The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-07-03

demonstrates the depth ana sincerity of our convictions. Can any fair minded man find fault with us, if we meet the demands of our conscienc ip our own way without asking one penny from city or state or from any man who does not approve our course? If others are satisfied to raise their children without religion enter ing into their daily lives, that is their privilege and business; 1t is none of ours We have the same rights as others. Liberty of conscience is guaranteed us by the American Con- stftution. Our cchool is an exercise of that liberty and ne man shall deprive of 1t.
 No, we would not see the abolition Of the public schools. Willingly do we contribute our share to the sup port of the public schools of this city and of every other. Superintendent Slawson in his last report says that the cost per pupil registered in the elementary schools of Bridgeport is $:4. This present school year there were 79O pupils registered in St. Au
 gustine's school This school there fore, has saved the taxpayers of this city the sum of s26,S60. In the eight parochial schools of Bridgeport there were 4,12O children registered this year. At S34 each the sum of s14O,- 0S0 was saved the Scity treasury. Furthermore the State of Connecticut pays into each city the sum of s2.25 for very child of school age living within the confines of the city. There
 fore, for the 79O children in St. Au- gustine's school the city has received from the state the sum of s1,777 and for the APO pupils in parish schools it has received s9,273 although 1t has not expended one penny in the educa- tion of these children. At the rate of 2z mills on the dollar this school has,
 indirectly at least, paid taxes on ST. 220, ,909 and the eight schools have paid taxes on s6,363,631. And e1 throughout the State. In educating 1 the 42,000 children attending our schools we have saved the people of nnecticut over a million and a | quarter dollars each year exclusive of | land and buildings. Remember we are | not citing these figures with the in | tentton of obtaining state support for l our schools. State support we do not | ask, state support we do not want. | We mention these facts solely for the purpose of informing you that l when you are told you are free from | taxation In so far as your church | property is concerned you can point | to your schools. In theory we are free
 from taxation, in fact we are the | highest taxed of all citizens.
 | Not can it be said that in making religion in the chief element in our ! schools, we yield one jot or little in
 our determination to provide such a
 secular education for our children as
 will fit them for success in temporal | affairs. True we are not adopting
 every educational fancy of so called | experts. We are not rushing into pre- | vocational work, because it is easier | to train the hand than the head. We bare not teaching foreign language ir | the grades at the expense of ignor- l ance of our own. We are not over 1 enthusiastic about raffia work, violir | playing, sex hygiene or junior higf 1 schools at the expense of knowledge
 of reading, writing and arithmetic
 We have seen too many swans of thC
 educational expert turn out to bt
 homely barnyard geese. We aim t. give our children solid foundation il
 the elementary subjects of the curri
 culum and we claim to have accom-
 plished our purpose in this respect. I
 is with pardonable pride I say tha
 the splendid success which attend
 our pupils in high schools, academic
 and colleges Is sufficient testimony t
 the quality of the secular instruct1.
 they have received in our gramma
 schools. Grade for grade the pupil
 of our schools challenge comparison ; with the pupils of any public schoo
 in your city, and I know whereof speak.
 Therefore, we congratulate yo,
 boys and girls on taking your plac
 with the two thousand children wht are receiving their diplomas tonigh throughout this diocese testifying t.
 their Catholic education. I feel sur you are going out from us with tn determination to live up to the teach l ings you have here received Of tha , teaching you need never be ashamed For it you need never give apology Living in conformity with 1t you vii be loyal and devoted citizens of cart and heaven, faithful to your country
 faithful to your church and faithfu to your God. To your parents and | , your priests you will ever show tha 1 reverence and support which has eve | been taught you here. For thes s teachers who spent themselves for yo - your prayers will go up to thal Go , whom they taught you to know an love. For them your prayer will eve 3 be that happiness here attend then ! that the blessing of a gracious Go 2 descend upon them, that their rewar 2 be the reward promised by the pro ' phet Daniel: They that instruc
 many unto justice shall shine as star 8 for all eternity"