The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-04-02

the three Rs. Elastic optional courses tempt the pupil to follow the line of least resistance; vocational training is perhaps over-stressed; relaxation in the matter of home work weakens the pupils appreciation Of the impor- tance of study. These seem to mo to be the principal reasons why the young people of the present are not so studious as were those of the past. I would not say, of course. that the modern pupil is not absorbing J1nowl- | edge. such as it is. but this is acquired with but little effort, is not we'll ordered. is not calculated to train the mental processes, to make the pupil think-the real end of educa tion."
 Dumping from the question of study on the part of our young American hopefuls and future presi- dents and mayhap, presldentesses, to the number of levites entering the university, I cannot speak authorta- lively as to the young men of our non-Catholic brethren From what has come to my notice in this matter from the cursory reading of news paper and magazine articles, l am in clined to think that the supply is not so copious as formerly. that it does not meet the demand. As to the req son for this, a special one advanced 1 Is, not any slackening of religious conviction or fervor to bring souls to Christ, but, rather, lack of suffi
 cient support. of means to live and to rear and to educate R family in the manner becoming the exalted calling of a Christian clergyman
 Speaking for the Catholic priest hood I would say that while the number of young men ordained each year shows no diminution from each preceding year, still the ratio does not keep pace with the yearly in ' crease of communicants. As far as | Catholic ecclesiastical authorities can judge there is but one special reason for this. Parents are not encourag- ing and fostering priestly vacations with the same zeal as In former years Formerly the wish dearest to the heart of Catholic parents was to have a son in the priesthood. and the | boy who showed special signs of piety and love for the sanctuary was en- couraged by his parents 70 bring these manifestations to their full flower. Parents of today, owing to the general spirit of worldliness, no doubt. are not so keen to keep be- fore their sons the high calling of the ambassador or ChrlSt. w nile they Stlll would consider 1t Q great boon did son manifest vocation and did he follow it's promptings, yet they are
 not today by comparison, so ardent
 in encouraging their male offspring as were the parents of the days of a | iiVelier faith"
 And art and music-do you regard
 these as essential rather than the | iuxuries of an education?" I said.
 Most assuredly do I consider the study of music and of art as neces- i sary parts of the education of youth. 1 Luckily, from my own first year at
 school on up through grammar and l high school I had the advantage of a thorough. well ordered and most efficiently supervised course in vocal
 music. and the pleasure and reCom- pense this was To me during my school
 years and has been ever since are beyond appraisement During my high school course especially it was my good fortune to be under prin- cipai who was a thorough musician. versed in every phase of the vocal art, an enthusiast and an inspiration l in all that was genuinely good and