Show EDUCATION IN ILLINOIS JUDGE t was waa interviewed a few days ago in relation to the school question by a news record chicago reporter it should be noted that the educational problem is now a political issue in illinois and it promises to be a bitter one the germans germane of that great state dont want any interference with their language or with their parochial schools they are not op poised to compulsory education but they are opposed to state dictation in educational mat matters teris in this both catholics and lutherans Luth erans are agreed the english polish bohemian and french catholics to a certain extent endorse the germans germane judge altgeld states that he be believes in and is ie an advocate of compulsory education but the public schools should hould be maintained independent of all religious sectarian teaching As to parochial schools he says theoretically the state school system is for the purpose of taking care of all those children whose parents cannot or do not choose to send their children to private private schools there was a time in the history history of the world when there were no common schools every learner had to purchase teaching of some cEri private vate tutor oro or school chool B ut t he public school well managed backed by the immense resources of ibe the state slate has practically superseded in the business of education especially in the primary and grammar grades the instruction by private schools but bui the parochial school system being an adjunct not of a church an auxiliary or of religious teaching has survived alon along g with a church religion at the time they were established the church wisely thoughtful of the welfare of its vided aided a combination of secular and rel religious ivious instruction by one and the same set of tutors thus the parochial school being a part of the church as much as the sunday school is a part of the english protestant churches it cannot justly be assailed there is nothing in the common school system or in the fundamental theory upon which it rests which prompts the belief that it should be forced upon the people who are unwilling to accept it As already explained it is maintained to supply a deficiency and not to wrench the control ol of the education of children from parents when asked as to state control of parochial chial schools he replied no for the state contributes nothing to maintain them if these schools do anything or teach anything contrary to law the state can stop it when it became obvious that the railroads were making unjust discriminations between their patrons the state stepped in and undertook to rectify the abuse of power likewise if it were apparent that the parochial schools were teaching doctrines contrary to the welfare of the state or people or inthey if they were mistreating the scholars or in any way mis educating them I 1 should say that the state ought to step in and correct the defect but I 1 have never heard that any such charge is in made even by the most virulent enemies of the parochial schools it is admitted that they are good from an educational point of view when asked as to the state inspector ships of parochial schools he be said no upon the same ground the state might inspect the management of the home circle in order to see that a parent does doers not maltreat his children or that a husband does not misuse his wife the presumption of the state is that where complaint is not made no abuse exists thus the schools need not be inspected because there is no preemption of an abuse if there I 1 is anything wrong and anybody knows it complaint should be made the same is true of the mistreat ment of children by parents or guardians 11 MS T mr altgelt gives further reasons for g state control of church Bc hoole he contends that the moment a state ustate I 1 endorses a catholic or lutheran school that school immediately by reason of the religion it represented made that religion a state one As this inspection involves expense the state having ordered it should pay for it then the fi airet rat principles of american government became subverted the moment money was paid from the public funds for any sectarian purpose this could not be done as he says simply because the constitution forbids the recognition of any church by the state for the state of illinois to investigate the parochial schools and then have the inspector nail mail up over the door inspected and accepted as a school by the state of illinois would be to recognize the authority and power behind the school a church or a religion control of parochial schools is the first step to ward the recognition of a church but it would be much less practicable to give money out of the treasuries of the state to schools of sectarian churches such a proceeding would be stopped by the courts |