Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-04-15
STATE HOUSE.
Supt' Stetson Tells Why Bible
Should be Read in School.
Death Of Former Maine Man Who Re-
ceived Honors in West.
Why New Labor Reports are Not Be-
ing Sent Out.-The New Corporations.

"a recent decision Oh the supreme
court of the state of Kansas in regard
to the question of reading the Bible in
the public schools of the state is of in
terest in Maine, as we'll as in most
other states. This decision in effect
declares that the Bible may be read in
the public schools. The case was one
brought by J. Il. Billiard of Topeka. to
compel the city board of education
to permit his son Philip to re-enter the
public schools, from which he had been
suspended because. on the advice of
his fathers attorneys, he refused to at
tend school during the morning exer-
ciSes, when the Bible and selections
from the Psalms We're read to the
pupils.
The Supreme Court SayS:-"A public
school teacher who for the purpose Of
quoting the pupils and preparing them
for their regular studies, repeats the
Lords Prayer and the Twenty-third
Psalm as morning exercise, without
comment or remark, in which none of
the pupils are required to participate,
is not conducting a form of religious
worship or teaching sectarian or re-
ligious doctrine
State Superintendent of School Stct-
son, in discussing the decision. said
that while Names only law on this
point is section Sc, of chapter 10. of the
Revised Statutes, the Bible is read and
The Lords Prayer repeated in practi-
cally all the public schools. Section Sc
reads as follows:
Section Sc. The presidents, profess
sors and tutors of colleges, the precep-
tors and teachers of academies, and all
other instructors of youth, in public or
private Institutions, shall use their best
endeaVors to impress on the minds Of
the children and youth committed to
their care and instruction, the princi-
pies of morality and justice, and Il
sacred regard for truth: love of coun-
Try, humanity and universal benevo-
i"nce; sobricty, industry and frugality;
chastity, moderation and temperance;
and all other virtues which ornament
human society; and to lead those I'M
der their care, as their ages and capaci-
ties admit, into ii particular UNDER
standing of the tendency of such Vir-
tues to preserve and perfect a republic
can constitution, secure the blessings
Of liberty, and to promote their future
happiness; and the tendency of the OPP
poste vices, to slavery, degradation
and ruin; all teachers in the public
schools of the State shall devote not
less than ten minutes of each week Of
the school term, to teaching to the chill
dren under their charge the principles
of kindness to birds and animals.
Commenting on this Mr.. Stetson
said: How can these things be better
impressed upon pupils in schools than
by reading the Psalms, Corinthians
and other sections Of the Bible and by
the Lords prayer? In the doing Of
this there is no attempt at Il religious
service, no effort to teach a sectarian
belief, simply an effort upon the part
IF the teacher to improve the morals,
disposition ana generally model the
'haracter of the youth in her charge.
| | believe that the decision is q wise one
and one that will be welcomed by all
interested in school work.
'All eady in one state, Illinois, if
I'M not mistaken. a long step has been
taken in the solution of this most
ycNatiCus problem, for there the heads
| OF the different churches have come to-
| -;ether and prepared Il ritual. so to
| speak. of bible work to be used in the
schools. This makes it impossible for
any one to say that any particular
crced is being favored. which is as it
worship are represented in the public
schools of the country at this time
will always be-"