The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-11
REPLIES TO ANTIN
John j. Carlin Defends the ParOchial
School.

To the Editor of the State Journal:
1 wish to protest most vehemently
against the statements printed In the
Topeka State Journal and credited to
one Mary Antin, a Russian Jewess,
concerning the parochial schools.
AS a graduate of parochial school.
1 cannot sit silently by and allow the
statements which were made to go
uncha1lenged, that the parochlal
schools do not show the faith of Amer
lea in man. What does this woman
mean by the faith of America?
The parochial schools teach boy
or girl to be loyal to his country. Is
there a more loyal or faithful body of
citizens in the country today than the
children, now men and women, who
attended the Catholic schools?
Who has paid for this education,
the common peoples taxes, the rich
mans taxes? No; but without any
expense to the public in general, these
schools have been turning out boys
and girls who have grown to maturity
and have reached the highest places
in the business circles in this land.
In the great metropolis of New
York, business men of high standing
seek out and select graduates of par
ochial schools, a great many times in
preference to the graduates of public
schools. Even those of the Hebrew
race, known for their business shrewd-
ness have been known to do this.
Why? Because in addition to arithme-
tic, English and the other branches,
they have taught Christian principles
of right and wrong and have had in
stilled into their hearts and minds the
fear of God.
do not mean for one instant to low
er the standards of our great public
schools; but when a woman is APP
plauded for making false statements.
it is about time to protest.
We are turning out of our paro-
chial schools thousands of graduates
each year at no expense to the state.
They have proven their worth. Why
should this be prevented as this wo-
man suggests?
She further states: II see the black
robed sisters in the room, and no one
reveres them more than 1, but the
parochia1 school does not typify Amer
ica's faith in equality of all the edu-
cation of all along the same lines"
We would like to have Mary Antin
prove, if she can, that any teacher or
black robed sister ever taught any
thing in the parochial schools which
would not typify America 1altn ana
equality of all.
We teach humility and true demo-
cracy: and as to education of all along
the same lines, we teach the same
branches of study and have the same
curriculum as the public schools
Are not our SchoOlS recognized Dy
the board of regents, and are not our
students work credited for the requir-
ed number of counts that they can get
in the high schools and preparatory
schools, and are not our own prepara-
tory and high schools recognized, so
that their students can go into Har-
ward and Yale, as do any of the stu
dents of any public high school or any
private preparatory school? Is not this
education of all along the same lines
1 do not wish to have any one think
that 1 am trying to start religious
controversy, this is not my object, but
only to set right before the eyes of the
readers of the Topeka State Journal
the true idea of the parochial schools.
Yours truly,
JOHN J. CARLIN.
Topeka, Kan, Nov. IL, 1916.