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6 THE GEORGIA BULLETIN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1967
Archdiocesan School Bells Start Ringing August 28
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Archbishop’s
Message
(Ed. Note: Following is a
letter from Archbishop Paul J.
Hallinan to teachers in the
Archdiocese of Atlanta on the
future of education.)
Our Archdiocese, like every
part of the Catholic American
scene, is facing a series of
tensions in regard to education.
Not catastrophes, not crises.
Our course is clear, but the
tensions come because a series
of hard facts are at present
creating anxiety.
Among these hard factsare:-
a) the Catholic growth, es-
N pecially at the school level;
b) Atlanta’s shifting, mobile
population; c) our insistance on
top-quality education, pro
gramming, salaries, equipment
and extra-curricular . oppor
tunities; d) the rising costs of
construction, labor, materials
and design; e) the properly-
placed emphasis on the division
of the "Catholic-dollar'’: pas
toral, social, liturgical,, inner-
city, ecumenical, public schools
and college level - up to now,
the majority of the dollar has
gone to our schools.
In the ongoing (and daily)
study of these incontrovertible
facts, the Archdiocese of At
lanta is pursuing two paths to
one goal - good Christian edu
cation for all. First is the con
tinued operation of every Cath
olic school until it is. simply
educationally and financially
impossible. There will be no
across-the-board phasing out.
Second is the continued ex
ploration of every Other facet
of religious education, es
pecially fhe "Schools of Re
ligion". Every parish must
have such a school with trained
lay teachers, good content and
proper methodology. H.ome edu
cation is to be intensified, Cate-
chetics for high school students,
and full Newman programs for
our colleges and universities
are being developed. At least
ten trained priests and Sis
ters will be directing this new
phase of our archdiocesan edu
cational movement.
We ask the understanding,
service and prayers of every
Catholic. Not only the future
of Catholicism rests in these
schools. The present itself
may flourish or wither right
in our time.
With every good wish,
Sincerely yours in Christ,
Paul J. Hallinan
Archbishop of Atlanta
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Campus Priest Outlines Goal And Role
Of Church’s Newman Apostolate Work
DK. JOHN J. (iOODLAD.
dean of the Graduate School
Of Education, University of
California at Los Angeles, is
among a group of prominent
educators preparing position
papers for the National Cath
olic education. Dr. Goodlad’s
paper will deal with new or
ganizational structures in
education. (NC Photos)
By FATHER ALVIN MATTHEWS
O.F.M.
"Newman, what's that?"
"Newman...isn’t that a retreat
movement, or something?’’
"Newman, you’re out of your
cotton picking head...me join
it!” And so the comments go,
and confusion reigns. Possibly
the least understood (or most
mis-understood) phase of the
up-rooted Church is the New
man Apostolate. Any chaplain
can.relate a bewildering varie
ty of interpretations given by
the people of God concerning
the Newman effort. To one it
represents the campus ping-
pong club; to another a non
computerized date bureau; to
a third a sort of ghetto or re
fuge for the campus weakling
who can’t make the grade in
either a fraternity or dorm so
cial life, and so on ad infinitum.
School Calendar!
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
23 — Registration Day
24 — Teachers' Work Day
25 •— In-Service Training - Principals'
Meeting
28 — Schools Open For Classes
28-31 —- Metropolitan Reading Tests -
Elementary
4 — Labor Day - Holiday
19 — Testing - Kuhlman Anderson,
Grades 1, 4, 7
1 ___ Census Forms Returned to Dept.
of Catholic Education
13 •— No Classes - Liturgical Workshop
27 — First Marking Period Ends
2 — Testing - NEDT Achievement,
Grades 9-10 - Kuder Preference, 1
Grades 11
3 —- Report Cards Issued
23-24 — Thanksgiving Holidays
20 — Christmas Holidays Begin
1968
2 —- Classes Resume
15-18 — Testing
18 — Second Marking Period Ends
19 -— Teachers’ Work Day
27 — Report Cards Issued
16 Teachers’ Institute-St. Joseph High
School - No Classes
6 — Testing - SRA High School Place-
. ment, Grade 8
6-7-8 Testing - SRA Achievement,
Grades 1-7
18 — Winter Holiday - No Classes
22 — Third Marking Period Ends
29 — Report Cards Issued
April
11 -— Easter Holidays Begin
16 — Classes Resume
May
25 — Archdiocesan High School Gradua
tion
27-30 Semester Exams
31 —- Last Day of School - Report Cards
Issued
June
3-4 —- Teachers’ Work Days
This official calendar for the schools of the Archdio
cese of Atlanta meets the requirements of the State of
Georgia for school attendance. Written permission from
the Secretary of Education is necessarO for any variation
from this schedule of class days. Pastors may choose
one day for the Pastor’s Holiday. A Monday or Friday
in the winter months is suggested by this office.
Cafeteria Lunch
Prices Go Up
The Cafeteria Managers of the Archdiocesan School
System have requested an increase in the price of lunch
es this year. Because of the losses incurred in so many
of our cafeterias lastyear.due to rising food prices and
a decline in the amount of Gbvernment commodities re
ceived, the Department of Catholic Education has granted
this permission.
Lunches in the elementary schools this year will sell
for. . . . . . ............. ............ .35£
Lunches in the high schools will sell for. .... .40^
AH faculty lunches will sell for. . ...........50^
Persons working at the schools on a volunteer basis
will be expected to pay for lunches at faculty prices.
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Old labels die hard, but even
tually do die. And a few old
labels that must die are that
Newman is either a "club’’ or
an extension of the C.Y.O.,
C.C.Q or the Catholic Boy
Scouts. True, it was a "club"
at one time in the defensive days
of the "Know-Nothing" era
and the early days of this cen
tury. And at that time it was
a refuge or ghetto for the out
numbered and outwitted Cath
olic in the secular milieu. But
times have changed, Newman
has matured and Vatican II has
had its say, SothattheNewman
mission of today and in the fu
ture bears little resemblance
to the "good old days." ’
The Newman of today is you,
the whole people of God. It is
the priesthoods of Aaron and
Melchisidech working side by
side in the secular academic
city. Newman is the contem
porary extension of Christ into
one phase of the modern world,
the secular university or col
lege. And it exists there with
the definite goal of participat
ing in the presentation of every
thing that is good and true and
beautiful of the past, present
and future so that the academic
community can know and per
fect itself as a "Sacrament to
the world,” a vital and dy
namic sign to all.
FATHER ALVIN
The "sign” value of the
Newman Community is achiev
ed first and foremost in the full,
conscious and active participa
tion in the Liturgy. For the lit
urgy is "the summit toward
★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
which the activity of the Church
is directed” ...and.. Vat the
same time it is the fount from
which all her power flows,’’ It
is the heart of any and all New
man communities.
In the intellectually frag
mented and compartmentalized
modern university, the Newman
Community exists as a "sign"
of the whole person...a view in
which the values of intellect,
will, conscience and fraternity
are pre-eminent as rooted in
God and restored in Christ, The
Catholic on campus must know
that he is not there as a stu
dent only, or only to get a de
gree. He is there to grow as a
person, an individual as well as
a communal "sign" dedicated
to the task of harmonizing the
intellectual order of secular
realities and directing them to
God through Christ.
Pope Paul once asked for a
bridge to the modern world,
and a dialogue with all men.
Newman echoes the challenge
and provides the bridge by its
very presence on campus. For
it is uniquely situated to be the
forum, the fount for responsi
ble participation in the ecu
menical endeavours necessary
to "understand the outlook of
our separated brethren” and
be a "sign” to them for the
sanctification of the world.
To the inquiring student who
asks about Newman, we reply:
It is the individual Catholic who
attends the secular university
or college. Newman is all that
he, as a product of his environ
ment, training and motivation,
brings to the campus. It is
all that his Christian presence
says. It is his personal "sign"
value to the campus. It is not
something that he "joins" but
"is.” And Newman on any cam
pus will only be as vital, dy
namic and living as the "sign"
is itself.
(Ed. Note: Father Matthews
is Newman chaplain at Georgia
Tech and is director of the
Newman Apostolate for the
Archdiocese of Atlanta. Other
Newman chaplains are Father
William Hoffman, Emory; Fath
er Christian Malone, Universi
ty of Georgia; Father Lorcan
Graham O.F.M., Atlanta Uni
versity.)
Education Head Reports For Year
The school year, 1966-67, was marked by the June closing of
two Archdiocesan schools, and the announced closing, two years
from this June, of EfYouville Academy, a private Catholic
school. The general uneasiness caused by the closings helped
increase a feeling of pessimism among some of the faithful that
was characteristic of the national mood. Changes, sudden and
undeniable, have caused severe tensions and grave doubts
about the future of Catholic education.
Closer examination of the situation in the Archdiocese shows
that such pessimism is not completely warranted. The closing of
Immaculate Conception School was'not the decision of the Arch
diocese, but an action forced by the'City of Atlanta’s desire to
use the land for a renewal project.
The closing of Drexel High School, although regrettable, will
actually strengthen the overall high school program. The move
was a consolidation effort. It will have the effect of Closing one
school, Drexel, that had always operated far below its capacity
enrollment, and strengthening the program of another, St. Joseph
High School, by allowing it to operate at its student capacity
for the first time. The move will also have the effect of inte
grating the student population of St. Pius X High School. The
faculty of St. Pius has been integrated for four years now.
D’Youville’s closing, however, was caused by the inability of the
Grey Nuns to continue to staff the academy with the same
number of qualified Sisters, and is, therefore, indicative of the
grave problems facing Catholic education.
A decrease in the number of teaching Sisters caused by death,
retirement, and defection* augmented by fewer girls entering
the novitiate, has made it impossible for most religious orders
to fill all of the positions they have contracted for. The result
is an increasing use of lay teachers at ever-increasing salaries,
a combination of factors that is producing severe financial
strain on our own school system, as all others.
Each year sees fewer Sisters in teaching and administrative
positions; each year the ratio of lay teachers to Sisters grows.
When we consider that the teaching Sister is what has made the
American parochial system the amazing achievement it is, we
realize the seriousness of the problem caused by the decline
in their numbers. This is the heart of the crisis, and it is in
deed a cause for concern.
Bad news, however, always gets more attention than good news.
The past year actually saw much happen that is reason for
optimism. The Synod, including the Lay and Sister Congresses,
that led up to. it, enabled the Archdiocese to re-examine its
whole educational program closely, and to chart a broad outline
that will serve as a foundation for further growth.
The Department of Catholic Education was reorganized into
six areas-Elementary, Secondary, Religious Education, Newman
Apostolate, Adult Education, and Special Education. Each area
will eventually have its own director. This will assure us that
all phases of the Church's educational responsibility will be
adequately staffed and financed.
Certainly the Synod’s recommendation for a much greater
diocesan effort in the field of catechetics will meet a great
need. As a smaller percentage of the children of the Archdiocese
receive parochial school education each year, our responsibility
for the religious instruction of children attending public school
becomes increasingly urgent. For too long a time we have tried
to provide catechetical instruction without adequate financing or
professional administration. In the future every effort will have
to be made to see that not only our children, but especially
adults are given sound religious instruction. The new Office of
Religious Education, with its full-time Director, is the begin
ning of this new thrust.
The proposal to accredit schools by the year 1972 was ap
proved not only by the Synod but by both the Education Commit
tees of the Sisters' Congress and by the Lay Congress. What
the organization of the Office of Religious Education will do for
catechetical instruction in the Archdiocese, the move to accredit
our schools by the Southern Association will dofor our parochial
schools. Over-crowded classrooms, un-degreed teachers, and
the lack of library and other instructional facilities and equip
ment, can no longer be an accepted part of Catholic education.
Whatever the future of our parochial schools, they cannot be
poor schools, or even mediocre schools. They must be excel
lent schools, and we must be willing to meet the rigorous stand
ards of a professional and independent accrediting agency.
Perhaps the most significant of all of the Synod’s proposals
was that insisting on the formation of an Archdiocese and parish
Boards of Education. The laity must be involved in policy-mak
ing for our educational programs. The decisions we will make
in all the areas of education in these difficult days must not
be made by just part of the church. They must be made by the
whole Church. Boards of Education will enable clergy, re
ligious and laity together to study the problems that confront
us, and to chart the courses that our parochial schools, schools
of religion, and other educational institutions will take in the
immediate and distant future.
Thdre Were other sources of encouragement and signs' of
growth. This past year saw our parochial schools and high
schools register their highest attendance ever, reaching to 8395,
108 over last year's total of 8287. This was contrary to the
national trend, which saw a fall-off of almost 5.6% in Catholic
elementary school attendance. The appointment of a Director
of Secondary Education, Father Jack Cotter, will give a strong
boost to our secondary program, and insure better coordination
between it and our elementary section.
In the field of the Newman Apostolate, the completion of
the beautiful and modern center at Athens, the purchase of a
building for Emory’s center, and the purchase of property ad
joining the house at Georgia Tech for future growth are all in
dicative of the impetus being given to this vital educational area.
Increased Federal Aid was also noteworthy this year. Under
Title I four schools in the City of Atlanta participated in tutor
ing programs, and schools in Marietta and Griffin took part in
local programs. Some children in schools located in CeKalb
County participated in a Remedial Reading program there.
Over $15,000 was received for library books and materials
under Title II programs. Part of this material will go to our
central film strip library, which was begun last year when over
$19,000 was received. Several of our schools also participated
in the cultural programs made available under Title III in the
City of Atlanta schools.
If the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 can
stand up in the Supreme Court, when its opponents finally test it,
this trend of increased Federal Aid can be expected to continue
in the years ahead. Itwillbea major factor in the future of pri
vate schools, especially our parochial schools.
In conclusion, I feel that although our financial problems are
severe, they are not desperate. The fact that all of our ele
mentary schools are filled to capacity reminds us that a majori
ty of our lay people want Catholic schools. All reports to the
contrary, the demand for our schools is greater than ever.
The reaction of parents to the closing of Immaculate Concep
tion School and Drexel High School demonstrated that. Again
the fact that pre-registration was greater than everfor Septem
ber 1967, despite substantial increases in tuition rates through
out the Archdiocese, indicates that enough of our parents are
able and willing to meet the increased financial burden required
for complete religious education.
Yet, we must have the courage to look at the situation of
Catholic education realistically. The great surge of building
that characterized the 1950’s has ceased. The four newest
parishes of the Archdiocese have not opened parish schools and
have no plans to do so. Two of the parishes have started out
with Sisters heading their religious education programs in
Schools of Religion, on a full-time basis. This may be an indica
tion of the future; it is too early to tell.
One thing is certain. It is a time for retrenching, of consoli
dating. We must make every effort to keep open the schools now
operating, and to shore them up financially by employing every
means of economy. At the same time we must improve their
educational programs, so they will be institutions worthy of the
To keep and make better what schools we now have; to move
into the new areas when and where we can — that must be our
program for the years immediately ahead.
Rev. Daniel J. O’Connor
Secretary for Education
Archdiocese of Atlanta