University of San Francisco - USF Don Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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TIIE MIRROR 19 pie have no affiliation whatever with any religious creed. What the world needs to-day is a return to the old, fundamental principles. It has set up purely human “Leagues of Nations” and “Peace Conferences,” and they have fallen with a resounding crash. It has sought morality without religion and found it to be a sham. The State has tried education without religion, and found that the most highly educated are sometimes its most unworthy citizens. The world needs to have the rising generation rightly trained by their parents, with less regulation by the State in matters that do not belong to it. There must be a realization on the part of the people that there is a danger which threatens, not only their liberty of conscience, not only their rights as parents, but the welfare and the very life of our country. If all American citizens were vigilant of their prerogatives; if any encroachment on their natural and constitutional rights were strenuously resisted; then there would be no fear of the opponents of religious liberty, of the enlargement of the power of civil society, or of the autocracy of the State. The Mirror Neil McCallion, Laic, ’25 Too oft we see our neighbor’s life Reflected in a glass That makes of e’en the fairest form A shapeless, twisted mass.

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18 THE I (i SAT I AX receive an education that will fit them for useful and honorable careers. In all schools, whether established by the Church, the State, or a group of families, the State should see that the laws of public health and order are observed, and if in any school doctrines are taught which are against the public peace, or otherwise opposed to the interests of the community, tlie State may intervene. Moreover, if the parents neglect their duty, or delegate to the State the power of educating their children, it may establish such schools as are necessary. It is also plain that the State may, and should have certain standards of education to which all must conform. This is justified by considerations of public good. But if these requirements are satisfied by any parent or group of parents who desire a system of education in which, besides the necessary branches of secular knowledge, sound morals and religion arc inculcated, the State has no right to interfere. What is objected to is a State monopoly of education, on the principle that the child belongs to the State, and that the State’s interest in children is superior to the natural interest which the parents have in their offspring. It is thus apparent that the theory of absolute State control of education is groundless, and to see that in practice it is productive of the most disastrous results, we have but to look about us. Godless education in France, where Voltaire boasted that he would blot out the Star of Bethlehem and drive the name of God from the schools; the pursuit of sceptical and materialistic science in Germany; and similar conditions all over the globe have brought the world to the condition in which it is, where brother seeks to kill brother for monetary gain, and where nations fly at each others’ throats for rich oil districts or coal mines. Even in our own country it is the same. Americans were once a religious people. Now, after seventy years of education without God in the public schools, almost two-thirds of the American pco-

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The Dreamer Kenneth Doyle, High School, ’24 In an attic dimly lighted, Dreamy-eyed and growing gray, Lulled by wiles of airy fancy Droned a man the livelong day. In the future, never present, Was the masterpiece he'd write. Morning’s hours gave place to noonday Noonday glided into night. Changing years roused no endeavor, Till upon a listless day Passed his soul to his Creator, Faded thus his dream away.