The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-08-12
NO NEED FOR CATHOLICS TO
PATRoNIZE SECULAR
INSTITUTIONS.
Efficiency of Catholic Schools Equal
To That of Any Other-Higher Edu-
cation of Women-Dangers of
Secular SchooIs-The Endow-
ment of Catholic Education
Recommendations to
Catholics.

At the National Council of the
Knights of Columbus held last week
in Detroit, the committee appointed
to investigate the status of higher
education in Catholic schools and col
leges presented report embodying
the result of it's Investigations The
committee consisted of Rev. J. T.
Creagh of the Catholic University,
Washington, Professor J. G. Monaghan
and Doctor J. J. Walsh.
In it's report the committee points
out that, in addition to the Catholic
University of America, there are
seven Catholic universities in the
United States with approximately
one thousand students each and all
the departments proper to such insti-
tutions These universities are ST..
Louis, Georgetown, Notre Dame,
Creighton, Fordham, Marquette and
Loyola Similar institutions are be-
ing organized in Boston, Detroit,
Pittsburg and New Orleans. Most of
these have been established during
the past ten years. All of them main
tain excellent standards of scholar
ship and efficiency.
AS favorable a report is made on
Catholic colleges. The attendance at
these institutions has increased won
derfully during the past ten years.
Some Catholics think there are too
many small colleges; but many prom
inent non-Catholic educators main
tain that the small college is the hope
of America, because in it personal
attention is given to the needs of the
individual, and the student is more
readily Influenced by the professor
whose character and scholarship
mean much for the development of
the intellect and the formation of the
character of the student.
Higher Education of Women.
The committee also calls attention
to the corresponding development of
opportunities for the higher education
of women under Catholic auspices.
Ten years ago there was at most
but one or two Catholic institutions
that even pretended to give college
or university degrees to women in
this country. Now there are at least
a score of such institutions.
The academies conducted by the
various religious congregations OF
women report at least as great an
increase of students as is to be found
in Catholic colleges. New academies
have been established in many places
and are succeeding admirably. Old
academies almost without exception
report increased numbers. Every
where there has come reaction that
is attracting more and more women
to the quiet, happy influence of reli
gious life with all that it means for
development of character and fol
bringing out what is best in students
Dangers of Secular Education.
At the present time then there is
no excuse for the sending of Catholic
young men and women to secular In
stitutions on the score that they are
likely to get better education. 1t is
possible in some of the technical
branches of university work this may
be true, though even that is doubtful
for most of them, but in all that makes
for a liberal education Catholic insti
tutions are at the present time doing
at least as good work and probably
better than corresponding secular in
stitutions. There is no doubt thai
there is extreme danger of the loss
of faith on the part of students who
go to secular institutions. The whole
atmosphere of our American universi
ties is agnostic, if not positively athe
istic. Example speaks louder thar
words to growing youth; and the fac
that their teachers do not consider
religion of sufficient value to make i
worth while to belong to any churcf
or profess any faith undermines re
ligious principles and above all re
ligious practice. 1t is well known
that in Protestant institutions, o
those who attend Mass during thei
first year at college about one-thirt
fail to do so during their second year
Nearly one-third of the remainder be
gin to be negligent of their religiou
duties during their sophomore year
More than one-half of all those VIII
go to such institutions probably hav
their faith seriously undermined
There are many who know from ez
perience who declare that it is a.
exceptional young man or younl
woman whose faith is not grievousl
tainted by the years spent in a.
atmosphere of indifferentism to re