Evening star., 1955-11-20

&tAN Wv WV RsNNNS VI - s~NSSS
American education follotDs..
Freedom under God is Amer
ica's dearest treasure. Its roots
lie deep in her Christian heritage
and its germ Is the concept Of
mans personal responsibility to
his Creator for his temporal and
eternal salvation. Here in Amer
lea freedom has lowered in an
ordered democracy, which guar
antees to her citizens the widest
latitude of individual expression
within the framework of COM
monty held principles of justice.
decency, and law.
To preserve freedom America
must teach freedom. It is in the
schools Of the Nation. pre-emi-
nently. that this educative proc
ess is carried on. It is in the
classroom that the principles
underlying our Christian concept
of human liberty must be de-
fined and inculcated, If future
generations are to appreciate,
defend, and preserve 1t. But that
this be done, it is an absolutely
necessary condition that the
schools of America should them
selves be guaranteed their right
full freedom to teach the truth.
Historical Freedom Cited
Historically and actually our
Nation has been blessed with
educational freedom. Her school
system is not q closed. unitary
creation Of the state. q servile In
strument Of governmental mo-
nopoly, but one which embraces.
together with the state-sup-
ported schools. a whole enormous
cluster of private and church,
related schools. including many
OF the most honored names in
the entire educational world, and
devoted to the education Of many
millions of the Nations youth.
That these private and church,
related schools serve q minority
in America, by sheer numerical
computation, is . purely Incl
dental factor, and 1t Is plainly
unrealistic thinking to discount
their Importance on that score.
Indeed, it Is unrealistic to be-
little in any way the schools In
which more than 5000, 900 young
Americans are currently receiv-
ing their education. These
schools, emphatically. are an in
tegral part Of the American ed
ucational system. And so long
as our Nation is faithful to her
principles of justice and due
process Of law. these schools will
remain a permanent part Of that
system.
It is not without significance
that the private and church,
related schools were the first-in
the field Of American education.
For well-nigh two centuries. DUR
ing our Colonial and early ma
tional periods. they occupied that
field alone. It was from such
schools, as from fruitful seed
beds, that there came the guid-
ing intellectual and moral i'm
pulses which led to the definition
and establishment Of American
freedom. no less than the leader
ship which launched the young
Republic on her career in history.
The familiar pride of . Daniel
Webster in his alma mater,
which was both private and
church-related. is echoed by
countless other Americans in all
walks Of life and at all stages
Of our growth. And ii Is demon
strably q faulty Interpretation
Of the mind Of such q liberal
theorist as Thomas jefferson
which would present him as
champion Of a monopolistic
State system Of education.
School No Alien Growth
AS Catholics, our memory is
stirred by the recollection Of the
valiant efforts or our religious
founders in this country to pro-
vide, out Of their slender re-
sources, for the educational
needs of their people. We think
of young John Carroll. destined
to be our first bishop. coming
his lessons at Bohemia Manor.
in Colonial Maryland. The torch
he grasped there was to be car
ried by myriad hands to en-
kindle brighter fires from end
to end Of our expanding nation.
It is with honest pride that
we survey the development Of
Catholic education In America.
SO intimately o part of her cul-
tural growth. so deeply inter-
twined with the traditions and
aspirations Of her people. The
Catholic school mas matured
with the church. q joint product
Of the foresight of the bishops
and the enlightened generosity
Of her faithful. 1t Is no foreign
importation, no alien growth, but
q sturdy native plant, o con-
spicious example of a common
religious impulse working under
the favorable conditions Of our
Republic.
The rise and vigorous expan-I
sion Of the American educational
system Is cited, correctly, as one
Of the major achievements Of
Western civilization. During the
past hundred years. In particu-
lar, general education, sponsored
by states and communities, re-
ligious groups and private bodies,
has come very near to the goal
OF providing adequate educa-
tional opportunities for every
American.
It would be blind prejudice
which would refuse to acknowl-
edge, ip this connection, the
tremendous accomplishment Of
the public educational agencies.
Whatever uneasiness may or
must be felt on the score Of edu-
tional theory and philosophy as
illustrated in large areas Of
American teaching, the plain
physical fact OF the school