The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-07-11
THE N. e. A. AND ENDOWMENTs

that the policy of secondary or higher
institutions of learning accepting the
money will have their policy dictated
and curriculum arranged by the
laird of skibo." and the Standard
Oil magnate. Many prominent edu-
Gators throughout the country have
declared against the acceptance of
the money because of the interior
ence Of the Carnegie foundation for
the advancement of learning. The
millions of the steel magnate will go
as they have gone to oppose religious
instruction and foster the anglo
American ties so dear to Mr.. Carne-
gle. 1t is not unlikely that officers
will see way clear to absolve them
selves from the pernicious influence
OF Carnegie millions and accept the
money and at future meeting the
association in discussing what is
wrong with the public schools will
catalogue the evils under the irrelig-
ious tendencies of the present day,
lack of proper moral training and
disrespect for authority, and the alb
sence of respect for things religious.
Can they not understand that they
are inviting these evils upon them
selves and upon the children. Many
institutions have declined gifts for
the reason given and many will de-
cline to do so. This spectacle of
some embryonic minister yet in his
teens declaring against accepting the
divine teachings or religious author
ity, disputing the existence of God
as a Being is a spectacle all too ia
miliar in non-Catholic theological
schools. 1t is against this growing
evil that the old time ministers are
staunchly declaring themselves. But
the evil grows and the cause in
creases. A prominent educator, dur
ing this weeks session of the Ma
tional Convention, deplored the lack
of religious training and teaching in
the schools. This complaint is COM
mon one. For within and without
comes a demand for religious train
Ing In the schools. This lack of re-
ltgious training is becoming a great
national question and the influence
that encourages religious indiffer-
ence is growing and aids in perpetu-
ating the evil. 1t works against the
very foundation of our public school
system and it will do more. and has
done more. to raise the question,
What is the matter with the public
schools?" than any other one thing
that confronts those charged
with the burden of public education.
The latest statistics show that funds
do not constitute efficiency since it
costs from two to three times as
much per pupil to educate pupils in
the public as compared to the pri-
vate schools. Discussing the public
attitude toward religion in the
schools the words of the Hon. Bird
s. Coler recently delivered to class
of eastern graduates are very signif-
cant. The following extracts were
taken from his address:
There was a time when the activ-
ity Of the Catholic Church in educa.
tional matters excited real alarm in
American minds, which were perfect.
ly honest and truly patriotic. There
seemed to be in the segregation OF
the children of one religious denomi.
nation. in special education for a
part Of the rising generation. some.
thing subtly hostile to American in.
situations and foreign to the Ameri.
can spirit. I can say quite frankly
as non-Catholic, this view of the
subject was not without influence in
my own mind. It seemed to me al
first flush, as no doubt it seemed to
many of my fellow-countrymen. that
equality Of opportunity should begin
in the public schools, and that the
State should break down with its ed.
ucational agencies any barriers which
might serve to interfere with the
homogeneity of the American people
was quite convinced in those days
that religion was entirely a private
matter and that it had a proper, al.
though restricted, sphere of legiti-
mate influence. but that the extern
sion Of its influence beyond the
sphere and its obligation to public
life was improper and of bad eff.
feet.
II hold other views now. The
change in my attitude has not been
sudden. It has come about very grad.
ually, and has been due less to 4
study Of religious education than tt
conflict in public and business life