Four States Aid Schools Illinois Expects Funds
Detroit Facing Crisis DETROIT (NC) - More than dollars and cents decide which parish schools in the Detroit archdiocese will be closed, consolidated, or left untouched when requested reports are presented on Jan. 31. John Cardinal Dearden has asked for the reports from 132 parishes whose financial status is considered critical. The 132 parishes whose parochial and inter-parish schools enroll 65,000 students completed the last fiscal year with either an operational deficit or a surplus of less than $15,000. But archdiocesan officials say personnel and academic. criteria will be considered 'along with finances before a school or parish will be altered, The overall ratio of Religious to lay teachers in the Detroit archdiocese is 48 per cent to 52 per cent. Even a small upset in this !ratio could mean disaster for some schools, according to Father Joseph ~. Blinstrub, director of an independent archdiocsean educational study committee. He cited St. Anthony's West school which has no lay teachers. The Sisters of St. Francis staff 'the school .permittIng it to break even financially. Should one nun be unable to teach and' the order unable to replace her; the' parish, which is unable to afford a substitute teacher's salary, could continue operating only on a deficit budget. Motherhouses are currently committing nuns to schools for the 1970-71 school year. When Tum to Page Four
Educators Honor Diocesan School System Head Rev. Patrick J. O'Neill, Superintendent of Schools in the Diocese of Fall River has been appointed to serve
CHICAGO (NC) Catholic Conference are confident state non-public schools
Illinois officials aid for will be
forthcoming this year because of the newly enacted state income tax law. Auxiliary Bishop William E. McManus, chairman of the Con· ference's schools department and chairman of the nattonal Bishops' Committee on Education, says the Conference is seeking $32 million in state aid, as recently proposed by Gov. Richard Ogilvie, in the form of purchase by the state of secular educational services. He has several reasons for his "much more optimistic" view. "We have the governor's backUNITED STATES PATRONIAL FEAST: Honoring the Mother of God, the Feast of the Immaculate ing; the House backed the bill Conception will be observed next Monday, DecS, a holyday of obligation. We invoke daily the last session; the money (for aid) aid of our Blessed lady for ourselves and our country when we pray the 'Hail, Mary." NC Photo. i~ there through taxes, there's bi-partisan support (for state aid); four states-Pennsylvania, Ohio, Connecticut and Rhode Island, have already passed forms of state aid, and there is a more congenial climate for state aid legislation in Illinois." Bishop McManus doesn't believe any legal conflict will arise fro In a purchase of services aid bill. Vol. 13, No. 49, Dec. 4, '1969 "I'm sure the governor wouldn't have recommended it Price 10c $4.00 per Year (the $32 million grant), if there © 1969 The Anchor were any (legal problems)." As A surprisingly large numthe danger of state control DULUTH (NC)-The Du- for if aid is given, he said the pos· ber of parochial schools in. luth diocesan Catholic school sibllity is "remote." two of the largest commun~ The lIIinois Catholic Confersystem is facing a financiafi ities in the Fall River DioTurn to Page Four ' crisis; but a lack of conficese are in alarming financial dence is perhaps more serious, straits and may have to close according to Bishop Paul F. Antheir doors. BOSTON (NC)-Hospital derson. The day-to-day situation is "In explaining decreased school constantly being reviewed by the care is costing more because parish pastors with the diocesan hospitals are doing more, enrollment, many people consider it basically a financial problem," school system office, Rev. Patrick J. O'Neill, superintendent, reveal.' says Sister Francis Michael, the Bishop asserted.. "Personally I feel that it is administrator of the 336-bed ed today. ST. PAUL (NC}-BeginTurn to Page Six Tum to Page Four Tum to Page Six
Schools dJThel Stresses Future ANCHOR Duluth Bleak Bind Services Increa·se As Hospita I Rates Rise,' Nun Says
Write, S.O.S.
W-r..i-l-e,
W·..r •..i·-t"·e
Sa'va Our Schoo1ls
on the executive committee of Save our schools. the School Superintendents' Department of the National CathThis cry' refers to the present crisis facing the parochial school systems of this Comolic Educational Association. .monwealth and in this diocese. The NCEA is the official organHowever, it also has refer-' ization of Catholic education in America. Its membership con- ence to the insurmountable sists of over 15,000 administra- problems that local public tors and teachers. school systems will face if The Superintendents' Depart- the parochial schools are to close ment of NCEA is a strong policy their doors. And, it also concerns making unit that finds its great- the assumption of the responsiest challenge in encouraging re- bility by local taxpayers. search, fostering change and It must be made clear that shaping new educational struc- this problem, in many ways, is tures in education. Fr. O'Neil not merely a Catholic difficulty. has already made a great contri- It now effects the entire combution to Catholic education by munity. Rev. John F. Moore, B.A., M.A., ·M.Ed. his policy handbook, his involveSufficient material has been 55. Peter & Paul; Fall River ment in the movement of dioc- published in local newspapers to esan school boards, and his indicate the horror scene' that And, cities will be in a state of it~; responsibility if the local comschool accounting system for will ensue if the parochial schools complete bankruptcy. '. munities cannot meet the educaCatholic elementary and high are no longer able to continue These are just a few problems tion problem. And, if not the schools. The accounting system due to the lack of finances. in the crisis that will face each state, then the Federal governby Father O'Neill has now been ment. and every citizen. Tax rates will soar! adopted in over 15 dioceses of It Is most encouraging that the Thus, it is quite obvious, that Public education could not Turn to Page Six t.he country. function effectively. the Commonwealth must assume
the
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Allot Scholarship Funds to Assist Minn. Teachers
ning next Summer, the St. Paul and Minneapolis Archdiocesan Council of Catholic
Women scholarship fund will be used for upgrading teaching ability and qualifications of teachers presently working in archdiocesan schools and churches. The program marks a significant shift from the present program of providing scholarships to young women studying education at nearby Catholic colleges. The new program is an at· tempt to meet a presently unfilled need for in-service teacher training according to Mrs. Arthur H. Henderson, scholarship chairman. The change is also a result of increased scholarship aid to St. Catherine's College from the Archbishops' Appeal and of declining contributions over the past years to the ACCW fund. Because the new program almost certainly will benefit more schools in the archdiocese, it is hoped that more parishes wiH take part in the new program, Mrs. Henderson said. Under the new program, Turl\ to Page Six