Nationalists' Requirements as to the Conduct of the College'
Unacceptable to the Trustees By Ronuxr F. Fires, Hangchow, July 7.
It ig known by the general public that the Nationalist Ministry of Education has issued certain rules and regulations regarding the schools 7 registration of public and private
Regarding schools primarily supported by Church constituencies in Western lands the following main requirements are made:—(1) There must be a Chinese president; (2) There must be a majority of Chinese on the board of directors in control of the educational policy of the institution; (3) There must, be voluntary attendance in religious edluention and ut chapel services; and (A) There must be on every Monday morning & memorial to Dr. Sun agreed to the selection of a Chinese president. In fact the former President had been urging this before the requirements of the Nationalist Ministry of Education had been made, He presented resignation and was made vice-president, pending the selection of 'a Chinese president, Long before the earliest require nents were made by the. first Ministry of Education in Canton, Hangchow College was probably the first Christian college in all China' to iiavo a majority of Chinese on ity governing board hence the second proposition presented problem.
Boeavse the howling of the Sux Memorial was regarded patriotic and not us a religious act, it-was also observed in the college. 'The college has always been in full yymputhy with the basic ideas of 'Nationalist movement and narly of its students have joined the Nationalist cause, Home 'Trustees' Position The college bourd also agreed to the "principle of voluntary attendance ut religious. worship Instruction. But on this point the trustees. in America, representing 7 the Northern and Southern Boards of, the Presbyterian Church have taken a more conservative position, based as they believe upon the prin: ible. of equal treatment and of international justice.
They prefer that. the governing board of etch institution be free to determine their own religion: policy as regards the voluntary and Fequired systems. They agree of Course to accept. the educational Standards of the Ministry of Education. The ordinary practice in Western countries is to Teave the religious polity to the governing board, regardless of whether the wehool is supported and controlled by the citizens of country or by foreigners, including Orientals.
reply to the complaint of the 'Chinese' Government that: Christian schools are mainly for religious paganda the trustees say that most any worthy cause deserves the right" of propaganda. For example the Nationalist cause being system of propaganda.
Christian schools believe in propaganda just as sincerely as does however that high educational ideals pater hae, Saar pare cemeiene rie Bee msc Sr ner 'A military school might have required military instruction and drill Dut no pacifist could complain that he had been. compelled to take military instruction and military drill, because he was free to make his decision with full knowledge beforehand. If he complained to his fellow students that he was under compulsion he would be is a distinction 'There is also another very important principle involved in the right of religious liberty granted by' the Chinese Government which it does not realize. The Government sees only the right of the individual student but not the right of the responsible and contributing group. Tt would sacrifice the right of the responsible group for the sake of the irresponsible individual, the individual being the student' (not even his parents) and the group being the supporting constituency and its governing Boards.
True religious freedom recognizes the right of the responsible croup each to experiment urtrammelled in its own way. By this free interplay in education, both religious secular, the finest results are tained.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.