65: Some Weak Points in the Catholic School System
Chapter 65 addresses common criticisms of the Catholic school system, particularly claims of academic inferiority, the argument that children can maintain faith in public schools as past generations did, concerns about social standing, and the assertion that separate religious schools are "un-American" and foster prejudice. The author concedes that academic standards might vary but attributes perceived inferiority partly to negative parental attitudes and inherent differences in children's abilities. He counters the "kept the faith" argument by highlighting increased modern temptations and the pervasive influence of secular society. Regarding social standing, the text prioritizes moral virtue over superficial social distinctions. Finally, it argues that a truly American education must include religious training, protesting against what it views as implicit Protestant proselytization within public schools and asserting that Catholic schools foster essential religious truth, not harmful prejudice.
For the full audiobook can be obtained here. The contents of this volume appeared originally in The Catholic Transcript, of Hartford, Connecticut, in weekly installments, from February, 1901, to February, 1903.
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