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Story
September 12, 1952
St. Paul Recorder
Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota
What is this article about?
US Catholics run 329 elementary schools for 72,554 Negro students, mainly in the segregated South. In Paducah, KY, Father Joseph V. Rhodes opens Rosary Chapel School, enrolling 150 Negro pupils and fostering conversions through superior education.
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Catholics Now Have 329 Schools For Negro Pupils
Current TIME Magazine (September 15) reports that U. S. Catholics have enrolled 72,554 Negro pupils in 329 elementary schools. In most northern states the schools are mixed but in the south where most of them are located the segregation pattern is followed except in cities like St. Louis where a courageous Archbishop has put an end to Jim Crow schools in his diocese.
Said TIME:
"For a solid year. Father Joseph V. Rhodes, 37, of Paducah, Ky.. has been pitching in with lathe, level and paint brush to help build a new parochial school. Last week classes began in Rosary Chapel School, a three-story brick building containing six classrooms and eight grades, living quarters for four Ursuline teacher-nuns. a cafeteria. and a basement auditorium seating about 200.
But the statistic Father Rhodes was truly proud of was the enrollment: 150 Negro pupils.
"Located in the middle of a Negro neighborhood, Rosary draws students from Paducah's entire Negro community. Five years ago, when Rosary first started in a modest private residence, there were not more than ten Negro Catholics in Paducah (pop. 32,828); today there are about 85. In the first batch of 30 pupils, not one was a Catholic. Most of them became converts at Rosary.
"Father Rhodes does not attribute this growth to aggressive proselytizing. Though daily Mass and doctrinal instruction are compulsory at Rosary, the emphasis is on running a better school than the segregated public schools available to Negroes "The pupils are very eager to come here' says Father Rhodes. The parents are as eager for them to come.'
"With a tuition of $1 per month per student, Rosary is hardly self-supporting. Despite local contributions. nearly the full $87.000 cost of the new building had to be met from outside funds. Chief source of these funds in a near $1.000.000 earmarked last year by the church for "Catholic Missions Among the Colored People and the Indians." Such funds have been funneled mainly into school construction. Result: in the U. S. there are now 329 Catholic elementary schools for Negroes. most of them in the South. teaching 72,554 pupils."
Current TIME Magazine (September 15) reports that U. S. Catholics have enrolled 72,554 Negro pupils in 329 elementary schools. In most northern states the schools are mixed but in the south where most of them are located the segregation pattern is followed except in cities like St. Louis where a courageous Archbishop has put an end to Jim Crow schools in his diocese.
Said TIME:
"For a solid year. Father Joseph V. Rhodes, 37, of Paducah, Ky.. has been pitching in with lathe, level and paint brush to help build a new parochial school. Last week classes began in Rosary Chapel School, a three-story brick building containing six classrooms and eight grades, living quarters for four Ursuline teacher-nuns. a cafeteria. and a basement auditorium seating about 200.
But the statistic Father Rhodes was truly proud of was the enrollment: 150 Negro pupils.
"Located in the middle of a Negro neighborhood, Rosary draws students from Paducah's entire Negro community. Five years ago, when Rosary first started in a modest private residence, there were not more than ten Negro Catholics in Paducah (pop. 32,828); today there are about 85. In the first batch of 30 pupils, not one was a Catholic. Most of them became converts at Rosary.
"Father Rhodes does not attribute this growth to aggressive proselytizing. Though daily Mass and doctrinal instruction are compulsory at Rosary, the emphasis is on running a better school than the segregated public schools available to Negroes "The pupils are very eager to come here' says Father Rhodes. The parents are as eager for them to come.'
"With a tuition of $1 per month per student, Rosary is hardly self-supporting. Despite local contributions. nearly the full $87.000 cost of the new building had to be met from outside funds. Chief source of these funds in a near $1.000.000 earmarked last year by the church for "Catholic Missions Among the Colored People and the Indians." Such funds have been funneled mainly into school construction. Result: in the U. S. there are now 329 Catholic elementary schools for Negroes. most of them in the South. teaching 72,554 pupils."
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
Biography
What themes does it cover?
Social Manners
Moral Virtue
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Catholic Schools
Negro Pupils
Segregation
Paducah School
Father Rhodes
Rosary Chapel
What entities or persons were involved?
Father Joseph V. Rhodes
Where did it happen?
Paducah, Kentucky, Usa
Story Details
Key Persons
Father Joseph V. Rhodes
Location
Paducah, Kentucky, Usa
Event Date
September 15
Story Details
US Catholics enroll 72,554 Negro pupils in 329 elementary schools, mostly segregated in the South except in places like St. Louis. Father Rhodes builds Rosary Chapel School in Paducah for 150 Negro pupils, many becoming converts, emphasizing quality education over public segregated schools.