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6/10/1943 - Visits to Schools of Home Economics; The Quebec School System; Clergy and Lalty in by Marine Leland

CONFIDENTIAL Northampton Mass June I0 Dear Mr Rogers Although trips which I mking Abbe Tessier their chief purpose visit schools economics quite nturally involve great aspects French Canadian In these visits schools chiefly means But schools themselves interesting The spent travelling along south shore St Lawrence Rimouski inland insight rural aspects Qebec which I never before several questions which answered least partially Moreover informl conversations Abb Tessier assistant share former opinions entirely enlightening Finally completely ntural which I allowed visit schools alone either teachers students furnished unlocked informti I think generally agreed among those French Cadians unsuspicious people In rural districts especially lived complete isolation delighted mnifestatlon interest outside They nothing their normal presence sympathetic visitor eager getting We Smith College visitors It ntural The I Abbe Tessier I speak French rurally helped everyone The often eager learn about American schools I several Smith College catalogs Smithls School unconnected Smith College Home Economics I drenched views counterviews I collected small significant details I believe thing limit letter chief impressions which I gained First I deeply struck intricate reaching organization school system Province Quebec This intricacy characteristic similar organizations France notable difference however Canad everything stems Church ramifications school systemextend beyond Schools themselves For instance students Province Qebec enrolled society called J E O Jeunesse Etudiante Catholique which itself larger which culminates discussed J C 0rdre Jacques Cartier Catholic secret society planned Msonic lines purpose combatting Masonic Protestant English speaking fluence The Imperialists French Oan Liberals organ izatlon light sinister power It extremely Ifflcul learn anything about 0rdre Jacques Cartier lower orders accessible In I frequently tuged ultra conservative French Canadians inform myself concerning these Youth Organizations Books pamphlets dellng The Church schools these associations several other ramifications tight which covers entire Province To extent general public believes active question which I prepare answer So impression ultra Nation lists French Canadian Liberals Imperialists other gerate importance these organizations It strikes motives interest indulge wishful thinking These associations relatively remains extent influence youth which growi I dwelt length example ramifications Qaebec School System because bogies which American Journalists American visitors often introduce English proof baleful influence French Czdins modern politics The other strong impression which I carried exact opposite which I Just escribed regar omnipotence Church It quiet extremely earnest effort rench Canadian population wrest priests monopoly schools The clergy taine bitter defeat couple months legislation mking obligatory chilren Province Qaebec enacted provincial parliament The dilemm which clergy itself without amusing In orler Justify existence population which becoming increasingly restive finding itself obliged things which always distasteful which result diminution power First subject teaching staff priests government examinations It members examination boards still drawn extent clergy include laymen ereas formerly clergy these boars assumed wtchdogs laymen wtching activities clergy Thesecondthingwhichtheclergyhshtoaccept trainlaymen relatively important techlng positions This large measure pressure exerte laymen Jobs It religious vocations becoming scarcer every The priests numerous sufficiently numerous provide enough teachers especially teachers satisfy demands public people trained according modern standrde As clergy finds itself extremely vicious circle This situation population perfect example French Canadian proceeds achieve desires Mauy people especially French France shown impatience French Oanadians inertia their stead refusal attack clergy openly To knows sltution Qebec attack absolutely question For thing revolution would meant dismemberment closely families since there scarcely family Province Quebec which daughters cousins aunts uncles among clergy Here again situation changing gradull As I number religious vocations falling Priests drawn almost exclusively rural districts where still exists priest family constitutes ladder See Thirty Across Macmillan Compn New York Many themselves become priest living acquire social prestige In other words decidedly minds priesthood convents Personally I single family become prieshe twenty years There course again clergy finds itself unfortunate situation there social I between priests humble drawn upper class The former being large mJority latter prevent whenever possible occupylr important tions Church This itself contributes little making priesthood unattractive young culture Yinlly educated public getting weary being pushed around above entrust education children little respect intellectully despise socially The priests often overbearing dictatorial uncouth There course innumerable ceptions I under impression clergy Province Qebec anywhere Mexico Spain Italy The morals French Canadian clergy generally recognized cellent their manners The struggle between clergy laymen drawn there little doubt concerning outcome As matter things moved rapidly course years Now I pointed wrong about clergy I think mention I I think remarks concerning about laity truer picture situation Qebec In order understand valvble oontrtbuionS which clerg maetothevelopmenofenO inorerlsotoersnd enchdtnsesottohetot itsoneoesrostop oneofesllleseither1othecostoftheSt orbetterstill inthosewhichwerecolonizedSome60or0srown thepoptionwhioh settlednr therirbeme toonerous frmsailbleanwentiinsrofbleld Theselles resittedffrom eilrdantowith thementofrs pretty hovrte coctionwih theoutseworld IS onwhich settlewere notslaysood theportysextreme In thecose tripI oosiontordthehtsto ofeconventswhichwe these convents ftions rowiththele sritebeitnave sense rships pioneers riving through these small villages I especiaAly onscious enormous churches solid convents contrast poverty house which villages My reason being conscious themis IvesrcelevermetnElishspktravellerwhos notshockedtthiscontrast whodinotawromitthewholele ierencetthe bitstvebeenbledwhite toprovideemone toilthemndtt thesetticstctesweretnotherinsce thispr iesriddencot chterencesre notentirelyo Iserch interestedinseei othersi theestion Intheirstplace thepovertothe11 oteninished houses which Pronce iniCtion wtsoever theficilstusotheoer Liketheenchpt theFrench Cdi nothi aprces noticed reripseintheconvertionof twoconionsewell_to nfilIskedJustwhetheell I stold eression When ocsion these houses Isstby extreme cliness cohort which exist There nothi outside which possibly inition insideexceptthecords ofvefinewoodwhichonenoticesIIIothe Moreover Idoftennere where outstay poverty stricken bitnt foithemoney tosendhissontoopefor severalyearsof ocrence Province To return Church which cause feelings travellers object prile population These normous churches symbolize contact civilization They embod habitant aspirations human being light color As I pointed Church Convent population They began humble dwellings financial conditions improved village outward symbol prosperity misguided splendor The parochial where clubs where plsys given where villgeor school policies discussed When overnight village realize going evening service attending Mass Sunday something something forward There movies course The priest Big Man He Church mesms contact outside world On other there nothing mystical habitant attitude toward clergy This where inference priest ridden province which I referred above astray The habitant better Protestant tinguish clearly between Divine human aspects Church As matter I inclined believe freer relationship Priests politicians latter reason political influence united clergy whereas former merely dealing individual money As convents bring young girls village outlying districts refinement whichrries Whatever against admitted certain discipline which reflected their genuine dignity exquisite manners Each Order traditions gardless humble social group which recruited every Novice through rigid training period which produces individual absolutely different original subject In years which I spent Canada I factured I material resulting product This training Army andvy indoctrination One aspects French Canada which always puzzled level educti large population I found difficult understan people public private apparently attendea schools suddenly turned their native village handwriting style certai general polish elegance In course visits these economics schools I picked students books their desks I several their compositions I enclosing welcome speech which written before young small Plessisville The author copied request From repeated experiences I conclusion education which furnis these innumer country convents precisely which given schools Montreal Quebec I noted qualities defects This quite ntural course since accordir convental rules shifted fashionable convent Montreal country school versa since received training other members community Moreover French Canadian childrenhve lively although particularlyn quiring minds absorb great readiness anything efore The rural population naturally aware priests Moreover through clergy tioml history inculcated establishes inescapable associa minds people between racial survival Church The point which I today laymen fsilttre support progressive They beset petty dirty politics This course peculiar French Candiansbut constituted danger their survival Mny French Canadians themselves their worst enemies Except emergency collectively strictly individual lines They oppose progressive measure which interferes imterests group individual I tempted thizk times education example would Perhaps there strongly centralized power Church which carried almost years The French Canadians aware realization again explains their hesitancy movement Church whatever defined grievances privately against The attitude Catholic Church profoumdly distasteful I stifling course these tripe I realize certain things which unbearable unbearable Emglish speakimg people acceptable appear normal liberal iconoclastic French Canadians I Where intolerable merely In French Catholic traditions inextricably bound French Canadiam I tried especially during twoeks through people I envisage situa tions which I against point another rather I endeavored learn I think think In I deliberate effort discrd preconceived ideas about French Cand I This attempt successful I could lieved possible simple reason I different I I arrived reassuring conclusion I really although there cerin grounl which useful reference I curious learn Mr Corbett reaction schools which visit I think point furnish valuable basis comlrison between French nglish points Sincerely