Show T G L. L D. D S. S S. S I IX IN JOKA IOKA SCHOOL D From pa Page 0 One school purposes purposes' and when the use thereof will not Interfere In any way with school purposes to be used for any purpose that will not with the seating or other furniture or property and shall make sues such charges for use of same as it may decide to be just but for any such shall use or the district not be at any any expense for fu l or for Cor servi service e of any kind or nature provided that public school houses houie shall not be used for commercial purposes It was my understanding that Mr lr Dillman was to talk to the teachers teach teach- ers there again and see that they dismissed school before any r religion classes were taken UV up Twenty years ago the question on of teaching religion classes was brought to the attention of d. d C. C Nelson state superintendent and he I I Immediately wrote the following letter to school cents and schol school boards board's throughout the state Gentlemen For some time past this office has been almost constantly constant constant- ly in receipt of letters from citizens in different parts of the state protesting pro pro- testing against the use or of public school bul buildings for religion class I I purposes In order to ascertain with certainty the of this use usi I of the public buildings letters of inquiry in were sent from this office tt to I all of the county and city school superintendents The replies re received received re- re I convey the Information First that the religion classes are conducted in a large number of of public school houses throughout the state Second that these religion class classes es are held immediately aft after r the close of the school and from further Information it Is found that not Infrequently infrequently In- In frequently the regularly employed teacher of the school Is also the teacher of the religion classes Permit me to call our attention to section 1 article 10 of the con constitution tI- tI of the state of Utah It reads as as follows The legislature shall provide for the establishment and maintenance maintenance of public public pub pub- nance of a uniform system lic schools which shall be open to all children of the state and be free from sectarian control I Section 1848 of the Revised Statutes of Utah 1898 Is also also- pertinent pertinent per per- to the question at hand It says No atheistic Infidel sectarian religious or denominational doctrine I shall be taught In any of the dIstrict schools of this state Moral toral Instruction instruction to Impress upon the tho tion tending minds of the pupils the Importance I temperance temperance tem tem- of good manners truthfulness and industry industry in- in perance purity patriotism shan shall be given in every district district dis- dis school and all such schools shall shaU be free from sectarian control It It Is evident that both the founders found found- ers of the tho state constitution and th tin legislature which t the e foregoing fore fore- fore I going statute intended the pubic ir schools of Utah to be e tree free from sectarian sectarian sec sec- influences as n a from the Influences of atheism and am infidelity They were In entire harmony too with the predominating Ameri- Ameri can mu sentiment on this question Ever Even the he propriety merely of of reading the Bible In the public schools has peen called Into question because o readers have read their peculiar rn I views into scriptural quota The public school is a athe as the common meeting ground of o evert evel child and youth of the land regardless regardless regard regard- less or of r race ce or station creed or pare ty It must remain tree free from uny ny influence in in- fluence or condition which wOld have lia ve a tendency to change its premi premi- nent position among tile the great institutions Institutions of our country As school officers It ts is OU our duty to guard against allY condition which might give an opp opportunity for sectarianism sectarianism sec sec- to enter Into or influence Wherever our ur public school system religion classes are held before leaving leaving leav- leav ing the school house for the day the pupil receives religious as well as secular Instruction sometimes too from the same teacher It is not to be expected that immature inn inn- mature minds will discriminate clearly as to the respective functions o of the school and the church In the religion class work but it Is to be expected that a large percentage of oC the he children will took look upon aU all of oC their class exercises exercises' as they the school schoolwork work vork of the day The uThe religious tea hangs hing may ho bo hof I of f the most wholes wholesome mc and uplifting character yet ct in a country like ours I where tho right to worship according accord accord- ing ng to the dictates 9 of Individual con con- science has given rise Ito to varied con I religious re- re beliefs and where the schools are re supported by br all taxpayers of the comm to hold children after the he regular school hours of oC the day for or the purpose or of Inculcating Into their heir minds the doctrines ot of any re- re creed must or of necessity be bemore more or less objectionable to the peole peo- peo pIc le of the community hoMing holding er cut nt religious views views' Time The constitution and ancl laws laws of- of the of-the the Late emphatically declare that that th the public schools shall shaH be tree free from Such or sectarian control control- sing being the case and the conditions 1 J Jas as 3 herein set forth obtaining l ing I ani am of oC I Ime Ithe the me opinion and you are hereby so I advised that the r religion I when conducted in public school buildings is in violation ot of the spirit of the constitution and thE statutes of time the state or of Utah |