Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-12-01
IN DEFENSE OF THE SCHOOLS

IN DEFENSE OF THE SCHOOLS
the position Of the "News," and
"those who support the News on
the school question. has already been
made clear 20 an who have followed
the controversy inteligently But we
do not mind stating again that we do
not contend for ave Mormons on
the Board Of Education; nor for any
other number We have no candidates
IN the field
What we contend Tor Is. that a mans
religion should not be held up as
qualification, nor as a disqualification,
for a position on the Board. We claim
that It is un.Amorlcan 70 make either
religion or no-roligion a test In this
matter. And We further claim that,
when an effort is being made TO prosti-
tute the schools In the interest OF par
tlsan and Mormon schemes Il
Is high time for the people to turn out
en- masse ana defend their interests, az
the polls We would take the same po-
sitlon, were the question 10 make the
Board and-cathollc, or anti-Baptlst.
We say nothing against the candi-
dates OF the Mormon party. But
the very fact that they have lent their
names to a conspiracy which has Tor
It's ultimate aim the delivery OF
body blow TO a church, and to do
this through the schools, Is a confess
sion on their part, that they are unfit
for the office they seek
n the question Of religion IS permit
ted 10 enter into the election Of mem-
bers Of the board, and the appointment
Of teachers, how long viii It take be-
fore It viii penetrate the class loom,
and the play ground and divide the
children into hostile camps2 Is that a
condition the people " this city can
desire TO infuse TIE poison OF strife
into the lives that should be most care
fully shielded against evil influences?
II these conditions are not courted. we
must keep the schools free from fac
tlonal influences.
Nor Is there any ground for a radical
change Of policy I'm the management OF
the schools There has never been
any Church Influence In them. NO one
can point to an instance IN which the
school has been made the vehicle Of re-
llgious instruction. For the use Of a
school house after school hours, for ne.
llgion class work, is no more than the
opening OF possibly the same house
for an illustrated lecture. The schools
Of Utah have been entirely free from
any undue domination. and the results
OF the work are most gratifying. We
have already pointed out these facts,
and we now quote the following from
Truth Of NOV %:
There never was more senseIess,
more malicious, more utterly false cry
than that which the Tribune has raised
and Is prosecuting against the public
schools Of Salt Lake az the present
time, The spirit OF the Tribune and
It's followers in this matter s kindred
10 that which compelled the Pilgrims
10 leave England aud come 10 these
shores and which those same Pilgrims
and their descendants exercised I'm
later years when they burned alleged
witches and cut out the tongues OF
QuakerA Truth has proved be-
yond the possibility Of "a doubt that
80 per cent OF the teachers On the pub.
he schools are GentIles, that those
holding the highest alarad positions
in the schools principals and teachers.
are nearly all Geutiles ana that that
state OF facts has existed for a. dozen
years, and that The prtpouderanCe of
Gentle teachers is increasing ln the
face Of such conditions where is there
Mormon domination. The schools
are not deteri0ratiug The standard
Of education Is higher lu the public
schools Of this city than ever before
The teachers are better teachers and
more accomplished teachers than we
ever had before All the prominent
educator. Of this country who have I'M
vesligated the schools of Ibis city have
pronounced them not only equal TO amy
mat exist M other cities of America,
but ahead of nearly an ot them rtah's
educational exhibit az the Worlds Fair
has been highly commended hy the
most prominent educators off America.
The Salt Lake city grade schools were
awarded q gold medal at the Fair. the
highest award obtan1ble and the Salt
Lake High school was awarded "a sil-
yer medal. These arC most natterlug
recognluons OF the public schools here
The superintendent of ,he public schools
N ST. Louis says that the Salt Lake
schools are AN example for the schools
n an the cities in the United States TO
natteln after in regard to methods,
scholastic Attachments and progressive
ways The Salt Lake school buildings
arc fner better equipped. better light
~. better heated and better ventilated
,hau thosc of any other city Zoo The
United Sates
with the facts Boo ylow the object of
the autl-"Momon' assaults upon the
lchools becomes very plain