Year: 1870

WARDS BLL-The bill recently presented
In the assembly by Mr.. Ward one of the Gin
cinnati Relormers, the object Of which is to
prevent the teaching Of religion, not only, but
the reading Of religious books In the pub
Tic schools, is such a novelty, that we wish to
! lay II before our readers. The reading is fear.
ed, we suppose, because Of the danger conse-
quent of conviction and conversion Other
wise, II would seem as If objection could not
lie, for if the system of education looks to the
use Of the best means cxtant, the book, of all
Others, the most remarkable for the beauty OF
its poetry. the subllmity If its eloquence, the
fidelity and reach Of its history, and the only
one that gives us any idea Of the creation OF
either men or things, it could hardly be
expected, would be the one Of all others.
for exclusion But its place is not to be entire
~ untitled. Mr. Ward proposed that the My
thoOgy Of the Ancients may be allowed TO
supply the daily pabllum Of the expanding
mind. Fancy and fiction, therefore, in the
opinion Of this reformer is better for mental
and moral growth, than the morals and teach
ings of him who spake as never man spakc,
and the scriptures that testify Of him o, great
refOrmrl


SEC. /. BE Il enacted By tie General
AssenaLty Of tie .State Of ohio, That it
shall be unlawful for the Board of Edu-
cation of any township, OF the Board of
Education in cities, towns, incorporated
villages and special and separate school
districts organized under any law of this
State, in the exercise of their power to
determine the studies TO be pursued and
the school books to be used in the sever.
al schools under their control to enioin.
enforce or permit the reading or teaching
by the teacher in any school under their
control, of that translation of the Bible
cnmmOnly known as the King James
Translation or any part Of the Bible, or
Of any book or books upon the teaching
of which any religious faith, dogma or
creed is founded.


SEC. 2. That it shall be unlawful for
any teacher in any OF the common schools
OF this State of whatever grade, to read
or cause u be read, teach or cause to be
taught, in any school with which said
teacher may be charged or entrusted,
that translation of the Bible commonly
known as the King James Translation or





part of the Bible, or any book or books
upon the teachings of which any re-
llgious faith, dogma or creed is founded
PrOUided, that nothing contained in this
section or the preceding section of this
act shall be so construed as to prohibit
the teaching of the Mythology of the
Ancients, or the reading for exercise in
reading or elocution of such extracts
from any of the books herein prohibited,
as may or shall be contained in anv of
the books used for any such exercise.


SEC. 8. That it shall be unlawful for
any teacher in the common schools, of
whatever grade, to offer public prayer or
perform any other act of worship in the
discharge of his duties as teacher, or
compel any of the children under his
control 10 join in prayer or the singing
of psalms or hymns and it is hereby
declared to be the intent and meaning OF
this act to leave the common schools
open to all children of the citizens or re-
sidents of this State, of whatever relig-
ious faith, without enjoining or enforcing
any act Of worship which may be repug-
nant to the conscience of any person.


SEC. 4. That if any member of any
Board OF Education, in this State, or
teacher employed in any Of the common
schools of this State, shall violate any of
the provisions of this act, such person,
so offending, upon conviction thereof be-
fore any court of competent jurisdiction
shall be fined in any sum not less than
one hundred nor more than one thousand
dollars at the discretion of the Court.


SEC. This act shall take effect and
be in force from and after its passage