The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-10-28
PAROCHIAL SCHOOL AT
TENDANCE.

A summary of the report Of the
Superintendent of Education for
the month Of September, published
in the Pioneer Press, shows that
the public schools Of the city Of
St. Paul had an enrolment Of
25,1 during the month as COM
pared with 25,072 for the CORE
spending period last year. This is
an increase Of one hundred and
seventeen, avery small one, it must
be admitted, for city whose popu-
latien is growing as that of st.
Paul. s
A canvass Of the parochial
schools Of the city reveals the fact
that their enrolment for the same
period was 8,401, an increase of
six hundred and thirty-six over
that Of last year. The parochial
schools, therefore, with an at.
tendance about one-third as large
as that of the public schools
show an increase in enrolment
more than five times as great.
Many causes, no doubt, have
contributed to this large increase
in the enrolment of the parish
schools. But if we would assign
any one cause, it is safe to say that
the result is due largely. to the
fact that Catholics have begun to
realize more and more the need Of
just such a training as that given
in these schools. At no time in
the past have they shown, in a
more practical way, their appre-
citation of the advantages to be
gained by sending their children
to schools conducted under the
auspices Of the Church.
The parochial schools Of the city
are, taxed to the utmost to accom-
modate their present numbers and
if it were possible to provide more
room the attendance would be still
greater. Every effort will be made
to enlarge their capacity before
the opening of another year; and
in the course of the next two
years, at least three additional
parochial schools will be estab-
lished in the Twin Cities, one in
St. Paul and two in Minneapolis
where the congestion is as notice
able as it is in this city.
j If we compute the cost of build
ing, equipping, and maintaining
the parochial schools Of st. Paul it
must be admitted that our Cath
olic people have been more than
4 generous in supporting their own
educational institutions. These
schools afford unassailable evi-
dence Of a laudable desire on the
part Of Catholics to place within
J reach Of their children the best
! educational advantages obtain
able. In addition to this outlay
J for their own schools Catholics
, contribute their share for the cree
ton and maintenance of the public
schools to which they cannot, in
conscience, send their children.
In this connection it is well to
mote that if the parochial schools
did not exist or were to be closed
for any reason, additional public
schools would have to be provided
for the accommodation of the Cath.
Ollie children now in the parochial
: schools. This would be an added
drain on the public school funds
j which under present conditions
hardly suffice to provide public
schools for those who attend them
i One can easily see that this double
i burden borne by Catholics for edu-
! cational purposes confers great
: benefit on the citizens at large
It is comparatively easy matter
. for the city to erect commodious
school buildings, equip them with
i the most modern c0nveniences, and
provide staff of teachers more
{ than adequate for their needs
when all classes of citizens-in
J Guiding those who cannot patron
ize them help to defray. the cost
! Those who send their children to
these schools are benefited BY
81 the moneys contributed by Cath