The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-11-19
BETTER citizen SOUGHT
BIBLE INSTRUCTION FOR
THE SCHOOL STUDENT
Need of More Buildings To Ac-
commodate Ever ncreas-
ing Attendance

With the object OF building UP the
character of the future citizen. anu
not with the view of the church in
fringing on the work OF the schools
but keeping both church and school
entirely separate, representatives
OF the ministerial club OF this city
consisting of Rev. Edward Johnson.
Rev. I. Ross Paden and Rev. w. +:
Clark appeared before the schod
board last evening and asked for
careful consideration OF a plan Tor
Biblical instruction one hour each
week for the children of the seventh.
eighth ana ninth grades bf the city
schools. The object OF this lnstruc-
ton 1t was explained was to revive
religious instruction without In any
way conflicting with the courses or
pspIosp seM II 'slooQos 9ul VI Apn}s
after listening to the members OF the
ministerial club to have the school
committee and" superintendent OF the
city schools investigate the plan and
report later on. r.
Superintendent Selle called atten-
ton to the crowded condition OF the
city schools, and the absolute necess-
ity OF taking steps right away to FRO
vide extra school building for the
city. With this object in view George
Pass, Jr., who so ably planned the
Union school will be called upon to
make prospective plans for perhaps
two junior high schools one to be
order to relieve the present congestion
in the high school. In addition to
this It was decided to add consider
able new equipment to the manual
training department Of the high
school.
The Biblical Instruction.
Rev. Edward Johnson. president
OF the Mankato Ministerial club. in
bringing UP the matter Of Biblical
seventh, eighth and ninth grades Of
the city schools, said that there is
well defined movement now on foot
for more religious education. There
seems to be need Of two things, bet
ter paid teachers in the schools, 80
that men and women Of more power
may be secured as instructors, and
along with this the strengthening Of
the moral qualities Of citizenship in
this country. The speaker said that
every business man in the country Is
was glad to see that the large met
ropolitan Papers had taken up the
HIatter. He was glad to see that The
Free Press has started to devote con-
siderable space to the problem Of
better citizenship along those lines
Rev. Johnson said that in a free
country like this, people are de-
pendent to large extent upon the
moral qualities of its citizens. For
being felt more the necessity Of more
religious instruction. There are two
very strong elements In the mould
ing of the future citizen, and these
are the church and the school. 1t
depends to a very large extent what
the future manhood and womanhood
of the country will be upon the re-
ligious and scholastic instructions
received in early youth. The speak
e. said that the church is willing to
do its share in the work Of mould
ing the character OF the future citi-
zen. but with the very short time
struction but little can be accom-
plished. In order that the church
can do its full part in the work more
time for Biblical instruction Is being
sought. In making this request,
however, the speaker wanted it IN
6erstood that the church is not try
ing to encroach on the rights Of the
school or bring the church and school
as one. On the other hand the
school separate. With that object In
view it is proposed that the stud
ents of the grades mentioned be
permitted on stipulated day In
each week to leave school and as
semble at the churches to which
they belong for one hours instruc-
ton in Christian doctrine. Rev.
T0h no Ear
Lea and Mortified in this state have
adopted the plan. Letters from
d. Mortified recommend the plan
strongly.
Give Plan Consideration.
Rev. T. Ross Paden said that all
that was asked at present Is a care
ful and fair consideration of the
fact to bring out flaws in the plan, II
any exist. The presidents and deans
of colleges throughout the country
are advocating the plan, feeling that
there is lamentahle lack OF the
mowIedge of the Bible throughout
the country. If the plan is generally
carried out in the schools OF the
graduates thoroughly versed in the
Bible to act as teachers. A refer
ence library would be in connection
with that department, and it is con-
templated to have this work outside
of the schools at =. the X several
churches Of different denominations
of as high a standard as the work
in the schools themselves. The re-
Iigious department, while being run
entirely separate from the schools
themselves would be recognized as
units of the schools. Rev. Paden
merely asked thorough investiga-
ton and consideration OF the plan.
take up and discuss the feasibility Of
the plan, or If there are any impedi-
ments in the plan to plainly show
them up.
Rev. w. P. Clark said that in the
city of Mankato Is located one OF the
largest FIGURING mills In the north
west. It would be absurd to present
an argument at the present time as
to the desirability of that institution
in this community. For that reason he