The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-07-03

inferior, to say the least, to that
given in the public schools and, ia
addition, a moral and religious
training founded Oh knowledge
| of Christian Doctrine which gives
them a decided advantage over
the other graduates Of elementary
schools.
On the day of their graduation
the all-important question which
confronted them what next I?
what of the future? Will they
continue their studies in high
school, college and university, or
will they consider their education
completed and join the ranks of
those who believe that the all-im-
portant thing in life is to begin
earning money, no matter how
paltry the amount may be, at as
early an age as possible? Will
the graduates Of the parOchial
schools decide to take advantage
of the opportunity afforded them
to pursue higher studies in secon-
Diary schools, or will they rest
content with the education they
| have acquired? Will they now 60
to work or will they seek further
training for intellect and will be-
fore they embark upon the careers
which they will ultimately choose ?
The choice they make is mo-
mentous. They are at the parting
of the ways and whatever deci-
|sion they reach will determine
their future course and make for
success or failure i'll life.
/ The Importance Of making a
right decision at such a time
should not be overlooked and
parents should do everything
in their power to direct their
children in this regard. Too
many Catholic parents, rnfor,
tunately, fail to realize the need
of a higher education for their
boys and girls. Too many Of them
| are satisfied when their children
graduate from the parochial
school and give no further thought
to their future educational needs
| Their failure to advise their chill
dren to continue their studies is
often dictated by mercenary con
siderations and they encourage
them to leave school and seek
!. work because of the few dollars
| that will thereby be added to the
household treasury. This is a
great mistake, because it toe
often condemns intelligent and
capable pupils to be hewers OF
! wood and haulers of water" all
the days of their lives, instead OF
occupying the positions to which
they could legitimately aspire had
they taken advantage of the OPP.
portunities for a higher education
which are so numerous at the
DI6SOuG GlIuC. E!s~
i It is a. matter of profound re.
4 greet to all who are interested in
the welfare OF our Catholic PEG
pie that the percentage of Catho.
lie boys and girls who, after
graduation from the parochial
school, enter institutions Of higher
| learning is so lamentably small
SO entirely out Of proportion to
the number of non-Catholics who
under similar circumstances, deem
no sacrifice too great which will
give them the benefits Of the best
education that secondary schools
can afford.
i In some cases, no doubt, parents
: are III need Of the financial help
| which their children can give
them and must not be blamed toe
severely if they put them to work
at an early age. But, leaving
aside all consideration of such
extreme cases, it is only too evi
! dent that many Catholics lack
that spirit, as it may be called, oil
higher education which would
prompt them to send their chill
dren to high school and college
after they have graduated from
the parish school. They should be
SO ambitious for the future wei
n fare of their children that they
would deem no sacrifice too great
to enable them to pursue higher
studies. Whenever possible, how
). ever, they should send their chill
dren to Catholic schools in prefer
ence to secular or denominations
institutions. The academies, col
leges and universities conducted
under the auspices of the Church
are so numerous in this country
that there is little, if any, excuse
for Catholic boys and girls tc
attend other institutions of 9
similar character. These pupils
need the continuous training IL
morality and religion which such
institutions impart and, besides
Catholics owe it to themselves tC
support Catholic schools, espe
cially, when, as is the case now
adays, they are not inferior il
| oa11iDTnont OH educational faciIi