Poughkeepsie plan
Encyclopedia
The Poughkeepsie plan or Faribault-Stillwater Plan was an arrangement contrived in 1873 in Poughkeepsie, New York
to satisfy both the desire of American Catholics to educate their children in a Catholic environment, and their preference to have schooling paid for with public funds.
In 1873 Father McSweeney, rector of St. Peter's parish and its parochial school, approached the School Board with what historian Benjamin Justice calls "an offer it could not refuse," the use of two newly renovated parochial school buildings for the rent of $1 per year. The School Board would pay for all school operating expenses and repairs. The parish would retain ownership of the buildings and complete use of them outside of school hours. The arrangement was that the School Board hired nuns belonging to the Sisters of Charity
who taught wearing their habits
.
For his part, Father McSweeney agreed that "[n]o religious exercises to be held, nor religious instruction given during the school hours." The schools were formally non-sectarian, admitting children of all faiths, but in practice they were attended by the children of Catholic families.
From the perspective of the city, the virtually free buildings meant that the schools cost only half what other public schools cost to operate. The Catholic parents and church were pleased because the School Board agreed to define the school day as running from 9am until noon, and from 1:30pm until 4pm. In practical terms, this meant that the 8:45 morning prayers took place before school hours, a short prayer was held after the official morning session ended at noon, a 30 minute period of religious instruction take place after the lunch hour but before the school day resumed, and a closing prayer was said after the school day ended at 4pm.
condemned the plan as a watering down of true Catholic education. Most of the negative responses, however, came as part of the broader debate over America's common schools, from people committed to the idea that having all children attend the same public school was an important way of Americanizing the children of immigrants. Historian Benjamin Justice was unable to discover that there was any opposition in Poughkeepsie itself.
Archbishop John Ireland
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
admired the plan and put it into effect in two towns in his diocese, Faribault, Minnesota
and Stillwater, Minnesota
. Because Ireland was regarded as dangerously liberal by the predominately Catholic Church of the era, his support for the Poughkeepsie plan probably helped crystallize Catholic opposition to this model.
In 1898 the New York State Superintendent of Schools ruled the plan illegal. The plan ended when he threatened to cut off school funding to Poughkeepsie.
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to satisfy both the desire of American Catholics to educate their children in a Catholic environment, and their preference to have schooling paid for with public funds.
Plan
The arrangement was worked out between Father Patrick F. McSweeney and the Poughkeepsie School Board. From the 1840s forward, the School Board rented almost all rooms and buildings used as schools in an effort to keep costs low. Over the decades the School Board rented several churches on weekdays and sundry other kinds of buildings, including theaters that stood vacant during the day and disused factories.In 1873 Father McSweeney, rector of St. Peter's parish and its parochial school, approached the School Board with what historian Benjamin Justice calls "an offer it could not refuse," the use of two newly renovated parochial school buildings for the rent of $1 per year. The School Board would pay for all school operating expenses and repairs. The parish would retain ownership of the buildings and complete use of them outside of school hours. The arrangement was that the School Board hired nuns belonging to the Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity of New York
The Sisters of Charity of New York is a religious congregation of women in the Catholic Church whose primary missions are education and nursing and who are dedicated in particular to the service of the poor.-History:...
who taught wearing their habits
Religious habit
A religious habit is a distinctive set of garments worn by members of a religious order. Traditionally some plain garb recognisable as a religious habit has also been worn by those leading the religious eremitic and anachoritic life, although in their case without conformity to a particular uniform...
.
For his part, Father McSweeney agreed that "[n]o religious exercises to be held, nor religious instruction given during the school hours." The schools were formally non-sectarian, admitting children of all faiths, but in practice they were attended by the children of Catholic families.
From the perspective of the city, the virtually free buildings meant that the schools cost only half what other public schools cost to operate. The Catholic parents and church were pleased because the School Board agreed to define the school day as running from 9am until noon, and from 1:30pm until 4pm. In practical terms, this meant that the 8:45 morning prayers took place before school hours, a short prayer was held after the official morning session ended at noon, a 30 minute period of religious instruction take place after the lunch hour but before the school day resumed, and a closing prayer was said after the school day ended at 4pm.
Response
The Catholic newspaper the New York FreemanNew York Freeman
The New York Freeman formally the New-York freeman's journal and Catholic register, was an American Catholic newspaper. It was owned at its inception by Bishop John Hughes....
condemned the plan as a watering down of true Catholic education. Most of the negative responses, however, came as part of the broader debate over America's common schools, from people committed to the idea that having all children attend the same public school was an important way of Americanizing the children of immigrants. Historian Benjamin Justice was unable to discover that there was any opposition in Poughkeepsie itself.
Archbishop John Ireland
John Ireland (archbishop)
John Ireland was the third bishop and first archbishop of Saint Paul, Minnesota . He became both a religious as well as civic leader in Saint Paul during the turn of the century...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in the United States. It is led by the prelature of an archbishop which administers the archdiocese from the cities of Saint Paul and Minneapolis...
admired the plan and put it into effect in two towns in his diocese, Faribault, Minnesota
Faribault, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,818 people, 7,472 households, and 4,946 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,644.8 people per square mile . There were 7,668 housing units at an average density of 605.8 per square mile...
and Stillwater, Minnesota
Stillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
. Because Ireland was regarded as dangerously liberal by the predominately Catholic Church of the era, his support for the Poughkeepsie plan probably helped crystallize Catholic opposition to this model.
In 1898 the New York State Superintendent of Schools ruled the plan illegal. The plan ended when he threatened to cut off school funding to Poughkeepsie.