CONVENT EDUCATION A Summing-up

SIR,—May I add to the number of letters on the question of convent schools one which I know represents the view of a considerable number of lay teachers?
A discussion of this kind tends to draw forth individual attack and defence—and often rouses feelings
which obscure the real issue. Each person involved in education at the convent school, the girl, the parent, the teacher, re-acts according to her (or his) personal experience. Most of us know of girls who have been unhappy at school, of teachers who have been, or seem to have been unfairly treated, or parents who are dissatisfied with the results of the education their children receive. In this, convent schools differ not at all from other schools, though a certain lack of choice on the part of parents and of teachers must increase opportunities for criticism. On the other hand, most children are happy, many staffs contented and many parents, Catholic and non-Catholic, wellsatisfied. Are the criticisms therefore to be ignored? We think not. The good of the Chuich demands that Catholic schools, while keeping close to their primary aim, the fostering of the Faith, should lead, in standards of education certainly, and no less in the practice of Catholic justice as between employer and employed, and in showing a Christian sense of the importance of each individual in every station in life.
We hope that for the sake of the future of religion in this country all Catholic schools will develop as many as are now developing, so that all Catholic boys and girls may have every opportunity to prepare themselves to take their rightful share, 25 members of a responsible Catholic community, in the social, political and economic life of the country; that no staffs may have occasion to feel that they are less considered in the schools of their own religion than the staffs of schools that acknowledge no such obligation to Christian behaviour; and that no parents may be made to realise that their children are deprived of the opportunity to develop their talents or to achieve their legitimate ambitions, in a Catholic atmosphere, through lack Of means.
PHYLLIS C. CHALLONER.
What About Parents ? • SIR,—Before criticising convent schools we parents should ask ourselves whether we ale giving an example in our homes of true Christian standards of living. The influence of the home should be greater than that of the school ; are we shirking our responsibilities? Do we take our rightful share in the training of our children in Catholic principles of life, thus effectively co-operating with the nuns?
JOANE RITTNEE.
Vocational Training SIR,— Miss Brenda Duncombe in her defence of convent education suggests that the fundamental argument of its critics is, in effect, that the ideals of convent schools arc too high. She continues to cite their aim of surpassing other schools in examination
StlecesSCS.
I cannot consider this a worthy ideal of Christian education. To pass school certificate is not a test of Christian integrity nor for that matter a true criterion of the suitability of any child for its vocation its life. Why should convent schools fall in with the present educational and social system if that system is not Christian? Why should
the great Catholic Church compromise on
any score with the material order where the latter is contrary to Christ's teaching? Surely our mission in life is to point the way in educational and social life and not adapt ourselves to the pagan order? .
Convent schools must not tolerate snobbery. The rotten educational system must not pervert the mission of those who have dedicated their lives to the noble cause of education. But let us not be blinded by false emotionalism where convents are concerned.
Train the children in Christian principles and help them to realise their vocation in life. It may be in the ranks of farm-work, carpentry. music. or the sphere or university Veining. but, whatever it is, the realisation of one's vocation in life is the ideal of true education.
In vocational training only can the spirit of Christianity permeate every aspect of life.
ANNE WALSH.
82, Lavington Road, W. Ealing, W.13.
A Prelate's Contribution SIR, — One convent day school I know refused a doctors daughter because her father had a surgery!
These good nuns had also the Children of Mary in two sections, the crockery and china, for the middle and elite classes !
At another convent school they refuse scholarship girls lest the others be contaminated.
" YE GODS AND LITTLE FISHES AND A PRELATE."