The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-08-19
DECISION FAVORS PARO-
CHIAL SCHOOLS

Ihe Board OF Education of the
City of Winona at it's recent meet
ing decided to open the Domestic
Science and Manual Training de-
partments Of the public schools to
the children attending the par
ochial schools. This decision was
arrived at after careful con-
slderation Of the circumstances.
1t was based largely on the fact
that the parochial schools, by pro-
viding accommodations for the
education Of twelve hundred
pupils of all grades, lessen very
materially the drain upon the
public school funds which, other
wise, would have to be drawn
upon to provide schools and
teachers for these pupils in adj
dition to the number now attend
ing the public schools. The
parochial schools make no provi-
sion for the teaching Of Domestic
Science and Manual Training
subjects which are now regarded
as necessary to a well-balanced
school curriculum. Their pupils
are thus deprived Of the benefit of
such a training In order to give
them the same opportunities which
are afforded the public school chill
dren the Board Of Education de-
cided to place at their disposal
the public school rooms devoted
to instruction in these branches
but which are not in use all the
time. Furthermore, they will pro-
vide whatever teachers are neces-
sary to furnish this instruction.
Winona is not the first city to
make these concessions to the
parochial school pupils. The
system is in operation in Milwau-
kee. In other cities throughout
America classes Of twenty young
people, whether school children
or not, may attend the Domestic
Science and Manual Training
classes in the public schools.
A few months ago this matter
was discussed by eastern educators
and in response to request for an
opinion on the question: "May
children attending Catholic paro-
chial schools be admitted, during
school hours, to public schools, as
part-time pupils in some depart
ments?" Attorney General James
M. Swift, of Massachusetts,, re-
piled in the affirmative. The ques-
ton was raised by Rev. e. P.
Dunphy, Rector of the Church of
St. Francis, North Adams, Mass,
who requested the privilege of
sending pupils of the parochial
school to the manual training ses-
sions at the Mark Hopkins school
which is connected with the North
Adams Normal School and con-
trolled jointly by the city and
state. The matter was laid before
the members Of the State Board
of Education who appealed to the
Attorney General, part of whose
decision is as follows:
IF the pupils Of the parochial
schools are to attend at times
when the facilities of the normal
school or the public schools are
open to other pupils to avail them
selves of the privilege and share
with other children the instruc-
ton, il any such instruction is
given, / do not think that because
at other hours they have been at
a parochial school, and not at a
public school, is any ground for
refusing them the benefit of at
| tending.
/ "They should, however. attend
as individuals and be subject to
the control only Of the school au-
thorities who undertake to give
the instruction desired. That is,
il the school board thinks it wise
to admit special students who are
not required to attend public
schools for any other instruction
to special courses in manual train
ing, / see no reason why they may
not do SO under reasonable restric-
tons. The fact that the pupils SO
admitted obtain the remainder Of
their education at a parochial
school would not necessarily debar
them. =
i This opinion is Of interest to
4 Catholics and may have far-reach-
ing consequences.