Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-21
PUBLIC AND PAROCE1IAL
SCHOOLS ARE COMPARED

/ unlike those found In the public
school teachers, yet we do not hesi-
tate to say that the teachers in our
| parochial schools are in no wise In
| ferior to those in the public schools.
! The religious communities which sup
ply our teachers have their normal
schools; their six weeks summer
schools. The teachers, moreover,
| have the benefits of the summer
courses at the Catholic University of
! America, as we'll as of the courses of
those who are admittedly specialists
in the public school system, and who
are called on as occasion allows; such
| men, for instance, as DR.. Stone, or
the Montclair Normal School, who
| but a month ago completed course
| to seven hundred and fifty sisters on
| the teaching of mathematics. Then
| too, the teachers in the paroehial
schools make teaching life work;
with them it Is distinct vocation
| which Is entered upon with no
! thought of turning therefrom until
age or infirmity removes them from
the field of activity; whereas the
average length of employment for the
| public school teacher, according to
| the u. S. commissioner Of education $
report Q912), Is less than five years;
and according to the same authority
mot more than one in five of the
teachers actually employed In the
public school system in the United
States is professionally trained, even
on minimum basis"
Moreover, to one who realizes even
dimly the main purpose, the essen
tial reason for the establishment Of
parochial school system, Mr.. Tay-
lor's advice, as reported, must seem
MT hn ri hn r
orally missed the point. One wonders
what must have been the feelings of
his Polish Catholic listeners when
they were advised to withdraw their
children from the parochial schools
and to place them where they could
be better trained to earn their liveli-
hood. Surely their Catholic instinct
must have prompted them to say,
What will 1t profit us if we earn a
livelihood and run the risk of los
ing our souls?" 1t is just here that
Mr.. Taylor speaks lamentably beside
the mark. The parochial schools give,
in addition to training for liveli-
hood, something which the children
. can obtain nowhere else, something
without which everything else is of
no consequence, something for which
the Polish Catholics have shed their
very blood, the one thing necessary
the implanting, the intoxicating, the
Strengthening of religious principles.
1t is because these principles, priced
so highly by the Catholic people,
have been discarded in non-sectarian
schools that the Catholic Church has
conscientiously established the great
est religious fact In the United
States, the building and equipment
of parochial schools, which are now
educating for God and for country
and for livelihood" too, one million
two hundred and fifty thousand pu-
pills.
When the honored president of the
Board of Education can offer to the
one and a quarter millions of Cath
Ollie school children in the United
States, along with better liveli-
hood. a religious atmosphere and a
religious training, there will be no
need of urging the parents Ito take
advantage of the public schools"
There will be need, however, of urg-
ing the taxpayers to be patient under
their suddenly increased burden.
Trusting that Mr.. Taylor has been
incorrectly quoted. / am
Very truly yours,
JOHN A. DILLON,
Superintendent Parochial Schools.