University of Massachusetts Amherst ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 1951 The Establishment and growth of Catholic secondary education in Western Massachusetts. Mary V. Harrington University of Massachusetts Amherst Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses Harrington, Mary V., "The Establishment and growth of Catholic secondary education in Western Massachusetts." (1951). Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014. 3120. Retrieved from https://scholarworks.umass.edu/theses/3120 This thesis is brought to you for free and open access by ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. It has been accepted for inclusion in Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014 by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks@UMass Amherst. For more information, please contact [email protected]. FIVE COLLEGE DEPOSITORY r 1; r:. ir, r a ! n. i s 1.1 i\'i i'. n ' r a. K'd g r o w t h o f GAT! KAl.lC F.l:CO!\']:>ARY EDUCATiON !!x' Vv'l:;!Tl'i''.KN MASSACMUSETTS A 1I D AIJCHIVES THESIS M 1951 H3II THE ESTABLISHMENT AND GROTVTH OP CATHOLIC SECONDARY EDUCATION IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS By MARy V. HARRINGTON A problem submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Science Degree University of Massachusetts 1951 TABLE OP CONTENTS TABLE OP CONTENTS Page TABLE OP CONTENTS.11 LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS.lx CHAPTER I — INTRODUCTION . 2 Establishment of Catholic Schools ••••••• 2 papal Sanction. 3 Legislation In America . 3 Traditional Influence ••• . 4 Nature of Catholic Religious Education • • • • • 4 Difficulties. 5 Organization - Comparison with Secular School • 6 Curr 1 culum. 7 Accredltlngs . 8 CHAPTER II — SCHOOL SYSTEM IN WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS 1644 ■ 1867 . 10 Public School System - Elementary . 10 Public Secondary Schools •• . • 10 Catholic School System - Elementary . • 11 Development and Growth . ••••••• 12 CHAPTER III — THE PAROCHIAL HIGH SCHOOLS OP WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS T".15 SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL. SPRINGPIELD Establishment ..15 Girls High School ..15 Course of Study.16 Pacllltles. 16 Present Status . ••••• 17 Extra Curricular ••••• . 17 - Iv - Page SACRED HEART HIGH SCHOOL. HOLYOKE Establishment ••••••• . 17 Re-opening .. 18 Community Building . 19 Courses and Faculty ••••••••••• 19 Extra Curricular Activities ••••••• 19 Scholarships •••••• . 20 SAINT JOSEPHUS HICH SCHOOL. NORTH ADAMS Establishment •••••••••••••• 20 High School Construction . 21 Extra Curriculum .. 23 Alumni. 23 Scholarships . 23 SAINT MICHAEL^S HIGH SCHOOL. NORTHAll^.PTON Establishment. 23 Faculty and Courses •<••••• . 25 Enrollment ..'••• 26 High School Construction . 26 Extra Curricular Activities . 27 Present Courses . 28 Scholarships . ••••• 28 HOLY NAME HIGH SCHOOL. CHICOPEE Establishment. 29 First Graduating Class • .. 29 Growth Over Fifty Years. 30 Present Status •••••* . • 30 - V - f’age SAINT JOSEPHUS CATHOLIC CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, PITTSFI^iXD Establishment •••••• . • 31 Growth .. 31 Buildings.33 New Building. 33 Faculty and Courses ••«•••••••• 35 St. Joseph* 3 “ Central ..35 Present Status . 35 Scholarships .. 37 SAINT MARY*S HIGH SCHOOL. ;i^STFIELD Establishment. 37 Faculty and Course of Study ..38 ' Plans for Central High School ...... 38 Growth .......... 39 Faculty .. 39 Scholarships ... ..... 39 ROSARY HIGH SCHOOL. HOLYOKE Establishment . ...... 40 First Graduating Class ..40 Faculty . ........ 41 Boy*s Club. 41 Rosary - A Central High School ..... 41 Extra Curricular Activities ..42 Scholarships . 42 - Vi - Page SAINT JEROME»S HIGH SCHOOL. HOLYOKE Establishment • • • .. 42 High School for Girls sind Boys • • • • 43 Activities. 44 PRECIOUS BLOOD HIGH SCHOOL, HOLYOKE Establishment ••••••••••••• 44 Pour Year Course. 45 Courses. 46 CATHEDRAL HIGH SCHOOL, SPRINGFIELD Establishment •••••••• . 46 Plans for School.•••••• 46 Sisters of Saint Joseph •••••••• 47 First Building. 48 Other Facilities •••••• . 48 Beaven High School. •••••••••• 49 Present Enrollment . 50 Faculty. 52 Extra Curricular Activities •••••• 52 Alumni. 53 Scholarships .. 53 CHAPTER IV — SUMMATION OF THE PAROCHIAL HIGH SCHOOLS IN \VESTERN MASSACHUSETTS 55 Chronological Listing of Schools . 55 Total Enrollment .. 56 t Faculties .. 58' Distribution •• . ••••••« 58 - vil - Page FINANCIAL ASPECTS.58 Erection.58 Support.59 ADMINISTRATION . 62 Diocesan Director . •••• 62 Diocesan Supervisors . 64 Community Supervisors •••••••••• 64 The pastor ••••••••• . • 65 The Principal ••••••••• . 65 Faculty •••• . •••••••• 65 Preparation and Qualifications •••••• 66 COURSE OF STUDY.67 Religion ..67 Religion - A Core Subject.68 Correlation.70 Religion - Course of Study.71 Public and Parochial School Course of Study.71 Unification of 1939 72 Methods of Teaching ..73 Textbooks • . ••••• 73 Examinations •••••• . •• 73 EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES . 75 Non-Religious Activities . 75 Religious Extra Curricular Activities • • 78 Holy Childhood.78 - vill - Page Retreats •••••• . 78 Buildings and Equipment.. 79 Scholarships .. 80 Alumni and Alumnae Associations ••••••• 80 Public Relations ••••• . •• 82 Meeting of Editorial Groups . •• 82 CHAPTER V — CONCLUSION. 85 APPENDICES -- EXCERPTS PROM THE DIOCESAN HIGH SCHOOL CURRICULA . 88 PROGRAM OP STUDIES - DIOCESAN HIGH SCHOOLS, SPRINGPIELD, MASSACHUSETTS . 95 BIBLIOGRAPHY . 98 LIST OP ILLUSTRATIONS Page Saint Josephus High School, North Adams •••••• 22 Saint Michael*s High Schod, Northampton •••••• 24 Saint Joseph*s Catholic Central High School, Pittsfield...32 Baseball and Basketball Teams ..34 Dramatic Activities . 36 High School Rooms. 61 Social Activities...63 Musical Activities 77 Athletics 81 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION The establishment of Catholic Schools in Western Massachusetts was begun in the latter part of the Nine¬ teenth Century* Their growth is even now continuing* In this treatise we will study the establishment and growth of Catholic Parochial High Schools in Western Massachusetts. The field which is under consideration includes the counties of Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire. Prom the point of view of the religious schools it is rather a for¬ tuitous allocation of territory since it is the area in¬ cluded in the present Springfield Diocese after the recent division. Establishment of Catholic Schools - Divine Sanction — The Catholic Secondary Schools in Western Massachusetts are a natural outgrowth of the Elementary Catholic Schools in the area just as these latter developed naturally as a medium for the religious education that is imperative and indispensable in the Catholic Church. Prom its origin, the Catholic Church is a teaching institution, having received its charter from Christ Himself, when He said to the Apos¬ tles whom He had had in training for three years: "Going therefore, teach ye all nations."^ In the 2000 years since its foundation, the Catholic Church has devoted her energies despite difficulties and hardships to the education of her members. Her primary concern was the formal instruction (1; Holy Bibl^New Testament, Matt. XXVIII, 19. 3 In the truths necessary for salvation. These truths of Christian education are so closely linked with secular education and education for democracy that the Church, whenever possible, happily combines in her system of edu¬ cation, secular and religious education. Papal Sanction — By Canon Law, the code of laws of the Catholic Church, the Clergy are responsible for the religious instruction of the people. ”It is the inallen- right as well as the indispensable duty of the Church to watch over the entire education of her children, in all Institutions, public and private, not merely in regard to the religious instruction there given, but in fegard to every other branch of learning and every regulation inso¬ far as religion and morality are concerned.”^ Legislation in America -- Just how this instruction is to be taken care of in this country has been specifi¬ cally designated by the hierarchy of the Catholic Church of America, assembled in the Third Plenary Council of Bal¬ timore, in 1884. The Council - the Bishops of the United States - decreed that every pastor should establish a school unless specifically exempted by the local bishop from so doing. They decreed: “* I. Near each church, where it does not yet exist, a parochial school is to be erected within two years from the promulgation of this Council, and is to be maintained in perpetuum, unless the (2)Codex Juris Canonic!, CC 1381, 1382. 4 bishop, on account of grave difficulties, Judge that a postponement be allowed. II. A priest who, by his grave negligence, prevents the erection of a school within this time, or its maintehance,, or who, after repeated admonitions of the bishop, does not attend to the matter, deserves removal from that church. III. A mission or a parish which so neglects to assist a priest in erecting or maintaining a school, that by reason of this supine negligence the school is rendered Impossible, should be reprehended by the bishop, and by the most effi¬ cacious and prudent means possible, induced to contribute the necessary support.*”^ Traditional Influence -- This Church legislation for the education of children harmonized well with the ideals, hopes and goals of the Catholic population of the area \mder discussion. The parents of the Catholic Children of school age had been born and brought up under the European system or imbued with its spirit, which they had inherited from their m immigrant forebears. They were looking forward to the day when their children, now availing themselves of the advan¬ tages offered by the secular institutions of