The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-09-21
THE COST OF PAROCHIAL
SCHOOLS.

In the course of an address de-
livered at the laying Of the cor
nerstone Of a convent for teaching
Sisters in Philadelphia, Rt. Rev.
Mgr. P. R. McDevitt, Supervisor
Of schools for the Archdiocese,
referred as follows to the financial
burden borne by Catholics for the
support of parochial schools:
1t may be asked what is the
cost Of the parish school system
of the United States? How does
the Catholic Church carry on a
work which oft-times rich NUM-
CAPABILITIES are hardly able to sus-
tain? 1t is impossible to learn the
actual cost of the parish school
system, as there are no official
statistics sufficiently complete to
answer this question. It may be
said, however, that if the parish
school expenses were as heavy as
the public school expenses, the
parish school would cease to exist.
1t is much easier to show how the
parish school system is maintained
than to learn it's actual cost.
In the first place, the Catholics
Of America, while supporting the
public schools, tax themselves
voluntarily for the support of the
parish schools, which they believe
are essential for the right training
Of their children. In the second
place, the great reason why the
Catholic Church is able to carry
on a system which in many re-
spects compares with the richly
and generously endowed schools
Of the State is to be found in the
self-sacrifice Of the men and
women Of the religious communi-
ties, who consecrate their lives to
the high calling Of the Christian
teacher. These men and women
make teaching a life work, which
they have no thought of abandon
ing except when age or illness
may remove them from their
chosen field Of activity. Realizing
the dignity Of their work, they are
satisfied with a pittance of a
salary that is barely sufficient to
provide for their necessities.
Herein we find the principal rea-
son why the educational system
Of the Catholic Church is able to
carry out it's lofty mission. The
rigid economy practiced by the
religious communities as a virtue
renders possible the Catholic edu-
cational system. s.
Sometimes it is said that the
burden upon Catholics Of support
ing both the public school system
and the parish school system is
heavy and unreasonable. In theory
it is true that Catholics should not
bear the burden Of double taxa
ton. The taxation Of great body
Of the citizens Of a Commonwealth
for the support of an educational
system which they do not use is
an injustice. It is violation Of a
principle which is especially dear
to Americans, no taxation without
representation. 1t is a condition
which Catholics have a right to
condemn if they wish to do So
because it is in effect class legis-
lation that favors one body of
citizens and discriminates against
another body.
Gin reality, however, a very
strong though not conclusive
argument can be made which
shows that Catholics bear q
Tighter burden in having their
parish schools than by not having
them. The burden resting upon
Catholics because of their schools
is by no means as heavy as it is
sometimes thought to be.
| With this statement before us
let us look at the situation as il
exists in our own city. The city
of Philadelphia expended in one
year a little more than $6,0OO,OOC
for the education of the children
who attend the public elementary
schools. Now, the enrolment in
the parish elementary schools in
Philadelphia is about one-third OF
that in the public schools. If the
parish schools in Philadelphia
were closed, and if the pupils Of
those schools demanded from the
city that free education which is
theirs by every right, the school
bill of the city would be increased
first by 100000 for current ex-
penses and by another indefinite