The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-18

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
You are correct in saying Bishop Aler-
ding, of Fort Wayne, made a bad break"
In his remarks concerning the public school
system of this country. His insinuation that
the children who growing up in the
public schools are immoral is wholly gra-
tuitous The writer is so situated that he
comes in contact with the children of both
schools in this city. They pass his home
going and coming to and from school. Nor
ais and manners can both be judged by an
observing person from the actual living
specimens put out by each school. While
both make a rather bad showing at times,
those from the parochial are far and away
behind in both morals and manners. 1t sis
characteristic of children to be thoughtless,
mischievous. and in some respects vicious.
My observation is that the Catholic chill
dren excel in all these things. AS for the
benefits the children receive in the two
schools there is no comparison as far as
education. manners and genteel breeding
are concerned. In the public schools the
children are taught up-to-date lessons in
reading, writing, arithmetic, spelling, mus
ic, etc. They get good ideas of bird and
tree preservation. TO know them when they
see them and are taught to not destroy
them. Take the boys with the bean shooters
roaming around. idling away their time.
trying TO kill bird, wantonly destroying
flowers and trees or knocking out window
glass and committing other vandalimS, and
four out of five will be OF Catholic pedigree
Is it not true of labor disturbances that
those who are the most vicious and des-
perate are Catholics? Here is where the
Catholic Church Is a great sower for good
in this country. IL undoubtedly does control
its adherents. The superstitions of the
church make these ignorant, desperate fell
lows tractable when brought to bear by the
bishops and priests. Would the strike COM
mission. appointed by President Roosevelt
have succeeded we'll If Bishop Spauld-
ing had not been a member OF IL? Most GER
tainly not. He was a power among those
majority of whom are Catholics. However
IL is the school questions we are discussing
and / agree with the Journal in the state
ment that IL is a mistake 10 assume that
American schools are irreligious because
they do not teach dogmas and forms of
worship. The better class OF Catholics send
their children to the public schools when
they become old enough to have ideas in
regard TO education.
Bishop Alerding says the American peo-
pie are beginning 10 see that there is such
a thing as education without morality Yes
but do the parochial schools make any
better showing? / think not. The bishop
says: 'They tthe people) are intelligent
They perceive faults quickly. II is being dis
cussed They are beginning 10 say You are
right" Who Is beginning To say "You are
the American people there would be no
parochial schools They are Catholic and
consequently un-American. Some Catholic
priests say the public school Is Goddess and
IL the Bible Is read In one OF them he saws
il Is .sectarian." Long live the American
public school. and may the little old school
houses multiply all over this fair land fiy-
ing the stars and stripes OBSERVER
New Albany. Ind. May 16