Norwich Bulletin

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
Is It Non-Sectarian?
Mr. Editor: It is somewhat interesting to watch the progress of events concerning that "non-sectarian home" referred to by Mr. C. J. Downes in Tuesday's Bulletin. By the way: does he show anything to prove it is non-sectarian? Of course I refer to the St. John's industrial school project.
First comes the bill incorporating the school. If anyone has doubts, as to whether it is intended by the corporators to be sectarian or not…let them read over carefully the various sections of the bill and judge for themselves.
Next comes a twin brother of that bill in which judges in our state are allowed to commit boys to any school chartered by the state. St. John's industrial school is not mentioned, for that would point too plainly to the purpose of the bill, but "any school chartered by the state" covers the whole business and appears at first sight innocent and harmless. The fact that the bill failed to pass the senate on Tuesday shows that a majority of the senators considered the bill as dangerous to the best interests of the state and the surprise came when Senator Luther, the day following, had the bill recalled for the purpose of offering an amendment which relieves the state from paying any of the expense pertaining to the school, and, as he said, removed his objection to the bill. In my opinion, while his proposed amendment relieves the state from expense it does in no way remove the dangerous tendency of the bill. The danger lies in passing the bill at all. Is it to allow our judges to commit boys to any school, although it may be chartered by the state, over which the state has no supervision or control?
Such a school might be managed and conducted wholly and absolutely in the interest of private or sectarian objects. Would this be for the best interests of the state or of the boys committed to such a school? And how would the passage of such a bill affect our state school at Meriden? Our legislators must think carefully about this matter in all its bearings, consider the origin, purpose and effect (if passed) of these bills before voting on their passage. It is often much easier to prevent the passage of a dangerous bill than to remedy the evil after it becomes a law. The passage of this bill would be but a stepping stone to state aid for parochial schools and then?
AMERICAN CITIZEN.
Norwich, July 22, 1909.