The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1917-09-08
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

The essence of Catholic educa-
ton and the reason thereof is the
daily teaching of religion and the
daily formation of character Oh
Catholic basis. This is the chief,
we might almost say, the only
persuasive inducement which our
Catholic schools have to offer.
But it alone should be sufficient to
induce Catholic parents to give
the preference to the Catholic
school. Year in and year out care
less, ignorant, or neglectful par
ents bring out the same old argu-
ments against the Catholic schools.
These objections are from time to
time busted off, refurbished,
touched up and then presented as
absolutely positive and convinc-
ing arguments against the Catho-
lie school. The truth is, generally
speaking, that such parents are
not only spiritually criminal in
their attitude but they are posi-
lively trifing with God and eter-
nifty. Of recent years certain non
seetarian schools have been estab-
lished in many large cities. These
institutions are called private
schools. In just what their priv
acy consists it is left to the imag-
nation to conjecture Here,
however, is a new field for Catho-
lie DIRECTORS. They see in these
so-called private schools a won
derful opportunity for the social
advantage Of tn cir children.
Hence, many Catholic social climb
ers-God save the mark-yield to.
the temptation to confde their
boys and girls to these private
schools.
A certain great Cardinal, la
menting his fall, gave this warn
ing: Il charge thee, fling ambi-
ton far from thee Some Of our
Catholic parents, especially those
upon whom fortune has smiled,
might we'll take to heart the ad-
monltion Of the English prelate.
Fling ambition far from thee! If
your ambition is to see your chill
dren rise in the material world,
become social leaders, mingle with
the. sons and daughters Of For
tune, all at the expense of dry rot
in their spiritual being, by all
means send these tender minds to
public, private or any other insti-
tuition where God is considered of
far less Importance than Caesar,
Alexander or Napoleon. Saturate
their youthful minds with a
knowledge of the worlds history,
of the world s science; teach them
the gyrations of the heavenly
planets and the complex motions
Of the earth; initiate them into
the laws Of nature; instruct them
in the folklore of nations; pour
into their minds complete knowl-
edge Of the cavorting and the
vices of all the gods and god
desses of Olympus; but beware
lest the smallest iota of an idea be
allowed to enter their mental con-
seriousness as to the existence or
beauty OF the one true God.
If, on the other hand, you your
self are inspired by the true faith,
if you value all that Jesus Christ
did to merit that faith for you;
then do not expose the souls Of
those children, whom God has but
loaned to you, to eternal perdi-
ton. Do not place them as votive
offerings on the altar Of social
prestige by bunting and sacrifc-
ing their spiritual instincts in an
atmosphere that is alien to the
idea of God. When there is ques-
ton of religion and there is al
ways such question in scholastic
training neither public nor pri-
vate school can hope to fulfill your
wishes with respect to the true
education Of your children. lie you
have lost all idea of true values in
religion and care not for your own
salvation, then, in the name of
God, do not make Of your son or
Your daughter social upstart and
n religious degenerate, a moral re-
probate. For a so-called Catholic