The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-06-21
LETTER TO The EDITOR
OUR TEACHING SISTERS.
Minneapolis. MINI. June is. 10

/ ~-SS OAAesy at kAO A4nA10Cu1QJO OOl-
ception Church, Father Cullen an.
nounced that the school building used
by the Sisters for the past forty years
would close permanently and that the
next term of school would open in the
commodious new structure near the
Pro- Cathedral, capable of accommodate
ing 500 pupils. Father Cullen paid a
fine tribute to the Sisters on their eff
cheney as educators and also to his
three predecessors Bishop McGol-
rick, Rev. J. G. Byrne and Arch
bishop Keane-on their work in the
promotion of Catholic education in the
parish He took a laudable pride in
announcing to the large congregation
present that out of 81 of the Sisters
graduates who recently took an exam
ination before the superintendent of
public instruction in this county for
certificates to teach in the public
schools, 10 passed successfully and at
tanned an average of 80 in the various
subjects. When it is considered that
an average of 80 is good and of 100 is
perfect, it will be readily seen that the
Sisters pupils acquitted themselves
nobly and reflected credit upon the
Catholic women who devote their
lives to the education of the young
without any expectation of fee or re-
ward in this world.
Some years ago | visited the sum-
mer school for teachers at the State
University and saw there several
Sisters listening intently to an address
on the art of pedagogy and making
copious notes for future use in their
classrooms.
| In the secular branches exclusively
taught in public schools, and in the
art OF imparting knowledge to the
youthful mind, the Sisters stand pre-
eminent. In the teaching of music,
morals and manners they lead all
others, and the influence of their
training is easily seen in the deport-
ment of their pupils on their way to
and from school by observant people
who admire modesty and gentleness
It has long since been admitted that
the Christian Brothers turn out bright
boys who, when pitted against the
public school boys in competitive
examinations for cadetship at West
Point, usually carry the prizes. This
is notably the case in the East.
venture to say that the young ladies
from the Sisters schools and aca-
denies, when thrown into competition
with the graduates of the public
schools, will hold their own with the
best of them
Some Catholic parents contend that
the public schools are superior to the
Sisters schools and therefore send
their children to the former. Without
wishing to detract from the merit of
the city schools of Minneapolis, which
rank very high, | think the parents
referred to are laboring under delu-
sion. Children of Catholic parents
who live within reasonable distance
from the Sisters schools in all parts
of the city should send their boys and
girls to schools where religious and
secular instruction go hand in hand
1t is well known that some
Protestant ministers have cried out
against the public school system be-
cause of the lack of religious instruc-
ton. They would like to see the Bible
restored, but what version? The re-
suit is that Protestant boys, but espe-
cially girls, go to sectarian schools.
The Readers in the public schools
are evidently prepared by pagans or
free-thinkers, for the name Of God and
everything of a sacred character are
carefully omitted. The Readers of
forty years ago were far superior to
these of the present day. The text
books on history are filed with
inaccuracies, and so far as the Cath
ole Church is concerned, it is grossly
misrepresented.
A few years ago they used for
supplementary reading in history in
the Minneapolis schools book called
"The Story of Liberty" by Charles
Carleton Coffin, one of the vilest pub
locations against Catholicity ever
issued from the press; but they use
it no longer for I drove it from the
shelves of the Public Library with the
cooperation of Rev. DR.. Shutter, Rev.
Mr.. Breed and Father Cleary.
The father of a Catholic boy attend
ing the High School brought this book
to me for examination and immedi-
ately demanded it's expulsion from the
Library, and out it went by the votes
of the members of the Library Board,
composed at that time of such men as
DR.. Hosmer, DIR. Northrop and T. B.
Walker.
Catholic children attending public
schools are in danger of losing the
faith preserved to them by their
glorious ancestors who sacrificed
everything they possessed to transmit
it to posterity. l could name several
men in this city, sons of good Catho-
lie parents, who abandoned their faith
after going through the public schools
and the University of Minnesota
When and where possible, let Catholic
parents send their offspring to Cath
Ollie schools and colleges.
ROGER VAIL.