The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-08-28
CATHOLIC SCHOOLS.
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In the course of a few weeks
Catholic schools in all parts of the
country will reopen for the work
of another year, and hundreds of
thousands Of youths and maidens
will wend their way thither to be-
gin or to continue their studies.
Last year more than. "a million and
half boys and girls took advan-
tage of the opportunities to Sc
cure a sound Catholic training in
these homes Of learning and cul-
ture, and there is no. reason to
think that the number will be
smaller this year. The eyer-in-
creasing number of pupils in Cath
Ollie schools isthe greatest tribute
that can be paid to, the value of
our educational system.
It is no longer necessary to
plead the cause of Catholic schools
before the world. The teaching
of the Church on this important
matter has been indicated before
the bar Of public opinion; and
those who refuse to acknowledge
the superiority of an education in
which religious training plays no
inferior role constitute a negli-
gible minority. The only question
is how best to combine religious
and secular knowledge
The public school system for
bids their union and wherever an
attempt is made to combine them,
it falls lamentably short of what
true education demands. The
system itself is not to be blamed
for this. 1t is handicapped by a
constitutional provision which
those who try to inject religious
teaching into the public school
curriculum would set aside. The
result, is anything but satisfactory.
The Catholic Church has found
a way to put into operation in the
United States the ideals which
have inspired her educational ac-
tivities throughout the centuries.
She has established schools paro-
chial, academic and collegiate
wherein knowledge. Of "the
things that appertain to Go d. is
deemed as important, at least, as
the various branches of secular
learning. Her schools now dot
the land, placing the advantages
of a genuine education within
reach of the majority of her chill
dren. 1t is her ambition to- have
a school in every parish and,
thank God, the number is increas-
ing every year.
Catholics are convinced Of the
necessity and value of schools con.
Quoted under the auspices Of the
Church. This is shown by the fact
that the accommodations provided
| by these schools are too limited
for the demands made upon them
No matter how rapidly the mum.
Der of schools increases, there is
a demand for more. This is an
eloquent tribute to the wisdom OF
the Church's educational policy
as well as to the loyalty of Catho.
lies in every walk of life.
Minnesota and the other states
of the Northwest are not behind
other states of the Union in the
number and excellence Of then
Catholic educational institutions
The progress Of the Church with.
in this territory has been marvel
GUS during the past quarter Of
century, but in no way, perhaps, is
that progress more apparent thar
lin the educational opportunities
offered to orr people. Many Of
the delegates who attended tht
National Catholic Educationa
Convention held in st. Paul las
June were unstinted in theil
praise of the facilities for Catholic
leducation afforded the people o.
the Twin Cities, and what is true
of this patsicalar locality isstru,
lof ALI other places in this ands Thu
lneighborfng States where Catho
lIics are awake to- the fesponsbi
Titles that rest upon them anf
aliTes to. the oRportunities within
their reach, ..s 81 a 4
i At the beginning: Of another
Ischool year, therefore, it behoove
| Catholic parents to make sacri
fees, if necessary, in order tina
their children may attend a Cath
ole school. First of. ALL the,
SHOULD patronize the parochia
school, and when their children
Ihave graduated therefrom, the.
Ishould make arrangements to sent
them to schools of secondary edu
cation, and later on, to college AM
university in order that their boy
land girls may be able to take ;
j prominent place IN the religious
Ecivic. and social life of their re
] spectiye communities. Too often
lin the pasts Catholic parents hayl
4 been conteAtfto give their children