The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-12-09
FATHER McELROY'S COMPLAlNTRECEFvED Board of Education Designate5 Committee To Investigate Principal of High School As We'll As High School Teacher Re-
 ferred 1O By Rector
 of St. Augustine'S

Rev. Charles J. McElroy, rector of St. Augustine's church. has sent let
 ter to the board of education protest ing against what he calls maIigning of the Roman Catholic church by a, teacher in the local high school, while teaching church history. Fsr. McElroy
 has asked that the board investigate
 and put a stop to the practice. After
 his letter was read last night Com
 missioner Bell moved it be accepted and placed on file.
 Commissioner CulIinan said he thought some other notice should be taken of the letter and he moved that the committee on school houses in
 vestigate the charges of F9r. McE1roy and report it's finding to the board. The motion was seconded by Commis- sioner Bishop and passed by a unani- nous vote.
 Fr. McElroy's letter foIlows:
 To the Honorable Board of Education
 of the City of Bridgeport.
 Gentlemen:
 I regret the necessity which com pels me to bring to the attention of your. Honorable Board an incident which occurred during the past month in our<public high school, and against which I desire to make earnest pro test.
 Complaint was recently made to me that a young woman, in teaching her class of history, grossly 5ma1igned the faith of her Catholic pupils by attrib- uting to the Catholic Church that which all Catholics hold abominable, i. e., that it had been a common
 practice of the Church to sell indu1- gences. The Catholic Church does not sanction, nor has it ever sane toned, the sale of indulgences, and such a charge is regarded by all Catholics as most insulting.
 When this charge was resented by 3 Catholic pupil, she was requested to prove her denial, and upon the pupil suggesting the latest and best author ity, the Catholic Encyclo lopedia,s the teacher rejected the authority stating it was the Catholic side of the ques-- tion. Now the Catholic E1ycyclopedf thus rejected, is acknowledged by scholars of all creeds, the world over, as the latest and best exposition Of Catholic doctrine and practice. This authoritative work can be consulted at the Public Library by any teacher of our schools setking correct in formation on Catholic subjects.
 Strange to say, the principal of the school was present during all this time, yet made no effort to inform the teacher that she was exceeding the privileges of her office in making a statement most offensive to her Cath
 
 her pupils in presenting to them as truth of history that which is a ca1umny. It seems to me the greater censure rests upon the principal, as director of the scnool, particularly, since his years of experience should have dictated his. taking prudent action.
 I learn that when interviewed by the press on the incident, that the principal shifted tht responsibility to the Board of Education because the l text book in use has the approval of the Board. If the offensive statem ent ! of which I complain be found in this book, then say it is the duty of your Honorable Board to exclude it | from use in the school. However, I | am of the opinion that the book is not | entirely at fault, but rather the biased | interpretation of the text, for have 1 reason to believe that similar offen- siYe assertions have been frequently | made by instructors in this school, | and am sure such assertions cannot | be found in the pages of any text book | used therein. For instance, I have been informed that a, teacher on one occasion denied the immortality of the soul before her young boys and girls, | stating that when death came it would | be the same with us as with the dog running the street. Another instance was that of a teacher who informed her class that all religions were super stiHous. feel certain that no book your Honorable Board has approved | for use inc the schools gives color to such drreligious utterances. Other wise, the Christian men and women of every denomination in the commu- nifty would make most emphatic pro test against it's retention upon the list of text books approved for use in our hoo1s.
 As a citizen of Bridgeport, I object to the public schools being made the medium for the propagation of anti Catholic doctrines. or atheistfc and rreligious opinions. and appeal to the sense of justiIe and fairness of your Honorable Board, representing as you do the Catholic as well as the citizens of the commu- nifty, to see that the Catholics are pro tected against any further injustice, | and that such incidents as these of which I have complained be censured and due steps taken that in the future there may be no recurrence of the Il same.
 REV. CHAS. J. McEIROY. TDAMQDnDT