Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-02-04
LAW. AND RELIGION CLASSES.

III is amusing u Nd'N' '"N N"N' " ~
reasoning OF dlsgruntled persons VINO
cannot endure the assembling OF Nor
mon" children, after school hours, TO
receive instructions in religion An
anonymous writer in last Sundays TIL
bune. who processes to be "a teacher In
this State" advances some queer and
self.contradjctory notions against the
religion classes. which have been per-
mittad by trustees In some country dis-
tricts TO meet In the schoolhouses when
they were not engaged by the schools
proper. But no definite objection Is
urged that affords the weight OF TOM
hts feather In the scale against the
good done by those classes.
To begin WITH they are not asked
for or allowed II they In any manner
interfere with the district schools
Should they do 80, the wrong must be
corrected or they must be stopped II
school books are thrown about and
damaged" as asserted, there are evil
IDENTIFY two faults: one is the leaving OF
such books on desks after school IL
closed, and the other Is the damage
done in such cases No instance OF this
kind II cited so that II can be inyestl-
gated, and we are inclined to believe II
is mere invention OF the directors,
But allowing 1t 10 be n fact, the evil
can be easily remedled by requiring
that proper care he taken OF all dis.
trlct school supplies,
In one breath the objector tries to
show that II teacher In the district
school acts as teacher In religion
class, that Is contrary to the spirit
of the law and contract" In the next
breath he Tor she), admits that the
teacher has his free agency to do what
ever he may choose after his school
duties are completed" The objection
co Is thus self-answered. There is
nothing In the lnw or in teachers
contract that forblds the work COM
plalned Of.
The writer OF the letter hopes the
day will come soon when school
boards will close the schoohouse doors
on all gatherings which tend TO inter-
fere with the progress Of the school"
That's all right Nobody that We have
heard OF wants Il otherwise. II religion
class lnterferes in any way with the
progress Of the school, let complaint
be made In that case and the wrong
be remedled. That can be done with
out an endeayor by any sour-souled
bigot to stamp out the religion class
that does not interfere with district
school.
or course the paper that published
the pontless letter gives It editorial
endorsement. and tries to show that
the religion classes In country districts,
that are held after school hours for
the convenience Of children who de-
sire to attend them, are IAN oNtrane0us
use, that IL improper, bu! has to adj
nit that III il not specifically forbidden
by law" IL also advances the as
sumption that the Legislature meant to
connne the purpose Of the public school
houses 10 the exclusive use N the pub
ne schools NJ use OF the word 'as-
sumption On this case Is appropriate.
There is no reason for the position as
stunned. on the contrary the law Is
clear that other uses were contemplated
by the Legislature, Tor we ind this pro-
vision IN the school laws as 20 the
power of thc school board
M may permit "a schoolhonse, when
uot occupied for school purposes Co he
used for any putpose which wlll not
interfere with the seating on ether tur'
nliure or property and shall make aucn
charges tor the Noe Qf tha SAME Aa
thcy may decide 90 bo iusl but iol amy
use or privilege the district shat not
d. at auy expense tor iuel Oh other
viso Revised olAtatos s'c lA'a
Thus tho facls and lhe law aro nalnsi
tno assumption of our contemporary
and dIsapato q lnto ,ev Chin aua NAT
yoy hoi AM Tho Legislature very
ulopoy ed INC matter iu lonuol OF
tbc trustees et.iod bY one people. vha
would knoo 30 tAa ueela ol ,ha rea''
deom Boz lha DISTRICT and iar mut mere
nun interference NIth lhe s'ha0h tni
no damara lo tb0nl r0pVN wwnsh
pa. uae ol nf .NNhoNf' nf oh0'
ihln h0aI pnlma0H
lhem "a Nnanma of Doniuum ~