The menace. [volume] (Aurora, Mo.) 1911-1920, 1919-02-22
A VICTORY FOR The
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Polish Church Abandons Its Par
ochial School, And Sends Its
Children to Public School

The spirit and idea Of Ameri-
tsnizing the schools, all the schools,
ntbIic, parochial and private, con-
6acting them in uniformity, and
bbuing the pupils with the ideals
6f Americanism met with a not
Nble victory last month in Buffalo,
Ny.
The state Of New York has very
Stringent laws in regard to edu-
cation. These provide that instruc-
ton in all elementary schools shall
Be in the English language.
Just such measures are now be-
ing pressed in the Legislatures Of
some Of our central and western
states, where the legislation is op-
posed by Catholics as interfering
with their peculiar teaching pre-
negatives.
Failing to understand the i'm
portance Of teaching their children
the English language, the Polish
people Of Buffalo continued to use
their own language in their paro-
thial schools. The matter was
brought to the attention Of the
state authorities and pressure was
brought to bear on these foreign
Language schools, to induce them to
comply with the requirements Of
the state law. One result was that
at a meeting of the parish Of the
Holy Mothers of the Rosary church,
(Polish) it was decided to aban-
don the parochial school, send the
children to the public schools, and
to arrange for instruction in their
own language and religion outside
of school hours.
In explanation Of their course
they addressed a letter to DR..
Finnegan Of the state department
Of education from which we take
the following:
Hon. Thomas E. Finnegan,
! Deputy Commissioner Of Education,
! Albany, New York.
Dear Sir: Your recent letter, en-
closing copy Of printed circular Of
October 4, 1918; regarding use Of
the English language in all elemen-
tary schools has received careful
consideration by the trustees and
the congregation Of this parish. After
thorough discussion at q meeting OF
the entire parish, specially called for
the purpose and largely attended, 1t
was unanimously resolved that the
welfare of the children will be best
served and our duty as patriotic
A,atericdns ,UiH be best discharged BY
Having the children attend the regu-
lar sessions of the public schools for
secular Instruction. Our children are,
therefore. attending the public schools
now, and are receiving instructions
In religion and the Polish language
and history in classes held outside
the public school hours.
In the light Of knowledge and ex-
\ perience we have felt that the pub
lie schools offer the best opportun-
ity for our children to become
quickly informed and acquainted
with the best Of American national
life and ideals, 90 that those who
remain here may be better American
citiyens, while any who may 60 back
to Faid in the restoration of Poland
win thus be prepared to render
larger service. We regret that the
american public school system gives
no opportunity at present for reli-
3gious instruction during ordinary
\ school hours. We know that many
native born educators consider this a
defect Of the system, and that ex-
periments are being tried at diff
ferent places in the country with
different plans for supplying this
defect. This is a field Of effort in
which we shall be particularly glad
TO cooperate most heartily with
your department.
All honor to these brave Poles
who are able to break the ties Of
language and associations with
their native land, in order that
their children might be better
equipped for life in the land Of
their adoption.
The school board and teachers
Of Buffalo should give these Pol.
ish children a royal welcome, and
every facility for the education
they are seeking, no matter if il
entails an additional expense on
The city. Dollars are cheap, be-
side the cost to the country Of q
religious caste, with the fanatic.
lam, narrowness, and bigotry which
are the natural products Of the
parochial school system.
We should add that the "Holy
Mother Of the Rosary Polish
church" belongs 10 the National
Catholic church Of the United
States which has 30 congregations
over 100000 members, and repu.
dates the pope and bis domina.
ton.