The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1921-04-12
"The Bible In,
The Public School," !"

I The following paper on The Bible
in the Public Schools was read by
May D.. Schnebfy at the mid.year
meeting Of the, Knox county W. c. r.
U. held at the Vine Street Church of
Christ on April and Z:
The reading Of the Bible in the pub.
lie school is a subject of deep inter-
est to every American, and never in
the history Of our nation was the sub
ject so agitated as at the present
time. 1t is an old adage that the sta
bility Of nation depends, not on the
size of its armies nor the strength of
its armament, but on the character Of
its citizens. A celebrated Jewish Rab-
hi of our day says "The greatest fail
ure OF the 10th century was the fail
ure of education" The best minds of
the day had dreams of universal edu-
cation, and called It panacea for So
cial ills, but we have discovered that
an ,sucation of the head alone has
not decreased the number of crimin-
ais but has made them more danger
Gus. In educating head and not the
heart and soul the public schools are
failing at the crucial point.
A few years ago liquor was used
just as water is used today and even
children were permitted to take it..
Later the saloon was legalized and
men and women were brutalized.
Through the efforts Of Christian wo-
men a program of education was be-
gun in the schools through which all
children were made acquainted with
the harmful effect s of alcohol, and
when they became voters they help
ed to make the nation dry. One way
to make our nation better is to Gre
ate public sentiment. This was done
in regard to the evil effects of alco-
hol by putting instructions into the
schools teaching children it is an
enemy.
There are many other enemies that
menace our boys and girls. The foe
of sin is light. The Bible is the light
for our path because 1t teaches that
Jesus is the light of the world.
The first great reason why the Bible
should be in the public school is be-
cause it contains the best moral train
ing that the world knows.
There is not an honest man or wO
man in any Christian land who would
deny that the Bible teaches only good
ideals.
1t contains the greatest lessons OF
love and unselfishness. 1t contains
the example of the greatest Mar
: that ever walked the earth. Jesus is
the model for every person.
The Bible plainly tells the result o.
sin, and the. reward for righteous liv
ing.
The Bible ought to be put into thu
public schools because every goot
: teacher knows that what a chile
: learns he remembers. Therefore it il
the business of Christian people to pu
right ideas of conduct in his mint
while we teach him to read and write
Every mother knows the sin tina
creeps in the pure mind of her chilt
during his public school days. Th'
child can learn to do good and thinl
good just as we'll as to do evil. GU
educational institutions are for tn,
most part without any definite relig
ious instruction and then we wonde
why so many boys and girls go wrong
We educate their brain but neglec
their soul. We educate their min,
, and don't put in that mind right MOI
! ais and very often that trained min,
is used as the devils work shop.
We should put the Bible into tn
schools because this nation is Chris
tian nation whose God is the Lore
t The only book that teaches about Co
j. is the Bible. 1t is the book tina
9 teaches the best citizenship. 1t teach
;. es people to do good to others an
e return good for evil. 1t teache
! against war and murder and loyalt;
l to those who are in authority.
4 teaches obedience to law. The persol
who knows his Bible knows how t
d be good citizen.
t You ask how we are to get the b
S BILE in our schools? need only t.
J. remind you that the public schools be
+ long to the people Of each distric
9 county, state, or nation. The peopl
rule in America. Our fathers tough
for religious liberty and won it, shal
we their sons and daughters say tina
we are unable to demand that the b
BILE shall be part of our school life
J. Then some one says: we don't al
r believe alike and the teaching nigh
oppose our views. There is plenty i
: the Bible that we all believe and tina
i our children need. 1t Is not necessar
I to teach any church doctrine.