El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-18

ject Just as readily TO teaching the
story Of the Maccabbees (Which festival
comedies with this period of the year,,
as / now object to Christmas songs and
poems Of q ChristOlogical nature.
Public Schools sthe Netting POt.-
The public schools have been and
should continue TO be the great unity
ing element the, the melting pot. OF
which tends TO disintegrate the
unifying process is detrimental to
our advancement; everything that
draws distinctions between pupils
Of our educational system. En-
phasizing religious differences in
our public schools either by teaching or
singing sectarian doctrine, though at
the same time permitting those who
differ TO leave the room or not join IN
the exercises, creates barriers IN the
school room which have no place there
The teaching OF religion IS the prero-
gative of the church and does not be-
long TO the public schools Those who
would fully understand the struggle
for religious liberty IN the United
States should read carefully, Cobb's
The Rise of Religious Liberty in
America
school for All Children.
theoretically the vast majority of
citizens would endorse the above, but
when theory is transferred to practice,
then ii is difficult 10 sink our apparent
personal advantage for the welfare OF
any minority
/ know not what the first letter Of
superintendent Tighe to the principals
of our schools contained but from hear
say evidence, I believe he took his
stand with those leaders OF American
education who believe our public
school system should be for all the
children at all times, and no dividing
force. religious or otherwise. should be
permitted therein. For this stand he
should be commended and encouraged
Two Ideas In Christmas.
Randall J. Condor, superintendent OF
public schools At Cincinnati, O.. and a
recognized leader on educational ques-
tons, authorized the following state
ment in November, 1914
There are two ideas involved in
Christmas: one, the distinctly religious
idea by which those who accept Jesus
as the Messiah Of the Old Testament
Scriptures celebrate the day as the an
niversary Of his birth. As such, am
quite clear in my own mind that the
schools should refrain from its cele-
bration lest they violate the very sem
timents Of peace and good VIII which
It symbolizes for those who see in it a.
religious holiday. The day, however,
stands for another idea symboliZed by
the tree, the yule log, Santa Claus and
and good cheer. As such, I believe, we
may recognize the day in the schools
and may join in the celebration without
violating the principles or nOn-Sec-
tartan teaching which must always be
carefully guarded as one of the fOun-
dalton principles of the public schools.
shut Out Discrimination.
I'VE need to use every opportunity
for teaching the children TO be thought
ful. of others, TO be kind and to share
with those who have not The present
occasion offers such an opportunity.
We should, however, be careful that in
this. as in all other things, we do not
admit TO the schools any religious dis
elimination.
The public schools are not goddess
schools: but with Cod in their midst
distinctly recognizing the separation Of
church and state, they must resolutely
refuse to admit to their teaching any
Interpretation of Him that expresses
sectarian views held by any religious
body or bodies.
The Case Of Roger williams.
When Roger Williams was banished
from Massachusetts, in 1895, he crossed
the Seekohk river into what is now
Rhode Island and laid the foundation
for q new conception of civil and re-
ligious liberty. To hold forth a lively
state may stand and best be maintained
with full liberty in religious concern
ments." Upon that principle our Union
has been founded It has been embodied
in the constitution Of all our states
The public schools are its most COM
plete expression. They should cherish
this principle as their most sacred
possession, and by the most scrupuious
T
in their power to perpetuate a free
civil state with full religious liberty
for all its people No sectarian test or
teaching and no discrimination OF any
kind upon the grounds Of religious be-
lief should ever find a part IN the ad-
ministration of the public schools
The time seems Opportune to give
expression to these views which we are
in danger of forgetting when II comes
to applying fundamental principles to
daily practice
Separation of Church and state
The above statement Of Prof. Condor
is the ideal for which I have continued
10 contend at all times. It is not an
attempt to take shy OF the Joys out or
the school days of our children but TO
safeguard the American principle OF
separation Of Church and State There
is enough material of sound pedogogi-
cal nature, which can be used in our
schools and which would bring the
same results now sought-'peace and
good viii" without violating the re-
ligious scruples Of single father or
mother.
/ have RETAINED from Issuing this
statement until after the close Of the
schools, because religious cOntrOVer-
sizes in the newspapers are distastefui
to me, arouse only religious fanaticism
and can bring no good results. This
statement is now made, so that the
school authorities and the public may
my position, weigh it well
during the coming months and act
next year for the best interests Of all
the people.
Extends Christmas Wishes.
wish my Christian friends a Merry
Christmas and a Happy Ney Year and
assure them that they will find no one
more willing to cooperate with them
for the public veal than the under
signed. whose ideal has been the realiz-
alton Of Roger Williams experiment.
ito hold forth a lively experiment that !
4 furnishing city, like FL Paso. may
stand and best be maintained with full !
liberty in religious Governments"
Martin Zielonka-
s,,1zheroer,s Majestic Ham are ..ne- |