Year: 1875

I Opinions of Superintendent Kiddle


and Eugene Kelly.


The question as to the merging Of the parochial
and the public schools still remains without any
more light upon 1t than the HERALD has already
THROWN Arguments In favor OF this ret,cence are
urged on both SIDES The Commissioners OF Public
Schools continue to allege tnat they are not in a
position to speak on the subject for the reason
that the friends OF the parochial schools have not
yet stated explicitly what 1t is that they demand,
and, pesides committee OF conference has been
appointed, which is all that Vicar General Quin
has, SO far asked for The friends OF the parochial
schools afflrm, In their own behalf that 1t would
be imprudent to lay bare their plans until the
JOINT committee OF conference begins to hold its
meetings, and that, under the circumstances, the
Board OF Education has, IN oil courtesy, the right
to hear first what 1t is that the Catholics shall
ask to have conceded to them. In this way both
sides are placed for the present. much courteous
ness being the rule, ana the probability is
that nothing new shall transpre in regard to the
impending controversy until after Easter, when
vicar General Quinn and other pastors will have
been relieved from the instant and arduous pro-
fesslonal duties of Holy Week. Up to this time
the Vicar General has not named the gentlemen
who Will on his side form part OF the JOINT CON-


mlttee OF conference nor has day peen named


for the holding OF the first session.


WHAT PRESIDENT NELSON SAYS.


HERALD reporter yesterday called on Mr.
william H. Nelson, President OF the Board OF


Education in search OF some Information as to


how he himself personally stood on the question
| OF the proposed amalgamation. But Mr.. Nelson
| would say nothing beyond an excuse for his retl-
! cence, which he based on the ground OF a
proper courtesy toward Vicar General Quinn The
Vicar General, he added, had not yet sent to the
Board his specific demands, and until such time as
he presented them to the joint committee of
course 1t would not be decOrous the part Of the
School commissioners to discuss speculative or
imaginary concessions the one side or the
other. One thing certain was that the committee
from the Board OF Education would receive very
willingly AMI with great courtesy any PROPOSE
tions which might be presented to them lor con-
sideration by the Vicar General and his associates.
VIEWS OF COMMISSIONERS LYNCH.


The reporter also called on Mr. james Lynch,
whose name was attached to the communication
sent to the Board, and who, being president Of the
Irish Emigration Society, is an er o0fciO member
OF the Emigration Commission. Mr.. Lynch SAID
that the HERALD had in some OF it's
articles, explained pretty fully the state
of the question. But there was one
serious point that had not been touched upon 1t
was all very well, said Mr.. Lynch, for the school
Commissioners to talk about having all the chill
dren in the city, rich and poor. high and low, at
tend the public schools and receive the excellent
instruction therein impaired. 1t was true that
the secular instruction given In these schools was
excellent, but there was very serious difficulty
| in the way OF some thousands OF children being
enabled to take advantage OF IL. In the public
schools OF the city the children of some OF our


wealth.est citizens were receiving their early edu.
| nf
! classes were also receiving their education in
these schools, and all these children, male and
| female, were neatly dressed and knew
| not what it was TO want for anything.
! The children OF the parochia schools
were in the majority of cases OF poor parentage,
were poorly clad, and were more in the habit OF
knowing what it was to want than to nave their
wants supplied He would say boldly, Tor many
reasons we'll known to those who had the oppor-
tunity of knowing, that the parochia schools,
with or without the public moneys to aid them
were necessity, and under no circumstances
could they be dispensed WITH 1t was perfect
truth that both pupils and teachers OF the public
schools would turn up their noses a. the poor, i'll
dressed and unkempt child AS a member OF the
ST. Vincent de Paul's Society he had had ABUNDANT
means Of knowing this. 1t had been proved again
and again. He would not say that the ragged
child would be turned out Of the school by
either pupil teacher. but he would say to
a certainty that the little boys the little grl's
heart would be made to bleed, and that would be
the worst sort OF expulsion. The average at
tendance at the parochal schools was from 15, 900
to 90 900 daily. Put these children in the public
schools tomorrow, and you would find tnat
before three months several thousand chill
dren would have left the public schools and
have gone 10 private schools. He did not wish TO
be understood as saying that the public schools
were not worthy objects or pride to the city; ne
believed that they were, and he ala not think that
any form OF religion, under existing circum-
stances ought to be taught IN them. In fact. 1t
was not necessary that religion should be taught
in them. The children attending these SCHOOLS
had fathers and mothers. friends or relatives who
were 70 look after their religious training and
to watch over their morals. There was nome
influence constantly being exercised there, which
was certain to mould their young minds into the
right. Impressions and TO create aspirations Tor
advancement IN the world and TO induce the
youtns TO avail themselves OF school days as a
pnrochial schools Who were they Tney were
The children oil the poor laborer, the poor widow.
o perhaps OF fathers and mothers who were not
DONG much for themselves. could these poor
children enter scnool IN the morning neatly
children in the school ? Were boys boys still,


and girls girls still or did the public schools put OLD


would assuredy sneer at the raggedly dressed
boys, and the well dressed girls would sneer


a. the Sggedy dressed g caS ana SO w9nd


would leave the schools very soon; Ia fact, he


knew OF 100 many Instances IN winch they had
done SO. III you entered parochial scnoo IN the


summer time YOU would find number OF the


children without shoes and stockings. Surely


that would not 90 IN school where the children
oi many gentlemen whom he knew were to spend
five days the week from nine O'CLOCK in the


forenoon until three O'Clock In the afternoon. In


theory IL sounds very well to say, "Bring the


caildren together; it serves the wealthy mans
child Ii exalts to better IDEAS and feelings the
poor mans child - but the theory did not do in


practice. Well, then, what did the Vicar General


and his friends ask SIMPLY this, that as we were


poor they ought not to eXcluoe us because We