The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1922-09-02

WRITES INTERESTING AMI
GLOWING EULoGY OF SISTERS
METHODS OF TRAINING - AT
MosPHERE OF sTuDY-GENTLE
DEMEANoR OF NUNS IMPRESS
Es PuPiLs-LtFE DEVOTED To
TEACHING oRvIATEs OUTSIDE
DISTRACTIONS - ADVANTAGES
POSSESSED BY RELIGIOUS.
When graduated from Villa Maria
academy some years ago, I had been
there as day pupil ten Ayears
Through the impressionable years OF
childhood and through the trying age
of adolescence, had the good fortune
to be under the gentle. kindly In
fluence of the nuns. enjoyed it, but
now, looking back, can at last fully
appreciate it, writes Elsie M. Hu.
bachek in the Catholic Educational
Review
1t is taken for granted by the world
as a whole, that girls Of your faith
should be convent educated, but /
have seen people of every faith look
astonished when or any other non
Catholic upheld the convent school.
What value has convent, stripped of
it's religious aspect? they want to
know. What is it aside from religious
training that the convent school Of
fers which secular schools, private and
public, do not? I was not converted
to the Roman Catholic Church. was
given my religious training outside of
the school, and yet am grateful that
circumstances and a broad-minded
mother sent me there. You who send
your girls to the nuns because they
can instill in the young minds the
ideas which, as Catholic parents, you
are under obligations to foster may,
because of the religious aspect involv-
ed, overlook some of the advantages
which a non-believer can easily see.
Convent School Charm.
To me it is the atmosphere of the
convent school which is its chief
charm. do not mean the religious
atmosphere-thati is Invaluable to you
and meant nothing to me-but the
calm, the peacefulness that comes
from the discipline, the ideals and the
sacrifices which make up the daily life
of the community. The nuns, with
their soft tread, their quiet voices and
unquestioning submission to a Higher
Will, have such poise, such character,
that daily association with them
leaves it's stamp on the young minds
In their care.
Veil Of Mystery.
The nuns can command a respect
and veneration that the best Of secu-
lar teachers must strive to win and
then strive even harder to hold. The
mere fact that the nuns have sacri-
feed all worldly things and ambitions
for an ideal, for their faith, compels
a certain difference. The important
fact that their pupils know nothing OF
their lives, their family, their friends
and their experiences, keeps them on
a pedestal as nothing else can. 'Fa-
miliarity breeds contempt" is never
more true than when applied to teach
amples of this in the past few years
In city schools it is not so difficult
problem, but In small towns, where
the pupils know all the social engage
ments, the personal affairs and ambi-
tions of the teacher, it Is very serious
The best of women must run the dam
ger of appearing a "prig' If she is
bome-loving, and gay" If she is fun
loving. when youthful critics watch
her after school hours. A teacher
must be beyond criticism to hold the
respect of her pupils, and for that rea,
son 1t is not wise for her to, be too
well known even though she be ver-
table saint on earth.
Not Bothered by Styles.
Another big item, that has a subtle
influence for the best is the matter
of dress. The garb of an order i'm
parts certain dignity-the similarity
Of appearance prevents criticism, jibes
and emulation. A child becomes so
accustomed to the dress of the nuns
that it is never consciously thought Of
and helps again to make the reverend
teacher lone set apart" which at GER
tain ages of girlhood is most import
ant Then vital. indeed, is the fact
that the teachers are living under the
visible signs of a strict discipline. 1t
helps one to submit to rules and reg
ulations to know that the maker of
the rules is herself submissive to an
other It is an inspiration at the age
when one begins to reason out things
for oneself; but long before that time,
children, who are like sheep in that
they follow leader, unconsciously
feel the impetus that comes from hv-
ing with a good example.