Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-27

RASAAAh O " 34&
Est. 1SS8-Portland, Llaiae
a-.ssZ EEN
teb2wed-sat,tf
iSlature, showing 4 detailed report
OF the pupils in the State of Maine
in what he there termed the Cath
olic Public Schools" referring to the
parochial school system of the Ko-
man Catholic church. This was a
compilation by counties and munich
palities, showing in detail the en-
rollmcnt and the estimated costs of
maintenance according to public
school standards. At the bottom OF
this compilation appears the follow
ing statement: Mote: Aroostook
county is not included because the
conditions are not exactly the same
as in the other counties" | under
stand this to refer to the union of
the two systems of which / have
spoken. In 1929. when the proposed
constitutional amendment was I'M
der discussion in the senate. SEN
ator secured from the Department
of Education the official report
showing the number OF children in
the parochial schools In the State
OF Maine and this was given as t.
16G. In the Annual Reference Book
and Directory of the Catholic cler-
gymen of New England for the
Province of Boston for the year 1893,
the number of children in the pa
lochiai school system in the State
of Maine is given as 1871. l I'M
derStand this discrepancy of G5S1
pupils in the two returns to arise
from the designation of the pupils
In Il Ii; =.
school pupils in so far as the state
Department of Education is con-
cerned, and the receipt of public
funds. but insofar as the Roman
Catholic church is concerned they
are considered as parochial school
pupils.
Senator harrington states that in
northern Aroostook, after the reg
ular session of the public schools.
the public school buildings are used
for the work of the paroChial school.
He justifies this practice on the
ground of the peculiar conditions
since 30 percent of the population
are French Catholic. lie adds that
this is practically what ! have been
advocating in connection with week.
day religious instruction. ON the
contrary, this is exactly what | have
not been advocating as | have made
it very clear wherever | have Spok-
Ell that under no circumstances
should the state have any connCC-
ton with the religious instruction Of
the children or supply any facil-
ties therefor. Rev. w. II. Patter-
son, the Episcopal rector at Bar
Harbor. who is the pioneer in this
system of eek-day religious in
struction in Maine. las also made
it very clear in a statement in the
current issue of the Maine state
Sunday School Star that the public
school buildings should not be used.
He says in describing the system.
1.-The last period in the morning the
children are sent TO their respective
places-not in the school buildings
for religious instruction. This pre-
vents any legal question being in
volved.
When Roman Catholic nuns arc
employed as public school teachers
with Il large percentage of the pop
ulat;on Roman Catholic and with
the religious instruction carried on
in the same room by the same
teacher Immediately following the
secular instruction. as is the ar
rangement now existing in northern
Aroostook, it seems to me that it is
fair to say that the public school
system and the parochial system arc
merged. If this practice becomes firm
Iy established and extends to 9TH
err sections of the state where Ro-
man Catholic majoritics may be in
control, 1T seems to me the Conse-
quences would he unfortunate. Sen
ator harrington apparently defends
4 -. IN fAt.fl gNI.
Aroostook on tho ground that $50
of the population are French Catho-
lie. Bishop Walsh at Augusta last
winter inquired whether 5000 would
not warrant its adoption. At what
point Will the line he drawn in per-
centaees of Roman Catholic popula
ton to create what are termed as
"peca!ier conditions?'
1t seems to me that this involves
the fundamental principle Of the
separation of church and state ana
that when such a principle Is at
stake it is not n question of quaint
ty or percentages. Every American
school bow has been brought up on
Patrick Henry's famous line, mil
lions for defense but not one cent
for tribute" The American Revolu
ton was fought primarily because of
to me that the considerations in
volved in this situation are equally
fundamental and important.
Senator Farringtons chief con-
tention seems to be that there has
been no attempt to divert pubic
money to parochial schools" He
states that he has mot heard or
read anything nor seen anything
that goes to prove" any such at
tempt is considered Arthur u.
WEIGH. District Deputy of the
knights of Columbus. in addressing
gathering of a lodge Of that order
on the eve of Washington birth
DAY. stated that no attempt was
made in the last session of the lesis-
lature. nor would any he made in
the next to secure a diversion of
public school funds to parochiai
schools.
If legislative action were necessary
to accomplish this. l believe it would
be some time before there would be
occasion to be disturbed. l do not I'M
derstand this to be the case as |
know of no reason why the system
now in vogue in northern Aroostooil
cannot be extended to other sections
of the state wherever Roman Cath
ri So irtc fc