Why! chose Harrow for my sons

by LORD MONCKTON of BRENCHLEY
BEFORE I get down to theories and ideas I had better start with facts. My wife and I have five children—a boy of 16, a girl of 14, twin boys of 121 and a boy of seven.
We have always believed firstly that it was our duty to bring up our children as Catholics and secondly that they should have the best education possible. Although three of the children attended Army schools for a short time, we thought and still think that from a religious point of view the essential thing is for our children to go to a Catholic school early on in the formative years.
Accordingly, the three elder boys went to Ladycroas. an excellent Catholic preparatory school, and the youngest boy will be going there shortly. Our daughter first went to the Convent of the Sacred Heart in Tunbridge Wells and later when we went abroad again to the Ursuline Convent near Louvain in Belgium.
The big decision was the question of public school for the boys. Many factors including finance were considered. But above all I believed that Harrow provides the best education. I am biased in that I followed my father and grandfather to Harrow and I believe that tradition is no bad thing.
We decided therefore that the boys should go to Harrow. We discussed this problem beforehand with our sons and, in fact, our third son asked to go to Worth instead as from an early age he has wished to become a Benedictine. We, of course, agreed to his wish even though I could not but think that he might become an even better monk if he went to Harrow.
Our eldest is now at
Harrow, having won an open scholarship from Ladycross.
I have no regrets and no doubts. I am sure that early Catholic schooling and a Catholic home are the important things. Both Eton and Harrow look after their Catholics. Not only do they always go to Mass on Sundays but the also receive Catholic instruction from the local priest.
One hundred years ago Catholics were not allowed to go to Oxford and Cambridge. Now the Catholic influence is immense in both Universities.
suppose that apart from sending my sons to a nonCatholic school, I am also open to criticism for paying for a private education. I feel equally strongly about this point. It is not easy to find the fees and there are many things we have had to forgo but the freedom of choice has been ours. Provided that the children can pass the entrance examination, may I not spend my money on their schooling instead of foreign holidays or expensive cars?
I do not know if there are any statistics available on how many Catholic boys have given up their religion after Catholic schooling and non-Catholic schooling. It would be interesting to know. I believe the result might well prove a shock to the traditional view.
do know many very good Catholics who have survived a non-Catholic school and are all the better for it and equally I know many Cathialies who have lapsed after being at Catholic schools.
Of course, I realise that the opposite can be proved as well. I hope I have not offended anyone in what I have written and I have a great admiration for Ampleforth. Downside and Worth. I am not convinced that Catholic public and secondary schools are essential, but
am absolutely certain that Catholic preparatory and primary schools are vital.
Perhaps the Catholic education authorities should have another look at the problem of separate education. Perhaps they should concentrate on Catholic primary schools and let the elder children integrate. At least it needs discussion. Above all it is the home that matters in the religious grounding of the child. I pray we are not proved wrong.