The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-05-24
Free Catholic scheek.
AN ALL IMPORTANT QUESTION

A correspondent of the Wes.ern Watch
man, of st. Louis, writes:
Sir During the past few moHths the
New York FreemaH's journal has presented
to it's readers very interesting descriptions
and information of the Parochial Schools
of New York. find that several of the
parochial schools of that city are free in
the full sense of the word; and as that is
a new feature in Catholic schools in this
country, permit me brir fly to present your
readers Nth some facts relating to the
subject.
shall mention the following schools:
1. st. Mary's Schools have about 1900
pupils. Everything {including books, sta
tionery, etc., is free. The annual expenses
for teachers books, fuel, etc., amount to
about $4,000.
about 1000 pupils. Tuition, books, ETC.,
free. Annual expenses, $4,000.
st. Peters parish has Free School
Society,"" the mem beTs of which, pay ten
cents a week. During the six months end
ing January last, this society contributed
$1,000 to the schools.
A. st. James schools have about 1900
pupils. Ererything free. Annual expenses
from $4,000 to $i4 SEQ.
This parish also has Free School So
ciety, each member paying ten cents q
month. The temperance aud other paro-
the sch ools.
S. TRANSPORTATION Schools have about
1000 pupils. Everything .frss. Annual
| expenses $1,000.
/ may mention a couple of special fea-
lures in other schools:
In the parish of Our Lady of Mercy
(Brooklyn) there is a school eonsuittee of
six leading practitioners, appointed by the
pastor. This committee visits and exam
ines tue schools twice a month, suggests
| material improvements, etc, and exercises
a general supervision.
| Ia the schools of st. Patrick1s parish
! (Brooklyn) the course of studies (religious
exeepted) and the graduating are the same
as in the public schools.
Now, sir, if free Catholic schools are
useful and practicable in New York, why
are they not here7 Our schools are ,neces-
sarily 10 competition with the public
schools, and think that we will compete
with thea more successfully in proportion
as we adopt into our schools what is good
| in theirs. l have not time to enter fally
into this comparison between our schools
and the public schools. l merely throw
out suggestions. The public schools are
free, aud certainly that is an advantage.
Our Catholic brethren in New York, have
free Catholic sehoels, and why not we Z
! If the system and grading of the public
! schools is good land money aud study
| enough are expended upon them to make
| tGem perfectly, Why not adopt them In our
| sehoolsR
know how many dificnlti,s we Catho
lies have to copteod with. But if the
Catholics of New York have free Catholic
| schools, if they have Catholic public
Schools" though cOutending against the
came difficulty, why not wet
Speaking of competition between the
Catholic aud pablo schools, am reminded
of an item which l find ia Monteith's last
report ue73 The Superintendent of q
certain county in this State, writing about
the condition of schools in bis county,
says: The Catholic church has a fine
academy 10 the town of -----, aud
generally very hOurishing school, which
is doing noble work in the cause of edu-
cation"
That fine academy and aouTishng school
had only one teacher, the Catholic priest
of the town and he did 30 much noble
work that the public school in the town
was actually compelled to close for want
of patronage. 1t was not religious feeling
which decided that competition, because a