The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1922-04-18
RELIGION AND SCHOOLS.

Proposals looking toward the introduction of education in rei-
gin into the high and grammar schools, even though as yet nothing
diately aroused discussion and shown there will be opposition as was
to be expected would be the case. Tentative plans were laid before
a meeting of the principals of the high schools in Honolulu last week
by the Inter-Church Federation, an organization of protestant
churches in the Islands. Rev. j. P. Erdman, one of the proponents
of the plan, is quoted as saying that no attempt would be made to
bar other denominations or religious beliefs from taking similar adj
vantage of an opportunity to teach the doctrines of their faiths. 1t
is also said that the plan contempates the extending of the teaching
into the grammar grades later.
AS to the opportunity for other faiths to introduce their doc
trines into public educational institutions objections came at once.
One letter said it was mthinkable that Buddhists would be permitted
to teach Buddhism in the public schools of a christian Nation. "
Nominally the United States may be a Christian nation in the sense
that Christianity is the faith of the majority, but IS a matter of
constitutional right this country is not a Christian Nation in that it
extends liberty of free religious choice and belief to its citizens and
resident aliens As a matter of constituted right and authority the
law of the subject, the Buddhists might well demand the opportunity
to introduce a school of their religion into the educational system if
such opportunity for teaching religion be given to any other faith
or sect.
1t is not designed, it is said, to make the taking of such courses
in religion compulsory. The class would be open to all who might
desire to take it. Nor would it interfere with secular studies, the
plan being to utilize a study or a play period. But such assertions
will not remove the objections of the opponents nor the probability
of their invoking the constitution against the project.
Were the plan to be confined to the high school grades, when
children have had the faiths of their parents somewhat instiled into
them in their tender and most susceptible years, after they have ap-
preached the age when they may begin to thing and to decide ethical
and moral questions for themselves, fewer objections would be heard
than if the plan of extension into the lower grades were not of the
proposal
There can be no doubt that religious and ethical education is de-
sirable, is essential to the social system and the advance of civiliza-
ton. The question is when and how such education shall be sup.
piled. In the past it has been through the church and the Sunday
schools Governor Harrington is quoted as saying that if the Protest
ant churches are not able to reach the children in such manner the
present move is a confession of weakness on their part, that it would
seem the thing to do would be to work with renewed energy. He
might have added upon improved and more modern lines. He says
that to introduce the proposal would be the counting of trouble when
the department of public instruction is seeking to adjust itself to
conditions here.
1t is peculiar that almost simultaneously with the suggestion
made in Hawaii an effort is being made in parts of the mainland to
exclude from the courses of schools there the theories of evolution
and other theories Of science not in accord with the letter of the bible.
One must sympathize with the purpose that is back of the pro-
ponents of the suggestion made in Honolulu even if one cannot see
N1SdOm on their mart BuddhStS MOImOn Christian
Scientists, TaoEs, all have their right in saying that their children
shall receive instruction in the faith of their parents and not others.
If one faith or sect is given a privilege, it cannot be withheld from
the others. There is where lies the unwisdom of the proposal, the
danger of introducing dissentions into the school system. 1t is doubt
full whether the majority of the proponents would be willing to see
a series of sectarian schools arranged beside the school they would
themselves establish. There is not time in the school hours
for religious courses in all those faiths. Today the public school
system is struggling against difficulties coming from children at
tending japanese language ethical schools; the proposal would a-
gravate an already painful situation.
As to optional courses in play hours, it may be doubted if such a
the Y. NJ. G. A., and its branches in the high schools, the work is
emily it may well be doubted whether an educational course with
better.
In a nut shell, the situation is that if one faith or sect is to be
allowed to proselyte in the public schools, all must have the same
privilege. Certainly there are more Buddhists in the schools than
children of any denomination of the Christian faith and the vari
Gus denominations of Christianity are still at odds on many points
of their teachings.