Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-03-07
CafhOIiCScI1OOl
Sci toDrop
First3Grades
Shortage Of Nuns
To Teach, Costs
Cited in Fuirfox
By the Associated Press


BY the Associated Press
A Roman Catholic parochial
school in Fairfax County is
closing It's kindergarten and
first three grades in a move
which may be reflected in other
Richmond Diocese areas.
A shortage Of teaching nuns
and rising school construction
costs have brought about the
move.
st. Leo's will drop its kinder
garten and first grade next
September, the second grade
in 1864 and the third grade in
1865.
The Rev. Richard j. Burke,
diocesan school superintendent,
said the elimination Of primary
grades isn't diocesan policy. !"
But the Rev. Walter F. NAL
10y, st. Leo's pastor. called it
"a definite trend"
Father Malloy said st. Leo's
faculty consists Of five Bene-
dictine sisters and 10 lay teach
ers. There's no prospect of in
creasing the number Of sisters
and there must be a balance
between religious and lay
teachers" he said.
Work for Less
The present lay staff works
for less than comparative Fair
fax County salaries even
though they could qualify for
higher-paying jobs in the
public school," he said.
I'VE can't hope to continue
getting qualified teachers at
this pay scale"
At least four other elemen-
tary schools may operate with
out the primary grades.
st. Luke's in Mclean opened
a parochial school last Sep
TENDER with the third grade.
st. Philips in Falls Church
will open in the future with
the fourth grade.
Our Lady Of Lourdes in Rich
mond will start this fall with
the fourth grade. Apparently
st. Matthews in Norfolk also
will open without primary
grades.
Know Of No More
The Rt. Rev. Msgr. Arthur j
Taylor, dean Of Arlington. anc
the Rev. Eugene Walsh, dear
of Alexandria, said they knew
Of no plans for cutting bacl
on primary grades Of othel
parochial schools in the area.
In the Washington Archdio
cese, the Rt. Rev. Msgr
Thomas w. Lyons, assistan
director Of education. sale
there had been no move as yet
toward closing lower GRADES II
parochial schools of the Dis
trict and nearby Maryland
counties.
Space problems In recent
years, however, have caused
some schools to drop kinder.
gartens or open without them
he said. At present, Of % par
ish and three private elemen-
tary schools In the District
only eight have kindergartens
and only two parish schools in
Montgomery County and three
In Prince Georges have them,
he reported. Much depends on
the individual parish, he added.
Our general policy has been
that q new school opens with
first. second and third grades
and builds UP with the years"
he said.
Cites Relative Needs
The Right Rev. Msgr. j. Louis
Elaherty, pastor of st. Luke's
in Mclean, said: I'VE feel it's
more necessary to have upper
grades than lower grades If we
can't have them all.
The religious. moral and
spiritual guidance available al
a parochial school has more
effect on children between the
ages Of 10 and Is than on the
younger ones"
Our ultimate goal" Father
Malloy said, lis Catholic schools
from Grade on. Curtailment
Of the primary grades must be
a temporary measure. although
1t might be a generation before
We get back TO pick up these
grades again."
The curtailment viii have an
effect on Fairfax County'S
public schools which anticipate
a Is per cent increase in school
enrolment by 1867 anyway.
At present, there are more
than 5000 children In nine
Fairfax parochial schools.