The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-04-11
LOSING CATHOLIC STUDENTS
SUPERIOR ADVANTAGES OF STATE
CONTROLLED INSTITUTIONS
ARE TOO ATTRACTIVE
STRONG WORDS BY DR.. CoNATY
Says the Catholic Educational In.
stftutions of This Country Are
In Danger OF Their Very
Existence.

CHICAGO, April 10-"Entering upon
the new century, the Catholic educational
system in America must be prepared to
meet with difficulties that will test it's
strength to the utmost. The unifcation
of education under state control has es-
tablished mighty machine of seculariz-
ed instruction, which threatens to destroy
ali private effort, either on the part of in
dividuals or the church. 1t is important
to meet uniication by unification, to so
strengthen the Catholic educational
system that it may defend itself against
all attacks and save the religious instruc-
ton of it's people from the dangers of
nCn-religious education"
Intense enthusiasm greeted this signffi-
cant declaration today at the opening of
conference of trustees of Catholic COL
leges throughout the United States. The
speaker was the highest official in the
Catholic educational system in this coun-
try, DR.. Thomas J. Conaty rector of the
Catholic university at Washington, D. c.,
and president of the national association
of Catholic colleges.
SECULAR SCHOOLS BETTER.
Entering into a general view Of the
situation which presents ITSELF said Mgr.
Conaty, ut is important to realize the
meaning of the facts which face us.
Among these facts must be reckoned the
state school system with it's rapidly in
creasing high school and even college
development, the tendency to do away
with college by uniting the high school
to the university, the establishment of
educational institutions of all sorts, en-
dowed by private nunif1cence of non
Catholics and attracting Catholic students
because these schools have not the char
Of or ipc ha
of tie universities to control the state
schools, to dictate the examination of
teachers and to demand the university
degree or approval as condition of
appointment
Reference was made by, the speaker to
what he construed to be the efforts in this
direction, as manifested in the schools
of the large cities, and as presented In
the non-Catholic Character of scientific
publications. as also that of many of the
aids to public instruction.
To offset these conditions, SAID Dr.
Conaty, the Catholic church spent last
year in the United States the sum of
$25, 900 on education, chiefly in parochial
schools, and exclusive of what was spent
in academic, collegiate and university
education.
Notwithstanding the serious demands
development, she has under her education
al training over enc million pupils. OF
these about ten thousand have >received
collegiate instruction under her direction
WANT CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOLS.
Mgr. Conaty contended that most i'm
portant issue in Catholic educational
work is in the development Of the Catho-
lie high schools which are the necessary
links between the parochial schools and
the Catholic colleges, The tendency to
add college work to the high school
course and thus make an easy step to the
university or to business life presents a
serious problem to the college and de-
mands consideration. If the high school
movement be overlooked or neglected,
the parochial school system is in danger
of becoming a feeder for the public high
school and thus leading its graduates
to the non-Catholic college or univers-
ity.
Mgr. Conaty closed with a strong ap-
peal to the colleges to be loyal to one
another and loyal to the university.
A communicated was read from the
papal delegate, Archb shop Martinelli, ex-
pressing hearty sympathy with the pur-
poses of the conference, especially the
unification and coordination of Catholic
educational work
message was received from Cardinal
Gibbons, saying.
we cannot too. much insist on the
great advantages to be derived from
concerted action on the part of our edu-
catlonal leaders. Above ALL unity your
system and march with serried ranks in
the great cause of Christian enlighten-
ment."
The remainder of the days session was
devoted to papers on "The Teaching of
Science by Henry J. DeLaak, S. J., of
st. Louis university, st, Louis, 80, and
The Teaching of History in Colleges, -
by President L. A Delury, of sVillanova
college, Villanova, Pa, Before adjourn
ment greeting was cabled to the pope
at Rome.
A feature tomorrow will be the report
OF special committee on Catholic col
lege entrance conditions.