McCLURE'S, ARCHER AND FERRER 65 



Other extracts from the various text-books might be multi- 

 plied to show the animus of the authors, and stabs and side 

 remarks at Christianity and Christian civilization abound all 

 through them. Observe that it is not against the Catholic 

 faith or belief, as such, that these are directed; it is against 

 all religion and religious ideas, though Christianity is especially 

 aimed at, that the attack of this remarkable series of text-books 

 and the teaching of the Modern School was directed. 



The Constitution of Spain (Article 13, Section 1) guaran- 

 tees the right of free speech and free press, and, although the 

 Modern School, in its various branches, was founded at Bar- 

 celona in 1902, and since in other cities, the teachers and writ- 

 ers of it have never been molested or called before any tribu- 

 nal for their speeches or writings ; in the city of Barcelona they 

 even made application to a Catholic city council for a portion 

 of the public funds for the support of their schools and the 

 application was granted. For eight years, therefore, Ferrer 

 taught what he wanted in his schools and no one interfered 

 with him. It was only when he, Morral and some militant 

 teachers in the Modern Schools participated in riots, arson and 

 slaughter, that they were taken before the courts and tried. 

 There are plenty of teachers in La Escuela Moderna who have 

 never been molested, notwithstanding the bloodshed of the 

 Barcelona riots. In this country such occurrences would likely 

 bring them under more than police surveillance. 



Events in Barcelona have resulted in a strong movement 

 among its people to counteract the influence of the Modem 

 Schools and in the establishment of anti-anarchistic schools. 

 The month of December last saw a great outpouring of teach- 

 ers, professors and others in the Educational Congress held 

 there in the Palace of Fine Arts the week after Christmas to 

 devise plans and find means for the building and equipment 

 of newer and finer schools to take the place of those destroyed 

 by the rioters. 



