
elementary kind of an education. TIL,
American system of taxing the wealth,
who have no children for the support Of
public schools in which poor children
gain self respect in the equal social ant
intellectual advantages afforded is tn
grandest system that the minds of mel
ever devised.
We believe that this sad old worl
would be better place to live in an
' the people more truly Christian if int
, lectual acuteness was thought of less in
r portance than mastering the art of kline
. ness, but so long as intellectual exec
lence is essential to self interest and PR
o lection, the American system shout
+ prevail.
$ Speaking from personal experient
gained through association with grad
4 ates and students of our own high scho'
i we find high sense of honor, generosit
d and courage. With the further adyal
l tage of the most comprehensive cours
n of studies ever Taught in any school,
+ any country, there is no need for fear.
4 If the clergy, parents and Sunda
o school teachers cannot induce the reli
e ious sentiment, why suppose that the da
d school teacher can do this when tt
T. minds of the pupils are confused /
n other studies Whatever may be I'll
conditions in the larger cities, Islam
Pond people have reason to be satisfied
More high class work is being done
a given time than ever before, and mo
atty is inculcated through the exceller
Il system of discipline maintained by OF
able and conscientious principal.
: Whatever New York and other stat
o may be compelled to do, we hope ar
IS believe that Vermont will maintain
IL system eminently satisfactory in its r
d suits.
HUNTING IN THE MAINE WOODS.
Law OFF On Moose, October is.