The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1893-11-04
THE EDUCATIONAL EXHIBIT.

Some time ago The IRISH STANDARD
had an editorial on the Catholic school
exhibit at the Worlds Fair in which it
was referred to as one Of the wonders Of
the world. Our esteemed contem porary,
The North, objected to its being called
wonderful, and took occasion to speak
of it in sighting, disparaging manner,
saying that the display lacked system
and WAS far behind the public school OK
hibit in every way, but especially in the
art department The IRIsH STANDARD
quoted from the correspondent of the
Minneapolis journal as we'll as from the
Chicago Tribune and other Protestant
authorities, showing that they enter
tanned an exalted opinion of the Catho.
lie exhibit and applied the word "mar-'
vellous" to it in their description. LIE
IRISH STANDARD, of course, had no in
tention Of classifying the exhibit with
any of the ''seven wonders of the world"
Known in ancient times. 1t merely
meant that at the Worlds Fair, which
was attended by people from all parts of
the earth, the Catholic school exhibit
was the world g wonder inasmuch as an
idea was prevalent that hardly anything
but the most rudimentary branches and
Christian doctrine were taught in Cath
olic schools The North, however, is
captious and given to hair splitting, and
last week it returned to the charge, end
reiterated that the Catholic display was
inferior in every respect 10 that of the
public schools. ITO the development of
the latter" it says, "the very best peda-
gogical minds OF the country have for
years and years applied themselves with
unwearylug energy and devotion, and in
their efforts they have been sustained
and assisted by powerful public senti~
ment and by thu public purse. But
Roman Catholic education has projected
ON lines SO much at variance with il that
it would be more than a miracle, If it
should, as system, compare with that
provided by the public schools"
There is NO doubt that the public
schools have superior advantages over
the paroch1al schools SO Ear as being sus-
tanned by the public purse, but the
teachers Of the public schools, according
to DIR. }. NJ. Rice, who has visited thirty
six cities IN this country to examine into
their methods of teaching, do not know
their business 10 impartiug knowledge
and developing the faculties fthe youth
full mind. The only pubic schools in
the country with whose teachers he was
satisfied in their methods are the schools
Of the Twin Cities. Protestant writer's
like Cath give the Christian Brothers
the highest praise as teachers. They
make teaching q Life work and are highly
educated for their profession. What
public school teacher can be compared
with the late Brother Ezarias, OF De La
Sale Institute, New York? In competi-
tive examinations for cadetships his
pupils always carried the prizes from the
boys Of the public schools.
To show that Protestant writer's do not
agree with The North in its severe stric-
lures on the Catholic Worlds Fair ex-
hibit, we give the following translation
of an article by non Catholic in the
Stats Zeitung, the great German paper
of Chicago, whose editor, Washington
Hesing, is Lutheran like the editor of
The North, but unlike him in giving
credit where 1t is due:
"Desplte the danger Of being con-
demned, sentenced, and, to say the least,
burned in efigy by the "little red school
house" fanatics. we declare. and every
right minded, non-phrtisan, and unpre-
JUDGED person must acknowledge, that
we are right, and will confirm our views.
Compared with the exposition OF the
Catholic training and educational iasti-
tutions the exhibit OF our national public
schools scarcely deserves to be noticed.
The Catholic school teachers have laid
open to our view a picture demonstrate
ing the magnitude of the Catholic school
system, It's workings, it's effects, and the
achieved results of the various institu-
tions, so far reaching, SO instructive, and
80 ably illustrating it's high educational
character as to discourage and disap
point the partisans of the American pub