New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-09-20
AN EDUCATION QUESTION TO BIZ SETTLED.
PUPILS FROM PARoCHrAL INSTITUTION NOT
ADMITTED TO A HIGH SCHOOL

PUPILS FROM A PAROCHrAL INSTITUTION NOT
ADMITTED TO A HIGH SCHOOL.
Boston, sept. 10 (Speciall-The parochal school
question is causing much excitement in WeerVo"h
suburb Of Boston. A rule OF the School Committee
OF WaertOwn is that applicants for admission 10 the
High school not regular graduates Of the grammar
schools must take before their admission exanlnS
ton on the studies covered In the grammar SCHOOLS
and must attain rank Of not less than 20 per cent
Last June eighteen applicants were examined under
this rule. Two were from private school, the carry
training of does not appear and fifteen were from
the Watertown Parochal School. The three hrst
mentioned passed the examination successfully, but
it is said that not one Of the fifteen applicants
from the parochal school attained rank of over %
per cent while many rank much lower. These fifteen
WERE therefore, denied admission on this examination
and at second examination held at the Grant school
last Saturday, not one appeared. When however, the
High School opened Saturday for its fall term, nine
OF the fifteen pupils referred to appeared there. Prin
cpa Dweey refused to admit them TO the classes ana
they asked to be allowed enter students Of special
studies They were told that they must first pass an
examination in the studies which they wished to
pursue, and this they could not do During the week
they have attended the school as visitors.
The above is the situation out there are
many attending circumstances which have an
interesting significance The School Committee
is composed Of DR.. J. A. Mead, chairman;
Charles W. Stone, Mrs. Ruth bradford, Miss Coolidge,
Charles 5. Ensing and James ID. Mon6han MI
MOnahan who is the only Roman Catholic on the
committee favOr the admission OF the parochal school
pupils without examination and it or his advice
that the nine pupils attended the school this week as
visitors The questions which asked the pupils
were submitted to and approved by Mr.. Monahan and
he quoted saying that the applicants when brought
face TO face with the questions became frightened ana
failed The superintendent OF the Waterfowl ParOchla
school is Father stock pastor Of St. PatTicRs Roman
Catholic Church, aud he al first demanded that the
pupils of his school be admitted to the High school
merely on his certificate to their qualification
On the committees refusal to accede to this demand
Father Stock asked that copies Of the questions asked
the pupils in examination be first given to him. This
was also refused. The committee held meeting last
evening and OF the six members stated that they
should not consent to admission to the High School
of any one who could not pass the examination, one
is not fully decided to the best course to pursue
and the other is in favor of admitting the applicants
without any examination.
While the meeting in session several OF the
bows who failed to pass the examination were in walt
ing and were questioned to the studies III which
they had failed They said that they were on history
language geography and arithmetic. one Of the ques-
lions in history was to give account of Grants
campaigns. -.
What did we know of Grants campaigns ?" said
one Evidently nothing at all. The matter IS Great
ing no little excitement and people who have DefOre
taken no interest in the paOchial school question arc
becoming aroused.