Year: 1869

To me the argument appears sound
and fair, and I think that this article on
the vexed question may possibly inter
est our readers generally.


SUBSCRIBER.


The Educational Problem,


In all the recent discussions Of this
theme there is not a single point brought
into prominence which we have not in
cluded i'm our former articles. Every
question thus far raised leads directly
back into the fundamental inquiry
whether it is wise after all for the State
to undertake the education Of the peo-
pie out of a common fund. It is assum-
ed, although not proved by any means,
that a certain amount Of scholastic
training is essential to the weli-being of
the commonwealth. Tt is then assumed
with a much narrower argument in IA
vOr of the assumption, that unless this
Is done by the State It viii not be done
at all Both these positions might be
conceded if the system was successful in
attaining the object proposed. Few
would stop to question whether the edu-
cation was absolutely. essential to the
perpetuity Of our form Of government II,
as matter of fact, the common school
system secured the universal training
so desirable. But its failure Just here is
and more apparent every season.


One form Of failure; and that which has
attracted the most public attention Is It's
want Of actual application to the classes
most needing such instruction as pFotes
ges of the State. The mass Ofthose now
attending the public schools would be-
yOnd question be provided with at least
equal advantages by their parents or
personal friends if there were nc COM
mon fund, while in our larger cities the
number in school actually dependent on
the bounty Of Others for their schooling
Is not as great as the number Of the
same class outside who are not reached
in any form by the educational process.
The attempt TO remedy this BY truant
laws and police regulations has been
wholly unsuccessful, and the evil is
steady increasing.


The failure of the system in another
and very important respect Is not so
generally admitted, but is Just as real,
and is coming rapidly into notice We
mean, of course, the neglect Of religious
culture. Here there is q wide division
of sentiment, and a multitude Of ques-





not see how il is to be denied that If the
training Of children is essential to the
maintenance of popular government
some form Of religious sanction must en-
force the lessons Of morality. The difn-
Guilty of agreeing upon any common
method of religious training, where all
forms of faith or unbelief are tolerated,
and there is no established church, has
led many of those who have heret0f0Fe
favored some Difference to ecclesiastical
authority to consent to exclude all refer
enee to religious topics. But this does
not meet the difieulty. Those who.
like ourselves believe that the fear of
God is the beginning Of wisdom, can see
nothing but danger to the State IN an
intellectual culture which ignores all
reference to such higher obligations
IF religion were, like grammer, but one
branch of school study, which might be
eliminated without serious damage to
the other branches commonly taught,
we should even then object TO such a
partial and One-sided education. But
we believe that a proper reverence for
the Creator and a knowledge Of our true
relations to him lie at the very fOunda-
tiOn of all mental and moral culture,
and amid the natural tendency 80 evil
~
the attention Of the young.


The mere reading Of the Bible as q
textbook in school we regard as Of little
Importance. Indeed, we have question:
ed whether in view Of the little respect
paid to it, while all further reference to
the great truths it contains fs carefully /
omitted, it would not be wise to lay itI
aside altogether. To use 10 as an OFdina-
~ reading book for the mere purpose of
or defamation, or gFamma-
tical analysis, is not to insure respect for
its contents, and will answer none of
the ends for which, as a Divine revela-
ton, it was given to men.


But suppose we 90 as far as any one
can lead in that direction. Take the
Bible from the schools, and exclude an I
and particular reference, not (
only to any form Of theology, but to anv
class of religious sentiments. Has any I
thing been gained in what remains of
the common training 10 justify the cost j
" outlay? Nay, is &c not morally GER 4
tain that if the education Of the young !
stops just here, the danger to the State !
Is even greater than if they had been |
left in primal ignoranceb But those /
who advocate such exclusion and limit [
alton argue that the children, through !
5he zeal Of their parents and guardians, /
Or the efforts of general Christian chari- /
Ey, win be taught at home and in Sun |
lay school all the essentials thus omit /
ted from their daily lessons.


IF this be true, why need the State In
-erfere at alp III 10 may be safely left |
to parental thOughtfulness and Christian 4
to teach what concerns I
the salvation of the soul, and to inCul- /
70 q
knowledge Of which there Is no deceney
lr sanotity IN any human relation, why
not intrust the whole educational pro
3ess to the same controlling forces ?


The greater certainly includes the less,
md If individual and voluntary efforts /
IRE sufficient for the higher needs they 4
will not fall short Of al that is essential
% training Of the future citizen.


1t will come to this result at last,
whatever course is at first pursued. If i,
he school money were all divided up
O-daO and distributed among denOmin-
ltiOnal schools, there would be constant
'lamOT, louder and louder each year,
hat unwilling hands were compelled to
ahOr for prOpagating an OdiOus religious
aith. IF a movement Is made 10 leave
he great topic altogether out Of the
chOOlS, the eXcisiOn will be more and \
more complete, until good men of all
.lasses become alarmed, and an over
reaction sets In that will take
he children away from the heather or
.cles and re-establish the essentials Of n
roper education in parOchial or denOm-
national schools that viii teach some I
Orm of religious faith and a reverenua
Or some religious creed, In either
ase the education Of children Out Of
ommoR fund as part She machinery
4 government must sooner or later be /
bandOned. We look forward % that ?
ime coming without dread of any lap !
Ing Of the rising generation into unlet- 1
cred harbarism,
A MUCH NEEDED MEASURE.lT Tih- !
Ois State Convention, 10 amend the :
is now i'm session, The pa !
ers Of that State are advocating the ins
,rtion of q clause prohibiting the I,egls-
ture from rqtitEing amy amendment 10 y
30 Federal Constitution until the peOpieN =
ave had an opportunity to elect a Leg !, !,
lature with reference to the issue pre-
nted by the amendment. Such clause !,
made necessary by the efforts Of the !.
adicals to procure the adoption, by the ~
ate Legislatures, OF the Negro Suffrage
mendment to the Federal Constitution
fore the people have q chance b. PASS v
ION 10 by an election. If the people had q
is right not one Legislature Ia ten z
ould contain q majority OF members "
no would vote RR such an outrage on n
q people Of the United States.-Obio er
rffeqU1rFD l.