The Ocala evening star., 1919-07-23
BENEDICTINE ORDER
AGAINST SMITH-TOWNER
EDUCATIONAL BILL

EDUCATIONAL BILL
The National Benedictine Educa-
tional Association of America held its
annual convention hast week at ST.
Bede College, Peru, Illinois. There
were delegates from the Benedictine
colleges in New Hampshire, New Jer-
sey, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North
Carolina, Alabama, Georgia, Louisi-
ana, Arkansas, Kansas, Illinois. In
diana, Missouri, Minnesota, Washing
ton, Oregon and ST. Leo College, st.
Leo, Florida. From discussions of the
many problems brought about by the
reconstruction necessary in educa-
tional lines one is more than convinc-
ed that the Benedictine educators arr
most progressive and up-to-date.
While the Benedictine Order has a
teaching tradition of nearly 14OO
years, it recognizes the needs of the
times and the steps taken at the con-
vention were all progressive. Probab-
ly the most important action was the
establishment of Benedictine summer
courses for teachers. Heretofore the
teachers were sent to various univer-
sites for summer courses. Our col
leges and universities are now in posi-
tion to take over this work. The fol-
lowing Benedictine institutions were
designated for summer courses: St.
Johns University, in Minnesota, for
science and public oratory; st. Bene-
diets, in Kansas. for English; St.
Procopius, in Chicago, for mathemat-
les; st. Vincent's, in Pennsylvania,
for Latin, Greek and philosophy; ST..
Anselm's, in Manchester, for history
and art, and Conception College, in
Missouri, for Gregorian chant and
music. Benedictine professors and
instructors will conduct the courses
and prominent educators may also be
engaged.
The second important move was to
encourage the establishment of agri-
cultural and sociological departments
in our large schools. AS most of the
Benedictine colleges are situated out
side of cities. this move will make
them the center of agricultural de-
velopment in the surrounding coun-
try. 1t was astonishing TO see the
magnificent farms surrounding st.
Bede College in Illinois. One of the
faculty, who took thorough agricul-
tural course at the State College of
Illinois, is in charge and all the farm
ers in the neighborhood consult him in
matters pertaining to the farm. Vir-
tually the same may be said of the
Benedictine college down In Pasco
county, Florida. Closely interviewer
with this is the sociological condition
of the people, and much progress and
beneficial results are looked for from
the Benedictine influences that will
now be supplied in all their larger
schools.
The convention was very outspoker
against the adoption of the Smith.
Towner educational bill pending in the
United States Senate, and adopted the
following strong resolutions:
| Assembled at a time when the
war-worn peoples of the globe watch
with anxiety the threatening triumph
of might over right, of tyranny ovel
democracy, of international chao!
over organized democracy, the Ma
tional Benedictine Educational Asso
citation of America. convened in st
Bede College, Peru, Illinois, and rep
resenting independent institutions il
the sixteen states of Oregon, Wash
ington, Minnesota, Illinois, New
Hampshire, New Jersey, Pennsylvan
ia, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Vir
ginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Geor
gia and Florida, hereby reproclaim
its solemn conviction that education i
the bulwark of freedom, and invite
the universal cooperation of serious
=. minded American citizens upon tn
platform of educational reconstruction
that here follows:
81. Federal cooperation with ou
free and self-controlled educationa
activities we recognize and welcom
, as an ally of educational freedom
Federal domination we condemn a
educational tyranny.
|, "2. The spirit of liberty, the foun
: tain head of our national constitution
: served to condemn any governments
~ agency that tends to disregard o
D abolish the God-given right of eac
and every American father to Great
ard control for his child a schoC
e which satisfies the dictates of his cor
e science.
j, 49, Power to create and contrt
the school depends on the power I