The Irish standard., 1914-08-15
of liberty as we'll as of answering
devotion to Catholic Faith.
THE ACTION OF THE HIGH
SCHOOL BOARD.

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taken in regard to members of re-
ligious orders wearing their distinct
i've garb and teaching in the public
schools of the State. The rule of
the board some time ago and reaf-
firmed at the last meeting prohibits
members of religious orders from
wearing any sort of religious garb
while teaching in public schools.
This, of course, affects but one class
of teachers and that is the Catholics.
The decision was made known in a
letter addressed to Archbishop Ire
land by State Superintendent
shultz since the last meeting of the
State High School Board. Last Sat-
urday the Archbishop met with the
high school board and discussed the
advisability of repeating the rule
which now reads as follows:
mo teacher shall be permitted to
be attired in the distinctive garb of
any religious organization or order
during the work of teaching in the
public schools of the state"
The letter addressed to Archbishop
Ireland concerning the matter un-
der discussion in part is as follows:
'"The boards judgment concern
ing the whole subject, is that it can
not recede from its original position.
but feels its duty requires that its
attitude as expressed at first remain
fixed, unless the legislature or courts
determine that there shall be diff
ferent policy.
II wish to convey to you the
sentiment of each member of the
board that we all deeply appreciate
your frank, sincere and earnest at
titude in presenting the other side
of the question. The board has
been actuated by no narrow policy
of seeking to hamper or restrain
those who offer their services in the
public schools, but who by reason Of
custom or fixed principle become ex-
cluded from public school teaching.
The boards judgment is that d VIOLA
ton of the policy expressed in the
rule is violation of the established
public schools policy. The board de-
sires me to convey to you and
through you to the large body of our
citizens in the state for whom you
are privileged to speak, its sincere
desire to maintain the mutual conf
dence and feeling of respect which
has existed between the secular and
religious bodies in the maintenance
of school work"
The rule Of the State School Board
to which exception was taken was
known as rule number seven, rule
preventing Catholic sisters from as
signing their salary to the Order.
This rule has been modified by the
board and now reads as follows:
mo public school funds shall be
paid for instruction except to indi-
viduals who actually render the
teaching service, or upon their or
der"
A new situation has arisen in con-
nection with the ruling of the School
Board which seems to make the rule
referred to very inconsistent indeed.
The modification of one of the rules
allows the payment of funds or the
assignment of funds by members of
religious orders to their order, while
another rule prohibits the members
of these orders from being ecipients
of public money for teaching pur-
poses. The question of members of
religious orders teaching in public
schools is more of local question
arising in various communities,
where there is preponderance of
Catholic population, than it is a
question of the general principle of
members of religious orders teach
ing in public schools. The question
is a serious one in localities where
prosperous Catholic schools are main
tanned and where the schools and
prosperity of the religious orders is
guaranteed without any reference to
the prosperity of the local high
schools. where the chief concern of
the latter is matter of the at
tendance of Catholic children in the
class rooms in order that the proper
enrolment may be secured and main
tanned. The question has arisen in
other localities where a small, If any
Catholic school exists. but where
Catholics desire the influence of re-
ligion in the educational welfare OF
their children, yet hesitate to un-
dertake the erection of school
knowing that it will be practically
impossible to maintain the Catholic
school and at the same time the To-
cal public school. On this basis the
question Is a matter of expediency
so far as the community is concerned
and of vital Importance so far as
Catholic teaching and Catholic doc
trine is concerned. The Catholic