The Irish standard., 1904-11-26

The following communication, ad-
dressed to the editor Of "rhe Sun"
New York, and published in last Sun
days issue of that paper, is a most
notable and timely tribute to the Cath
olic parochial school system. Appear
ing over the signature of public
school inspector Of twenty years ex-
prricnce, and, moreover, critic who,
according to his own confession, was
ut the outset of his Investigations un-
favorably disposed towards the paro-
chial system, the unsolicited testimony
given in the communication will be
read with sense Of qualification and
pleasure by every supporter and friend
of Christian education. The colnmuni-
cation reads:
'To the Editor of the "Sun."-Sir:
For more than twenty years I have
been familiar with the public schools.
AS school inspector have paid par
| ticular attention to methods and re-
suits. But until recently l had never
set foot in Catholic parochial school.
When did enter 1t was with with n
feeling that it would be impossible to
find anything to commend, education
ally, from layman's point Of view.
ut is not easy for stranger to OBJ
tain admission to the Catholic schools
AS matter Of fact, the pastors of
churches with schools attached regard
the schools as their personal and pri-
vate property, with which the public
can have no concern. There is no
general fund for the building and
maintenance Of parochial schools.
Each parish builds and maintains its
own school, Upon every rector is i'm
posed the duty OF establishing school
i'm his parish. Some parishes are so
poor that it is impossible to comply
with the direction Of the diocesan.
However, there are in New York about
sixty parish schools, with an attend
ance Of more than 10000 pupils.
"These schools are organized as sys-
tematically as are the public schools,
with board of directors and board
of examiners OF teachers and superin-
tcndcnts Each school has its super
visor or principal "a nun or a Christian
Brothcr) and corps Of class teachers.
Among the religious teachers is a
goodly number OF laymen and laywom-
en-all holding certificates from the
state or city or the Catholic school
board. Among the nuns found grad
yates of the normal college and ex-
public school teacher
''To obtain permission to inspect the
Catholic schools is difficult and the
process is tedious. You write to enc
archbishop, who refers you to the pres
idcnt Of the school board the courteous
and obliging Mgr. Mooney, who gives
you letter of introduction to the pas
tor whose school you wish to visit, who
in turn gives you note Of introduc-
ton to the Brother or Sister in charge
of the school. Some pastors are afraid
Of outside criticism and will not honor
the letter even Of Mgr. Mooney. The
pastors in charge of the schools Of the
Immaculate Conception, in East Fiji
tcenth street; Of st. James, in James
street; of st. Peters, in Barclay street,
and of st. Cecilia's, in East One Hun
dred and Sixth street, will under no
circumstances admit visitor. It is
their prerogative; yet if these schools
are no worse than the least efficient
of those have visited they have no
reason to fear criticism.
] Nothing is further from the truth
than the assertion that the parochial
| schools teach only religion. The morn
ing session is opened with religious
exercises. So, too, is the morning ses-
sion in the public schools; for is not
the reading of the Scriptures in the
public schools religious exercise?
But in the parochial schools prayers
begin at ten minutes to o'clock,
whereas in the public schools the ex-
erciscs begin at 8 o'clock and. last fif-
teen minutes. Promptly at 8 o'clock
the classes are at their lessons, no