The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-09-27

WOMEN-AN ION OF
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS FROM THE
PEN OF L. E. TUCKER IN THE
NEW YORK SUN.
Education has played a most impor-
tant part in the history of the United
States, and one of it's most interesting
chapters is the one concerning Cath.
olic education. "The greatest relig.
ious fact in the United States today,
says Bishop Spalding, lis the Catholic
school system, maintained without any
aid except from the people who love
it." 1t is vast system, comprising
more than 100000 pupils, than 10000
teachers, than $100,0OO,000 worth OF
property and with an annual expendi
ture of more than $15,000,OO0. Its or.
ganization is national yet diocesan
and it combines religious instruction
with a curriculum equal in it's mum
Der and f1exibility of subjects as well
as method of teaching to that of the
public school system.
Catholic Parochial School System.
The Catholic parish school system
had it's inception two hundred and
fifty years ago, in the early days OF
the Maryland colony. Two great
periods in it's development may be
distinguished. The first period ex.
tends from Colonial days to Revolu.
tionary times; the second period ex
tends from the latter named period un
til the present day. Always direct
relation has existed between the
growth of the Catholic Church and the
growth of Catholic schools. The
school teacher followed closely the
missionary and the explorer. Wher
ever Catholic settlements were formed
there also were found Catholic
churches, and beside the church the
school was always stationed. So close
has always been this helpful church
and school relationship that it is i'm
possible to disassociate the history OF
the one from the history of the other
Moreover the Catholic school sys
tenn of this country is an offshoot OF
Catholic. school systems in Europe
yates of the Catholic institutions oi
Europe and the orders and schools
which they established here were sc
far as possible duplicates of European
orders and schools.
The fundamental things that the
Christian school stands for anG
around which it builds it's system o.
education are: (1) Moral training, Oh
the education of the will; (2) the edu
cative value of religious knowledge
and (3) the psychological importance
of surrounding the growing child will
a religious atmosphere.
Early Spanish Mission Schools.
In 1898 Don Juan de Orate took pos
session of the territory now known
as New Mexico in the name of the
king of Spain. With him there came
from Mexico seven Franciscan friars
who were left in the chief tribal towns
to convert and to educate the natives
This was but the carrying out of what
had been planned nearly a century be-
fore, in 1916, by Ximenes, at the sug
gestion of the Bishop Las Casas. The
Oldest schools in the English colonies
were the school of the Reformed
Dutch Church, established in New
Amsterdam (now New York; in 1888
and the Boston Latin School, founded
in 1886. Thus it may readily be con
cluded that Catholic schools in Amer
lea antedate all other schools by sew
eral years.
The education given by the Fran
ciscan fathers in New Mexico con
sisted of reading, writing and cate
chism, with an emphasis on vocal an(
instrumental music. After the ninth
year the curriculum became largely
industrial in character. The girls
were taught sewing, spinning ant
other household arts and the boys re
ceived instruction in all the common
trades of the laboring man.
The memorial of Benevides is tht
authentic source of information abou
these schools. They probably con
tinued with increasing efficiency unit
the rebellion of 1880, when the mis-
sionaries were massacred anC
churches, monasteries, converts anC
schools we're razed. 1t was only aftel
the cession of New Mexico to tht
United States and their coming under
the rule of an American bishop thai
these schools were once more rounded
into a well organized and efficient sys
tenn.
In Texas and in Florida the Fran
ciscans also labored successfully alons
religious and educational lines. In
1863 the brilliant franciscan Father
Sierra inaugurated the work of Chris
tianizing and educating the natives Of
upper California After his death in
1884 this work was carried on by that
eminent scholar, Father Lazuen.
Early Jesuit Schools.
As early as 17O5 the Jesuits founded
a school at the mission of st. Xavier
Each new mission was opened with
two schools-one for boys and one fol
girls. Christian doctrine, writing