The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-06-26
CATHOLIC EDUCATIONAL
CONVENTION.

:
carious factor. Arguments, true
or false, were hurled indiscrim-
inately against the Catholic claim
to efficiency in matters scholastic.
This attitude has now become OBJ
solete, as well as umtenable. The
reason is that today the Catholic
primary school not only holds its
own with any institution in the
primary class, but it far outdis-
tances the average non-Catholic
school in efficiency and results.
Tests held in the grade schools
throughout the country show the
high position attained by the
pafochial schools.
Among the various means
adopted for the advancement Of
teaching efficiency and methods
none other, perhaps, has done
more to strengthen the scholastic
standing of the schools than has
the educational meeting or con-
vention. The Catholic Educa-
tional Association, in fact, aims
precisely at the realization of this
idea, to coordinate the work of
schools and teachers in such way
that harmony in the development
of logical methods may follow,
land that fads, extraneous subjects,
and mere experiments may be
lcarefully eschewed.
Since education in this country
lis under state control, that is,
lsince the Individual state, and not
the federal government exercises
the necessary jurisdiction, a GER
tain latitude, ample and unham-
Ipered, has been allowed for the
revolution of methods and stand
ards IN those institutions under
Iprivate control. For this reason
there is no fixed standard that
leach school feels obliged to at
tain. True, the state offers GER
ltain examinations which the
schools are free to take; but as a
rule, there is no obligation in
cumbent on the private agency to
accept that standard.
Unless, however, all signs fail,
the ultimate goal of educational
endeavor in this country will be
lshaped by governmental direction.
Irrespective of this possible con-
tingent it behooves the Catholic
school to aim as high as liberal
conservatism permits in the mat
ter of Institutional proficiency.
From the very fact of the absence
of strict state control over meth
|ods and standards we may deduce
the ACCESSIBILITY. of frequent meet
Iings i'll the form of conventions.
In fact, at these conventions in
structors are afforded the oppor-
tunity of listening to experts in
the field of education. The nor
NAL school and the university fur
nish higher specialized training
than do the colleges and the
academies, not to mention the
ordinary high schools These
higher institutions aim at impart-
ing systematic training and de-
|velopment, and their product is
the teacher who goes forth quail
flied to implant the germs of
knowledge deep in the minds of
/ the pupils. =
On the other hand, unless the
teacher himself. keeps in constant
or frequent touch with the source
of his own training, or its equiva-
llent, he is liable to enter rut
that curse of all success, that
lbane of mediocrity, that leads in
levitably to state of scholastic
latrophy, and eventually lands the
unfortunate instructor in sthe
museum of uninteresting fossils.
| One OF the very best means OF
keeping in touch with progressive
methods is to attend a gathering
lcomposed, to a great extent. OF
those who have made a success OF
1.-THE art and the science of teach.
ling. Their words of encourage
Iment, their experiences, their sue
lcess shown on the battlefield
where ignorance has been routed
land knowledge triumphantly in
Itroduced all these things tend to
arouse in the active teacher the
fires of enthusiasm; the discus
Isions on vital subjects. concerning
matter and method, also tend to
lelucidate obscure points, to
strengthen old convictions or to
Isupplant them with newer ideas
THAT make for greater efficiency.
i For these and other reasons we
TRUST that the present convention
lef the Catholic Educational Assoc
3 citation to be held in st. Paul next
week will surpass in attendance
and brilhancy, as well as In solid
Iresult for GOOD, all previous en-
ldeay0rs IN this line.