The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1921-10-08


taking itself seriously in those days,
the spiritual interests of it's offspring
did not suffer.
In our time, however, things have
changed Life has grown complex; a
multitude of new dangers to faith have
made their appearance; and worst OF
all, perhaps, parents all too generally
are no longer disposed or qualified to
discharge their duties towards their
children in the matter of religious
training. In consequence the Catholic
school must assume new obligations.
1t can no longer be satisfied to be only
negatively useful as religious factor,
but must become positively so in a
notable degree. It's first concern must
be the souls of the children, and it's
first and greatest responsibility to lay
deep and broad foundations of spiritual
ity in their lives, to deliver to them in
a thorough-going way the body of Cath
olic principles, and to establish them
solidly and safely in Catholic practice.
It was well enough in other days that
Catholic education be secular education
under Catholic auspices; today, how
ever, it must be nothing less than edl-
cation in Catholicity if we hope to
raise up a manhood and womanhood
qualified to dc successful battle with
the powers of darkness.
The times demand, therefore, a 70
adjustment of our educational forces
IN, ic11I,1 of h.
DDS and class room tone. Sighting
none of the secular branches, religion
must be raised to q place of promi-
nence above them all; it must become
the principal business of the school
day, the pivot around which all else
revolves. 1t will no longer suffice to
tack" catechetical instruction onto
an otherwise secular program of study,
dismissing the matter utterly when
the period is closed. Opportunities
must be sought, and created, if neces-
sary, to carry religion into the secular
branches; existing devices must be
employed, and others invented, to
vitally incorporate the subject into the
processes of secular teaching. The
atmosphere of the class room must be
charged with the spirit of Jesus Christ
so that the little ones may drink it
in with profit to their souls.
The Superintendent is pleased to re-
port that the teachers in our schools
are very earnest in their solicitude for
the children's spiritual welfare. They
hnnn n1ialx fo tho mood of
effecting certain changes in class room
procedure and of giving new direction
to much Of their teaching effort. Re
| ligion in most of our schools is OBJ
| Of education under Catholic supervision
tanning it's proper ascendancy in the
ordinate it with the other studies is
meeting with splendid success.
A Catholic Teachers Normal School
for the Archdiocese will do much, we
are sure, to promote the complete re
adjustment of our educational system
in the philosophy of education viii
give the Sisters necessary foun
dation of Catholic pedagogical prin
ciples, while a reading of the history
will furnish them with a background
in which to interpret the nature ant
evaluate the Importance of present day
educational tendencies and movements
Courses in religion, and in general anC
special methodology will supply ou
teachers with material and give direc
tion to their efforts to impart al
knowledge to the highest advantage
of the children's souls.
1t is hopeful sign that as the worlt
is struggling back to order, thinkin.
men in increasing numbers are com
ing to realize that the only sure foun
dation of the nations peace, prosper
| ity and happiness, is the moral intee
rity of it's citizens. Also are the,
growing in the conviction that ther
can be no morality which does no
take it's root in the principles O
Christian faith. In certain quarter
within the past few months effort
have been made to provide religion
instruction for public school children
The experiment has not met with fla
tering success, but it is interestin
as indicative of the state of the publ
mind, and reassuring to those who be
lieve in the parochial school, 1t i
, the unshakeable conviction of Catl
olics that in maintaining their school
they are not only safeguarding tn
eternal interests of their children, bu
also rendering to the nation the higl
est patriotic service, inasmuch as the
are feeding it's life-stream abundant
, with the fresh, pure waters of a cit
zenhood firm in Christian belief an
soundly established in Christian mo
al practice.
: SUPERVISION.
!. While splendid work is being dor
r generally in the class rooms of the di
l cese, the standard of teachershi
! would be raised perceptibly throug
8 more thorough supervision. There
g need, first of all, of diocesan supe
/ visor, specially trained priest WI
: will be responsible for all that De
! tains Immediately to the academic lii
:, of the schools. His post must be I'll
/ class room where he will gain frs
/ hand knowledge of the points
o lstrength and weakness of the individu
t teachers, and where he will be helpf
l. in developing the former and e1imina
e ing the latter. Aside from the servi,
c of this character which he will rende
s he will be able to supply informatic
/ Il = Fl