Religious Teaching in Philippine Schools
By Editor
REPORTS have recently been circulated to the effect that the Protestant teachers in the Philippines were using their offices to disparage the Catholic faith and build up Protestantism. The Catholic Times published a long article on the subject. Secretary of War Root at once cabled to Acting-governor Wright at Manila, stating the charge made and asking for a statement of the facts in the case. Acting-governor Wright's reply states that every charge in the accusation is untrue, and his statement is corroborated by William D. McKinnon, a Catholic priest who is a member of the advisory board of general education. The reply also brings out the fact that the great majority of the teachers in the islands are Catholic, and that priests have the privilege of teaching religion in the schools three days in the week, as a concession to the Catholic sentiment of the islands; but that no teachers are allowed to teach religion in the schools. This fair and clear refutation of the charge will certainly act as a boomerang upon those making the accusation. The Secretary of War states that it is the purpose of the government to give education, not to teach religion. This is as it should be.