The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-07-11
CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION
HOLDS CONVENTION
Eleventh Annual Gathering Hell
at Atlantic City Last Week.
Notable Catholic Educators Discuss
Problems of Catholic
Education.

Problems of Catholic
Education.
Summary of Topics Treated Included
in the Report of Convention.
The Catholic Educational Associa-
ton held its eleventh annual conven-
ton at Atlantic City. N. j.. June 29th
to July End. Although Atlantic City
is known as a place Of rest and
amusement it is frequented by many
who come for the serious work Of
conventions.
We give here an abstract of some
of the principal papers read at the
convention.
Correlation and the Teaching of Re-
ngion.
By Very Rev. James Burns. Csc,
President of Holy Cross College.
The Catholic ideal, in respect to
the teaching of religion in the school.
is in perfect harmony with the ele-
mentary law of association, as enun-
ciated by psychologists, and expand
ed and given pedagogical application
by Herbart. To illustrate by a few
examples. In nature-study. If the
idea of God as the Creator is kept
before the child in the study of ma
ture and her laws, tendency will be
set UP in the minds of the child to
recall the idea of God in connection
with the phenomena of nature. If in
the study of history, Christ is prop
erly represented as the central figure
of all history, and Christianity as
the most important and comprehen-
sive fact in modern history. the mind
of the youth will be inclined to re-
gard the events Of the past, as well
as those of the present from the
standpoint of their relation to Christ
and Christianity. In vocal music, II
the exercises selected breathe the
spirit of religion, they will foster in
the pupils the love Of music as a
means of expressing religious feel
ing. Such is the Catholic view, and
these conclusions are simply conse-
auences of the laws of association.
The modern pedagogist declares
that, in the lesson in history on the
discovery of America by christopher
Columbus-taking this as an illus
tration to be applied, ceteris paribus,
to all the studies-the teacher is to
.make use of arithmetic, geometry
geography, natural history, litera-
ture and drawing" as means Of de-
yeloping interest in the class and
giving comprehensive notion OF the
event: "and of religion also." the
Catholic would add-as matter OF
historic truth, and for the purpose
of impressing upon the minds Of the
pupils the greatness of the role Of
Christianity in the world.
Just as in teaching catechism, II
the work is to be effective. symbols
illustrations, and analogies of spirit.
ual truths are to be drawn from ma
ture, from art, from history and per
sonal experience, from literature
and all other sources possible; sc
also, in the teaching Of the Other
branches of the curriculum, it is the
Catholic view that religion is to be
introduced wherever possible and
convenient, as in the illustration
given. Only thus can the expanding
ideas of the plastic mind grow into
anything like consistent whole, and
become "compacted and fitly Joined
together" following the fundamental
laws of organic growth. Religion il
the most comprehensive subject ir
the curriculum. It has wider range
of correlating power than any other
It can be brought into the reading
lesson, as into the writing; into the
language lessons and literature, and
even, it may be, into the study Of
arithmetic, to some extent. Religi.
Gus principles. according to the
Christian ideal, can never be exclud
ed from any occupation, activity OF
interest of a Christian man: how
vain this ideal, except through the
establishment of the most intimate
correlation possible between religion
and the secular occupations. activi.
ties. and interests of the child and
youth!
Two Essential Notions Of Scholastic.
ism.
By Rev. R. H. Tierney, s. J.. Edito,
Of America"
The purpose Of this paper was tt
show the Importance of the notion.
of truth and being not only in scho,
asticism but in all modern thought
The author examined the scholastic
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