Milford chronicle., 1924-06-13
Private and ParO-
chial Schools Are
Valuable For An
Education
They Instruct in Religious Uplift
Through the Church and Relieve
the Public Schools of Many
Thousands of Children in
Already Crowded First
Grades.
From The Watchman Magazine
Nashville, Tenn.

there is danger that scant though
will be given to other issues on tn
ballot, and measures embOdying graV
peril to our constituted liberties ma.
be foisted upon us by interested par
ties.
Just now there are campaigns on il
the states of Michigan and Washing
ton to put through a law closing al
private and parOchial schools anC
compelling all parents to send then
children to the public schools. Such
law was passed in Oregon, in 1922
but the Federal Court ruled it uncon-
stitutional. In spite of that, similar
law appears on the ballots of the two
states mentioned. In the July number
of the Waterman Magazine of Nash
vile, Tenn, w. F. Martin writes In
Defense of the Little Red School
house, reviewing the decision of the
Court, the opinions of leading educa-
tors, and the dangerous principles
underlying this attempt to control the
schools. He says in part:
"Are the church and private schools
a detriment to the children who at
tend them, and is the public system
injured by allowing these schools to
continue? Is it a fact that only the
state teachers are able to impart the
knowledge essential to true educa-
tiOn? Such claim cannot in fairness
and truthfulness be made. The pur-
pose of the proposed measure is to
outlaw all private and parochial
schools. The aim is to establish a
monopoly of education by the state.
MonopOlies are cruel and wrong,
whether exercised by an individual, a
group of individuals, or by the state.
mo one will dispute the fact that
the state has right to set a certain
standard of education. Any one who
offers his services as a teacher should
be required to meet that standard. 1t
is not too much to say that all nor
NAL children should be expected to |
reach it, or that, at least, parents and |
guardians should provide opportuni-
ties and put forth efforts to equip the |
children under their care with sufi- |
cient education to meet the state stan
dard. All schools where children are |
taught should be open for inspection
and subject to regulation. Thus far
the state can go without infringing
upon the rights of conscience. How
ever, to close all schools except those
organized and controlled entirely by
the state is an infringement upon an
inalienable right.
For the state to take from the par
ent the right to have his child taught
in the schools of his schools
which meet the standard required by
the state-would be an act of intoler-
ance, yea, of tyranny. 1t is the pre-
rOgative of the state to say that the
child shall have the advantages of an
but it is not in the province
of the state to say where this educa-
tiOn shall be received. 1t is in the pro-
vince of the state to say that the
child shall be taught certain branches,
but the state is not to say that none
but state-suppOIted schools and tea
chers shall be permitted to teach
hose branches of learning Is the
state, or those in charge of it from
ime to time, to have absolute control
If the moulding of the adolescent I
mind? If so, we have gone long way /
rom American ideals.
when a parent desires that his |
3hild shall, along with his education /
n the common branches, receive an I
ducation in religion, which to the /
mind of the parent will not only fit \
he child for the best type of citizen J.
hip in this world, but increase his n
hances for the world to come, he c
hould not be denied the right. When Il
hat right is denied, it is only one step Ii
lrther for the state to deny the par "
nts such right in the home. Christian
ducatiOn can be impaired in the +
hurch and private schools and not in a
ne public school . To abolish u
hurch and private schools is to in
'inge upon the most precious right Of tC
ankind. al
Every loyal American citizen is al
lad to give active support to the ri
aintenance of the public schools.
hey are a great bulwark to the gov cJ
nment. They should be fostered and h'
lppOrted. Where a citizen has dis LII
larged his duty thus far, he should
, left to maintain, at his pleasure M
Id expense, a school in which his ne
lild can have the advantage of relig-
us training. ORly religious bigotry WI
I'd prejudice will deny this right. -. +
ven the casual observer can See that w
tolerance is gaining too much of a an
I'D in our land. The late President
arding was led to make the follow u
g statement: In my experience of
year in the White House, there has Wa
me to me no other such unwelcome
Ipression as the manifest religious va
tolerance which exists among some
our citizens. hold it to be men In
e to the very liberties we boast
d CHERISH he
ut will be interesting to learn how
ted educators look upon such a law In
that enacted in the state of Ore
n. Here is one opinion CLEANED from rel
my: 4 believe in the public school
stem. 1t is the salvation of our dem we
racy, but the private schools and phi
leges have been the salvation of
, public schools. These private in wa
tutions have their place in our ed \
atiOnal system. They prevent it phi
m becoming autocratic and arbi- Ma
ry, and encourage its growth along \
" lines. Hon. P. P. Claxton, ex-U. P.
Commissioner of Education. bee
The Federal Court that declared n
the Oregan law gave tea
ne strong reasons for this decision: ING
e state acting in its legislative ca Ger
.ity, has, in the means adopted, ex- wit
ded the limitation of its power Ion
purpose being to take utterly A
ly from cOmplainants their consti- hoo
onal rights and privilege to teach Les tie's
the grammar grades-and has and ct,