El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-03-21

SCIENCE" AND THE SCHOOLS.
Editor Fl Paso Herald:
read in The Herald an announce
mcnt OF the fact that our nice school
children are to present In their Pageant
in the latter part Of May. in connection
with their graduating exercises a
scene depicting the home life OF the
"Cave-man," and I'm the scene the poor
fellow is to be knocked on the bean"
by another Cave-man who has more
science than himself and who covets
his wife, and who by main strength
and cussedness gets her after a bloody
fight.
7 presume from the announcement
that the Cave-woman whose charms
are the cause Of the Traces will be
kept in the cave, or at least. not con-
epicuously exposed. If she is exposed,
] suggest that she should, If possible,
wear AZ least enough prehistoric or
modern clothes to avoid shocking her
10th century educated descendants who
dwell in comfortable houses and who
use the peaceful and convenient "di-
vorce mill to secure another mans
wife, instead OF the prehistoric club.
do not wish you to understand me.
Mr.. Editor, as desiring in these re-
marks TO reflect in any way upon the
school children who viii take a part
In this Instructive" portrayal Of the
Cave-man- as they may be so unfortu-
nate as not to have been taught to
know any better and they may be
childish enough to think that he was
their remote progenitor, because others
that ought to have better judgment
have taught them that irreligious
science" $50 called is not only the
foundation Of but the very beginning
OF wisdom.
Now some one who can see what I
am driving at might say that 1 would
advocate the teaching OF the Bible I'm
The public schoOls-this, however, is
not true: but l would advocate the
teaching Of the exalted scriptural idea
OF mans having been created in the
image or an Infinite, personal Creator
II il should be claimed that no re-
hgious idea should be propagated in
the public schools. ought IL not also
10 be recognized as fair at least that
the degrading sDeculations OF irrelig-
ious so-called scientists shall not be
taught TO the children Of the Jews and
Catholics and Protestants who are
compelled by law to support the
schools The 'paralyzing baseless
theory OF mans purely animal origin
as has been argued by a great modern
writer. is one OF the causes Of the
hurricane OF horror and deluge OF
blood that is now sweeping over
Europe. and II our public schools can
not find something better to start
With than the Cave-man. it would
really be a Ged-send to have the sys-
TEN abolished.
i am not Catholic. but I admire
the good sense Of Catholics in teach
ing their children the basic truths Of
religion in their schools, and I claim
furthermore that every Catholic as
well as every jew and Protestant is
entitled 70 a citizens rights. chief
among which is religious liberty. and
TO say that a Catholic for instance.
has true religious liberty when his I
children are stuffed Nolens-Volens in |
the public schools with such "bunkH I
as that OF the Cave-man is to have /
religious liberty with both religion and |
liberty left out.
IT has been truthfully said that 1
Socrates was very wise man. and I
that history repeats itself" and recoe. /
a conceited science" (which is NOT /
science always but some times mere
bug house theories'D the great man
said. Scientists meaning bold theo-
rizers about nature) are like madmen I
their conclusions are hopelessly con-
Trajectory. impossible. and impious
The time which they waste might be
much more prOfitably employed in the
pursuit OF useful knowledge"
Now Mr.. Editor not having any au- |
.hority In the premises. bat being one
who is forced to contribute a few hun
1red dollars every year to support the /
schools, I will content myself with !
simply making suggestion. IT is
his. that after the roar OF the ele-
nents and the crashes OF thunder" and