Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1913-07-12
Strong Protest Against Any En-
croachment On the Rights
of Parents.
Uniformity of Text Books a
Subject For Lengthy
Debate.
INSPIRED WORDS OF SISTER

For Catholics the recent delibera-
tions of the national Catholic educa,
tional convention-that body OF
eminent educators that is the great
clearing house for the best OF Cath
olic educational thought-must pe
fraught with the most significant
interest. Claiming no rights OF
authority to dictate hard and fast
rules for anyone by reason OF the
ripe experience of its members, the
profound research of its thinkers
and speakers, the finality of its de-
cisions are universally conceded by
those alive to Catholic interests.
The association concluded its ses-
sions by some telling resolutions.
One of these was a strong protest
against any encroachment on the
rights of parents in the education OF
their children in liberty OF educa-
ticn. A vigorous protest was also
launched against the imparting Oh
sexual knowledge to children, as at
present carried on in many private
and public schools of the country.
A request was made to the Ameri-
can Medical Association to instruct
its medical council, in view OF the
spirit of antagonism shown by the
Carnegie Foundation to hospitals
under religious control (and there
are 500 run by Catholics in the
United States), to discontinue the
services of the Carnegie Founda-
ton.
Heartily favoring the highest
standards of college education and
approving every attempt to CLASSIFY
colleges. the college department
deprecated the action of the Federal
bureau in its attempt to classify the
colleges of the country In groups OF
A. B. and G. and stated that in do
ing so the bureau had exceeded its
power.
The parish school department in
its resolutions emphasized the
child's inalienable right to a Chris
tian education and fixed the place
where the first early education of
the child must be obtained in the
Christian home. Educational moth
ods similar to those that have
throttled enterprise in industry and
created trusts were condemned.
Pastors were urged to warn and
counsel their children in regard to
modesty of dress, the excessive use
Of pleasure, the evils of the picture
show and corrupt newspapers.
Attention was called to the great
waste IN public funds and the evil
of excessive taxation, the tendency
on the part of the State to do fos
the citizen what he should do for
himself. The State was urged to en-
courage her citizens in the care of
h.,k aclrnd mt m
place too heavy burdens on those
who already at great sacrifice are
discharging the duties OF parent
hood.
Thanks were returned to the Holy
Father for admitting the children at
an early age to holy communion,
and as Catholic teachers the depart
ment bore testimony to the excellent
fruits of this practice. Religious
vocations should be fostered by par
ents, teachers and pastors; the
avoidance of current secular litera-
ture was urged and the Catholic
church was shown to be in her tra-
dltions and experience the great
storehouse of educational theory
and practice.
The parish school department also
made urgent recommendation for
the same parish school advantages
for the 5000 deaf mute Catholic
children that are enjoyed by normal
children in the parochial schools, II
their faith is TO be guarded.
Besides the very definite and
tangible results OF the convention
embodied in the resolutions drawn
up and approved Of by the general
association and its three important
sections, the seminary, parish school
and college departments. there were
very wonderful indications of other
advances in Catholic thought for in
terests In the general trend OF the
papers and discussions.
Free parochial schools and free
textbooks for the children of these
schools were the burdens of mani
OF the papers and discussions. II the
parochial system is TO fairly COM
pete With the public school one.
Larger efforts for the establishment
Of Industrial and vocational schools
we're recognized as a need in the
modern life of the Catholic American
child. Uniformity of curriculum in
parish schools was the basis OF
thought for able papers, and in the
consummation of this much-to-be-
desired result there was much
healthy divergence OF opinion, some
holding to the eight-hour grade,
elementary course and big follow
ing. led by the General Secretary
Or. r. w. Howard. OF Columbus,
Ohio. favorlng a slx-grade ele-
mentary training. These were
backed by the entire college depart
ment. Classification OF secondary
training was recommended by this
loader for division into four classes,
namely. for those who would enter
the professions ministry, law.
medicine. journalism or education
the technical ones. like engineering
agriculture. etc; those who seek
commercial and business pursuits.