The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1912-08-24
MORAL TEACHING
IN THE SCHOOLS
Education Not Based on Religion
is Not Calculated to Make
Good Citizens.
Gladstone Says Every System is
Pernicious That Places God in
the Background.
- ~
What Famous Educators and Men
of Affairs Think of Mere Secu-
lar Training.

The ideal American school system
is one which does not have religion
or morality as a necessary compon-
ent part, says the Catholic Register.
Our educators know the necessity of
morality in education and In defense
of the present methods have been
forced to the absurd contention that
it is possible to teach morality with
out any positive religion. We are fed
with the theory that there is a non
sectarian morality. Before saying
anything on the necessity Of sound
religious principles of definite dog
matte teachings as the basis of NOR
ality, we will give the opinions of a
few men who cannot be accused of
Catholic bias.
A member of ministerial associa-
tion' in recent meeting Of that body
said: ''The masses are not being
taught religion as they should be. The
fact is that the young are made to
feel that religion is only a side issue
They are made to feel that morals and
public decency are right, but religion
is not such a stern necessity. The
nation that neglects the worship Of
a trne- God" he continued. "is DOOM
ed" He says, Leave out religion and
irreligion is taught. Back of the mod
ern tendency to substitute morality
for Christianity is the false philosophy
that there can be a high morality
without religion"
DR.. w. Montague Geer, Vicar of st.
PauPs Episcopal Church in New York
City, in commenting on our public
school system, asks, What is the re-
suit of our malpractice? Why, we are
bringing up all over this broad land a
lusty set of young pagans who sooner
or later, they or their children, will
make havoc of our institutions"
Prof. James of Harvard University
says, Gas a result Of state education
we see college graduates on every side
of every public question. Harvard
men defend our treatment of the Fill
pino as the masterpiece of policy and
duty. Harvard men as journalists
pride themselves on producing copy
for any side that may enlist them.
There Is no public abuse for which
some Harvard advocate may not be
found"
"Any people," says ex-Superintend-
ent Barrett of the state schools OF
Iowa, who attempt to make Il school
system without due attention to NOR
ais will fail to accomplish their high
est purpose"
The French infidel. Guizot, has
written that in order to make educa-
tion truly good, socially and useful. it
must be fundamentally religious.
Mr.. Theirs, president of the French
republic, not Catholic, said to the
legislative body: 1--WE must make
education more religious than it mas
been up to the present moment. or if
France"
Mr.. Gladstone, of whose creed you
know well, has said, Every educa-
tional system which places religion in
the background is pernicious."
Daniel Webster, who as you know
was not Catholic, when arguing the
Girard will case in Philadelphia said:
I'm what age, by what sect, when,
where, by whom, has religion been ex-
cluded from the education of youth? ?
Never, nowhere. Everywhere and at
all times it has been regarded as es-
sential. 1t is the essence and the vi
tality of instruction"
Educate men without religion"
says the Duke of Wellington, land you
make clever devils.'
mapped out for the high school of that
city we read: I'm giving instructions
in morals and manners, teachers will
at all times exert their best endeavors
to impress upon the minds Of youth
principles of piety, justice and a sa-
cred regard for truth; love OF their
country, Christianity, moderation and
temperance"
No one who has any idea of fixed