Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-09-05

ARGUMENT
From Catholic Church stand
point on the Educational
Question.
Fordham College Presidents
Figures and Statistics For
Proof.
Millions of Dollars Saved Nom
Catholic Tax-Payer
Annually.
SELf.SACRIfICING INSTRUCTORS


Educational Association held re-
Gently in Atlantic City, is a clear and
concise argument on the Catholic
church's position in regard to school
education:
In the year 1929 the First Pro-
vincial Council of Baltimore clearly
states that ut is absolutely neces-
sary that schools should be estab-
lished, in which the young may be
taught the principles of faith and
morality while being instructed in
letters" In the year 1852 the first
Plenary Council of Baltimore de-
creed that Schools be established in
connection with all the churches"
At the second Plenary Council, held
in 1866, it was decreed that "In
every diocese schools should be
erected in which the Catholic youth
may be instructed in letters, as well
as in religion and sound morals" At
the third Plenary Council, which
was convened at Baltimore in 1884,
the question of education was rec
ognized as one of the most impor-
tant before the assembly. The
Bishops in their decree on education
said:
eve not only exhort Catholic
parents with paternal love, but we
also command them with all the
authority in our power to procure
for their beloved offspring, given to
them by God, and destined for
heaven, a truly Catholic education,
and to defend them and safeguard
them from the dangers of an educa-
ton merely secular during the
entire period of childhood and
youth" The Bishops added in their
pastoral letter: 1.-TWO objects we
have in view to multiply our schools
and to perfect them. We must null
tiply them till every Catholic child in
the land shall have the means of a
Catholic education within its reach.
We must also perfect our schools, as
We repudiate the idea that the
Catholic school need be in any
respect inferior to any other school
whatsoever" The ideal of the
council was expressed in the words
of the concluding decree: THAT the
parochial schools may be the honor
and ornament, the hope and
strength, not only of the church, but
also of the republic
The necessity of moral training
is well recognized by all true educa-
tors, and ii is the aim of the Catholic
school to provide such moral train
ing most effectively. The Catholic
church is convinced that religion and
morality must be united. Her ex-
perience during the 1000 years in
which she has civilized the world
confirms this conviction. She is
certain that the knowledge of the
relations of the creature to the
Creator is the most important of all
subjects. and the proper adjustment
OF these duties is the most impor-
tant of all obligations. These rela-
tions and obligations must receive
constant and serious attention. Re-
ligion and morality can not long re-
main separated. Men will not re-
we're the law IL they ignore the law
giver.
Washington in his farewell ad-
dress gave a wise warning when he
said: LET us with caution indulge
the superstition that morality can be
maintained without religion; what
ever may be conceded to the influ-
ence OF refined education on minds
OF peculiar structure, reason and ex-
perience both forbid us to expect that
national morality can prevail in ex-
clusion of religious principles. 4"
Catholics certainly are following
this advice of Washington, and we
consider ourselves as public bene-
factors when we teach our children
most effectively to be moral and law
abiding. To do this we have placed
upon ourselves a great and addi-
| tional burden. We pay our taxes
for the public schools, and as We
can not conscientiously use these
schools we have founded our own
school system and spend annually
thirty millions of dollars for the
support of Catholic education.
The average cost for educating a
child in the parochial school Is about
$40 a year. In some parts of the
country II is higher and in Other
parts II is lower, but the average
cost is more than so per cent. Less
than the cost OF educating a chile
in the public school The main
tenance of parochial schools at thii
reduced cost is made possible onl,
through the almost gratuitous serv
ices given by hundreds and thou
sands Of men and women, who hav,
devoted themselves to the work o
Catholic education. There are 27l
teaching communities made up o
religious men and women who hav,
consecrated themselves to do tn,
work for God and their fellow man
They accept no remuneration excep
What is barely necessary for per
sonal sustenance. The highes
salary asked by the Sisters an,
Brothers OF these teaching bodies 4
about 81 day. While in SOM
parts OF the country, where tn
Catholics are fewer or have les
means TO pay their double tax TO
education, the religious teachers Elk
out their sustenance on a salary o
about fifty cents a day. This spiri
OF self-sacrifice and devotion to higl
principles recalls the ideal teache
pictured by Emerson: "Only IN
spirit can teach. Not any profan
, saan, not any sensual. not any liar
NOT any slave can teach, but only h
can give who has. The man through
whom the soul speaks alone ca
l L..