The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-04

of the pupils of that faith who were better
Informed. The protest was reasonable
one, but had the effect OF introducing an
acrimony into the controversy entirely in
consistent with the theory Of nonsectarlan-
ism. History is one of the branches which
cannot be taught with indifference; upon
the events OF the middle ages, the sixteenth
century and the philosophy of history no
man with positive convictions can be neu-
tral-he must veer TO either one side or the
other, and as with Christian history so
with universal history.
Because of these things, and others which
they believe to be real grievances a1,o the
to large extent felt themselves
excluded from the benefits Of pub
lie instruction, and have gone on TO estab-
lish private UNCONVENTIONAL schools. With
the Roman Catholic congregations, and
with many Of the Lutheran and some Epis-
copal congregations. the school is an es-
sential factor in parish work. They MAIN
tain them while paying their share of the
tax for public schools, which, from con-
] scarcely think that Ii will be believed
that this large expenditure of money. labor
and is made for mere peTversity.
That these schools are very well conducted
was evidenced from the Catholic educational
exhibit at the worlds fair, and from the
results Of some competitive examinations
in which the pupils of parochial schools
We're brought into competition with public
school pupils.
STATISTICS OF THE SYSTEM.
Hoffmann's Catholic Directory of the
United States for 1893 gives the following
statistics of the Catholic schools: Number
of schools 1851, with 1929 pupils. The
census of 1890 gives the number of teachers
in UNCONVENTIONAL schools of all classes as
1854. with 1.OS5,7H or about one-tenth of
the total school enrolment In the United
States OF this number 626,4s6 were in the
Roman Catholic schools 1853 in the evan-
gelical Lutheran schools. the remainder
among other denominations. In nothern In
diana, called the diocese of Fort Wayne, in
1892 there We're seventy schools, with 1925
pupils in southern Indiana, called the do
cese of Nincennes, there Were in 1892 ninety
four schools, with il, 269 pupils, almost unan-
imously with ten months OF school. These
figures do not include academies, colleges
and orphan aSylums The schools in each
of the Indiana dioceses and the same in
most diOceseS are under the supervision of a
diocesan school board. Teachers are ex-
amined. the text books and course of study
are practically uniform in each diocese. In
the city Of indianapolis the different parish
cost Of ca oh ,oSInII is obont e. s5 nar 90 nito
l. the estimate of $50 per capita In the pub
lie schools is correct q found the state
ment in local paper 1t would cost the city
of indianapolis of about $4,000 year addi-
tional We're the pupils of the denomina-
tional schools sent to the public schools to
say nothing OF the great cost for additional
school buildings to accommodate them. The
State therefore derives some benefit from
the existence of private UNCONVENTIONAL
schools. if estimated only in dollars and
cents, and their existence is a fact which is
taken into consideration by the authorities
expenses. When the trustees of the town
of Haughville were getting ready to put up
new school building for that town q few
years ago one of them came to me to ask
whether a school would be opened in con-
nection with the Catholic church then con-
templated in that suburb and as 10 the prob
able number of pupils it would have.
There is no disposition on the part of the
friends of UNCONVENTIONAL education to
q N LING 1,hl 4O
Many, If not most Of them, would prefer
to continue TO bear the additional cost OF
private denominational schools rather than
hazard the present peace and good feeling
by an aggression distasteful to the ma
tority. Nevertheless, it is practical ques-
ton, deserving of fair and impartial con-
sideration. There are difficulties in the way,
but they are found in every public ques-
ton. Calm discussion by earnest men, toll
to a solution of this question. Some of
these difficulties are, believe only inn
Of education will be lowered by the denom-
national system that racial and sectarian
maton nf s %3 1s rnat tine Ior
be hindered, and that there IS something
Incompatible between secular education and
religious instruction. / do not think that
other countries have had any lowering of
the educational standard by the denom-
national system; the pupils Of the demon
commercial and professional life about us,
and seem to be not Handicapped. L do not
IlIu uIat tnsy are nanung, IN love OF
pared with their neighbors, just as 1 fail
to find that men are less tolerant of each
others religious opinions Monday morn
ing because they attended the church of
their chosen denomination the day before
1 am one of a family of eight children, no
of whom ever attended any other
than a denomlnational school. Because Of
that I have never been compelled, like
an alien, to adapt myself to the usages of
the country-I am native end TO the man.
ner born" / do not find those educated
In UNCONVENTIONAL schools more narrow
than their brethren, though their religious
convictions may be stronger. and / hope
that L am not wanting in tolerance of my
neighberS views l trust that l hold my
country in as much honor as the next
and that 1 love it with as much earnest
ness and that L am but consulting it's
ultimate welfare by favoring the plan of
UNCONVENTIONAL education.