Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-03-28

teachers, to so adjust the school pro-
gram and course of study as to ia
cilitate the provisions of this act in
fairness to the child or children so
excused"
That is the entire bill and, as you
will see. it Is not compulsory. 1t
simply permits those towns or
cities who desire to maintain
weekday religious training in
their respective churches. to do so.
The towns which do not care to take
advantage of the provisions of the
bill are not compelled in any way
to do 30. This being the case,
1t seems to me that there should be
no objection to the bill. It is not a
new measure. In fact, this bill has
a strong increasing public sentiment
that has grown up in this State and
throughout the Nation in recent
years, that the children in our public
schools should receive more adequate
religious training.
In fact the bill itself was drafted
by our State Commissioner of Edu-
cation and provides in it the same
provisions that were advocated
throughout the State in the recent
campaign by our Chief Executive.
And I might say at this time that he
IL very anxious that the bill receive
a passage. The bill in it's same form.
or a similar one, has already been
enacted into law in several of our
states, and at the present time in
nearly eight hundred towns or mu-
inequalities throughout fifteen states
In the Union the churches are car
rying on weekday religious training
in connection with the public school
system. In those different cities and
towns as many as ninety percent
have enrolled in the church schools
and it is a significant fact that in
some of these schools as high as
twenty-five percent of the pupils
who have enrolled have never at
tended any religious institution. not
even the Sunday School.
Doctor Cadman, Rabbi Wise and
Cardinal O'Connell have frequently
said that religious training is as es-
sential to our boys and girls as is
food or water. This bill makes it
possible for our children to receive
religious training irrespective of race
or religion. Thee are many who
feel that the place for every boy and
girl is in the public school system.
and that being the case. there should
be no place in the public school sys-
TEN IOT InC ISdCf1lnS Oh any pdrIlC-
ular creed or doctrine.
Someone has said that the thoughts
Of youth are long. long thoughts, and
we who have Travelled Life's journey
sufficiently long to behold some
silver threads among the gold
know that this Is true and for
tunate, indeed, is the man who
can recall, as part of
the early recollections of his life, the
teachings that have come into his
life through the teachings Of a
Christian father and a Christian
mother. But many Of our children
have no parents, and many of them
who have, the parents are not worthy
of the name. And SO it seems to me
that it is our duty to provide some
means whereby these children who
are not receiving any form of reli-
portunity to do so.
Some of our greatest educators, as
well as our greatest theologians, feel
that this movement on the part of
the churches will do much to
our future citizenship,
much to lessen the great increase in
crime that has grown up in recent
years.
And so, Mr.. Speaker and members
Of the House, in conclusion. l trust
that you will give this bill your ia
vorable consideration and by SO de-
ing, making it possible for our chill
dren to know more of the great prin- I
ciples laid down blythe great Teacher
Of all mankind. Who said, Suffer
little children to come unto Me, and
forbid them not. (Applause.)
Mr.. BECKETT of Calais: Mr.. |
Speaker and members of the House:
wish to most heartily second this
motion Of the gentlmean for the ac-
ceptance Of the minority report. We !
have all heard on various occasions |
that one of the great troubles today
Is the disregard Of law. 1t is not the
breech of the particular law. but it
- the violation of that law by some i
Influential representative of the peo-
pie, and the idea of the younger gen
grafton that the law is to be laughed
1t and the general encouraging OF
he opinion that the law should be
lisregafded.
Now, to some of you l may be i