Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1911-12-14
RELIGION IN TEE SCHOOLS
Commissioners Had Matter under
Discussion Friday Night.
Ir. Giiiis Argues That Exercises which
Catholic Pupils Are Prohibited by
the Church from Attending
should Not he He'll.

school COllIlllSSlOlltTS FTludN evening WIS
devoted largely to II discussion Of the
matter of religious exercises In the high
school. The Rev. Joseph f. ellis of st.
Mary's Cathedral and Principal Merritt
y. Chittcnden Of the high school both APP
peared before the commissioners and stat
ed their positions in regard to the ques-
ton at issue Following their retirement.
the board pa. through some matters Of
routine business and then went into a
half hours executive session. but. partly
on account of the fact that two members
OF the board were absent, no action upon
the matter of religious services was
taken
Father ellis said that children should
receive rcigiols training, but that the
public schools are not the places where it
should be given. There is no state re-
llgion in this country. he declared. and
there should accordingly be no religious
exercises in schools thlt are under state
or municipal control
He said that ne had long understood
that the schools Of this city arc opened
with religious ohservances. but that until
recently he had supposed these exercises
to be conducted by the teachers, in their
various rooms. Some time ago. however.
u copy Of the High School Register had
como to his attention, and In 1t be had
seen references to chapel" Upon In
Quiry, he learned. said he, that all the
pupils of the high school met in one room
at the opening Of the morning session for
a form of religious service that was con
Quoted there.
These services, said Father Gillis, are
non-Catholic. and he told the pupils of
the high school who attend St. Mary's
Cathedral that he was opposed to their
attending these religious exercises, and
he directed them to apply to Principal
Chltterden to NJ excused from them as
the principal had srid there was no COM
pulSion in the matter.
PRINCIPAL Chlttenden said Father Gil
lis, had been very fair il his attitude
upon the matter, but 1t is possible that
in years to como the school might have
a principal who would take a different
position. and accordingly religious exer-
cises should be done away with entirely
in the school. Pupils. he said. should get
their religious Instruction outside the
public schools.
Mr.. Chittenden reviewed briefly the
history of the question since it was first
brought up by rr. ellis He said that
he had received a letter from FIR. ellis.
but that owing 10 the Illness of his
father some days passed before II was
answered When lie did reply. he sug-
gcsted that FIR. ellis talk over the matter
personally with the principal, and an
interview followed. Mr.. Chttenden spoke
of Err ellis with the greatest respect
and outlined the course he himself had
followed
lie said that it was not customary 10
cali the exercises Chapel exercises, but
that the word Assembly" was the one
applied to them. They consisted of the
reading Of scripture prayer sacred
hymns and secular songs with some
times an outside speaker. Tho announce
ments for the day We're made at this
time. He earnestly affirmed that he be-
ucNcd the day should not be opened
without recognizing God, and he said
that he had received. only few days
ago, a letter from q former pupil, tell
ing of how mLoh value the simple serv-
ice had been to the boy.
The effort had been. said he, to make
the exercises richly non-sectaran.
When the objection was raised by FIR.
ellis, lie had omitted assembly for two
mornings while considering tho matter,
and had then provided "a room whore
pupils not wishing TO appear at assembly
could study during tina; quarter hour,
ard had ARRANGED for them to receive
the same announcements there that tho
others heard in assembly.
lie mad provided special form OF
4,
religion as the explanation why "A pupi
should be excused from attendance al
assembly. and all pupils presenting eX
cuses in this form, as we'll as Some Others
whose excuses stated no reason, were
excused from the morning exercises Mr.
Chttenden exhibited large handful Of
these excuses, which We're examined By
the board
Father ellis explained that pupils
segregated in this way were at a dis
advantage lie also pointed out tina
while Il non-scctarian service raises n,
objection in the Protestant mind, it Il
| opposed 20 the principles of the Catholic
faith. which demands a service ACCORDING
to the forms Of the Catholic church.
Father ellis pointed out, furthermore
| that all the Catholics OF the city are pay
| inG taxes ike other citizens and as'
are contributing to the support of tn
parOChial schools. Half as many chill
| dron. said he. are being educated il
Catholic schools in Burlington. as in tn
public schools. The running expenses o
| the public schools are about $S2,On o
which tho high school costs s12.o There
| fore, about $4,000 is devoted to the graded
schools, and since the Catholic school
educate l,iO9 children, by recent figures
while there is a total enrolment in tn
| public schools of 9.746 fully s25, 600 is an
nually saved to the city. Furthermore
the cost of new buildings which woul
| be needed IL the Catholic schools did no
| exist. would be, he estimated, hetwee
$4,000 and 100000 at least for three ncy
structures. These figures he adduce
| to show that Catholics contribute enough
to make them deserving OF consideration
Either our children must attend IN
religious services of the high school
| added Father ellis, cor else b
segregated. and segregation would de
prive them Of certain ADVANTAGES, Will
it also creates Il distinction. and it /
therefore unfair"
II have taught in schools in five differ
ent towns remarked Mr.. Chittenden
| and / have always had Catholic pupil
| in my classes. Except for an objection
from Jewish parent last year. no Oh
lection has ever in my experience bee
raised to religious exercises in IN
schools"
Superintendent Wheeler. and four mem
bers of the board President Bullard, Dr
Latour, Mr.. King and Mr.. Dwyer, wer
present. At the close Of the executiv