Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1908-11-30
RELIGION IS NOT
reconsideration
~
School Question is One Where
Merit is the Only
Requisite.
-.----.- - 49, - - :
TEACHERS BELIEFS UNKNOWN
---------------- stsi
EAcHERs' BELIEFS UNKNOWN
Supervisors and Principals Do.
Not KnoW What Churches
Are Represented.
Tribune iii Characteristic Way Has
Made Charges Which Are Not
Supported by the Facts.

Supported by the Facts.
In its usual enthusiastically unfair
way, the Salt Lake Tribune has inject
ed religion into the public school ques-
ion In this city, and has sought TO
make it appear that the Mormon III
t,lence, the Mormon teachers and lllNe
Mormon question generally Is an eler
nient detrimental to the progress oil tho
public schools in this city.
That the charges OF the bitter organ
are entirely unfounded and We're coii-
ceived in a spirit Of unfairness and BIT
tcrness against the people in this state
adlering to u certain fenslous lai.l .i
is. proven by the statements of several
ducators-principals of schools, IN
fact, and gentiles, at that, made to q
"News' representative this morning,
who queried them as to what erect, IL
any, the Mormon or any other rellslous
question had on the conduct, discipline
OF studies in&their schools. The ques-
tons were also put to Superintendent
ID. FL. Christensen OF the Salt Lake CITY
schools, who was most emphatic IN his
reply in the negative
CEIRIsTENsEN's VIEW.
supt. Christensen said in reply to
the question: What influence, II any,
does the Mormon question: Mormon
ina the 4, public schools of salt
Lake City. and What percent
age Of the teachers in the
sspublic schools are Mormon and
What percentage Gentile?" Supt
Christensen said: 1.-THE question Of
religious aftiliation had never come in
tbeg&public schools The question of
merit is the only5one which determines
the selection and employment of teach
ars in the schools of this city, said
Stpt. christensen, and 1t matters net
whether the teacher comes from Map!e
on from Provo.
2s.No information as to the religion OF
politics df our teachers can be hals
from the records of this Sofiicc.S Ilteg
very fiiopS Is TFeptiisiVo to N.Y. sai Iset
4 of fairness and honor and unGer no
circumstances would / tendeaVor ~ OBJ
tain the information for any person,
ur paper. Teachers are selected on the
basis of individual merit and no other
consideration ever enters our minds. L
have not the faintest idea as to how
the teachers would group themselves
on the bass of either religion or poll
tics Moro than that, do not wish to
know
Il shall be glad to tell you of the
nature and quality of the service rend-
cred by each one. Any other mforma-
ton you must secure from other
SOURCES. The quality Of service is my
only concern.
Il might add that every teacher Sc
lected during the time / have been
Identified with the schools has been APP
pointed on the recommendation or thls
pffice Hence, any criticism tnat at
taches to the selections made, belongs
H.. ,...x,t. .srtfJ In
thorough, inspection of our records.
know what the verdict must be-
REFERS TO HIS ADDRESS.
In this connection, Supt Christensen
eferred to the address made by him
before the teachers of the city IN their
hrst gathering Of the present school
ear, held In the Lafayette school build
ns Saturday morning, Sept. 3. Upon
that occasion Supt. Christensen said:
Religious questions should always
be studiously avoided and dlscreetly
eliminated from public school lnslfuc-
,ion.." he declared. The major por-
ion of the child's moral training comes
TO him unconsciously, although the
!e;seher may and does, do much for MS
moral well being.
Every problem accurately and care
fully solved, every exercise well DONE
Das helped to make a stronger, more
DOSltlpo CudEttClSIp NIL
ldded .'In this aspect of moral tram
ms no one questions the right or mis-
ion OF the public school. And there
Ire certain great and cardinal prlnci-
pies underlying right conduct that nave
common acceptance. and these the pup
lie school teacher is free to use III
evolving manhood and womanhood.
Then there are certain other principles
governing conduct and fixing OPINION
that have not the stamp of pubic ap-'
prevail. These must In all cases De
eliminated from the instruction given
10 our pupils of the public schools. by
he stamp Of public approval, mean
Tho principally unanimous sanctioil %
thoughtful, upright, laW-abidlng anu
Iibarty-loving American citizens. Inc
teacher has no right to present for the
acceptance OF the child any other prin-
.iplc calculated to determine conduct OF.
ix opinion I would not. OF course,
preclude from class discussion all moral
srerhical questions on which there may
be a difference of opinion, especially
where the difference is one or degfee.
/. But religious questions. in the narrow
sense of the word, should always pc
,tudously avoided and discreetiy ellni-
mated from public school instruction.
SYSTEM IS RIGHT.
fundamentally, the public school
system is right The intoxicating OF
4 views peculiar to any creed or party,
Il 81 the ridicuIing of such belief, IS dia-
netrically opposed to the spirit of tlls
{ public school. The public school sys
TEN is big and firm enough to meet
these difficult and sometimes pefpleN-
ng problems and to solve them
PRINCIPALS GIVE VIEWS.
William j. Mccoy, principal Of the
I Grant school, at 625 south First West
\ 'treet, in answer to the questions asked
aid. While / don't know exactly the
percentage, / know that | have more
y Gentle teachers in this school thar
3 Mormon teachers / am a Gentle
4 myself. The question of religion o.
& politics has never come up. NO such
4 question ever enters into the schoo
Il york. Religion and politics are SUB
iects absolutely tabooed In the Gram
4 school,
q Miss L. Qualtrough. principal of tns
3 pauirrh school at $50 Fourth Eas'
81 nreet said: II am a Gentle. but love
n hir play. The Mormon question never
q tatels into the school over which. ! h .
harge. 7 do not know how many MOE