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Manuals
Conduct of Christian Schools:
FIRST PART - Chapter 1
SCHOOL PRACTICES AND THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY ARE TO BE CARRIED OUT
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CHAPTER 1
Concerning Entering School and Beginning School
ARTICLE 1
Entrance of Students
The doors of the schools will always be opened at 7:30 in the morning and at 1:00 in the afternoon. In the morning as well as in the afternoon, the students will always have half an hour in which to assemble.
Care will be taken that they do not assemble in a crowd in the street before the door is opened and that they do not make noise by shouting or singing.
They will not be permitted to amuse themselves by playing and running in the vicinity of the school during this time nor to disturb the neighbors in any manner whatsoever. Care will be taken that they walk with decorum into the street in which the school is situated and that while waiting for the door to be opened they stop there in such good order that those who pass will be edified. The Head Teacher or the Inspector of Schools will assign one of the more reliable students to observe those who make noise while assembling. This student will merely observe without commenting at the time and will afterward tell the teacher what has happened without the others' being aware of it.
When the door is opened, care will be taken that the students do not rush forward and enter in a crowd but that they enter in an orderly fashion one after the other.
Teachers will be attentive and take care that all the students walk so quietly and so calmly while entering the school that their steps will not be heard, that they remove their hats before taking holy water, that they make the sign of the cross, and that they go at once directly to their classroom.
They will be inspired to enter the classroom with profound respect, out of consideration for the presence of God. When they have reached the center of the room, they will make a low bow before the crucifix and will bow to the teacher if one is present. Then they will kneel to adore God and to say a short prayer to the Blessed Virgin. After this, they will arise, again bow before the crucifix in the same manner, bow to the teacher, and go quietly and silently to their regular places.
While students are assembling and entering the classroom, they will all maintain such complete silence that not the least noise will be heard, not even of the feet. In this manner, it will not be possible to distinguish those who are entering from those who are studying.
Having reached their places, they will remain quietly seated without leaving for any reason whatsoever until the teacher enters.
Teachers will take care to give warning that those who have talked or made any noise in the classroom during their absence will be punished and that they will not forgive offenses against silence and good order committed during this time.
From the time of entering the school until the arrival of the teachers, those who know how to read will study the Catechism, and will do this so quietly that they cannot be heard by the others and that not the least sound is heard in the classroom.
During this time, a student in the first class will be charged by the teacher to point out on the two charts of the alphabet and of the syllables first one letter or syllable and then another, in different sequences. In this manner, the students who are learning them may thus study their lessons. Those who are studying all the lessons of each chart will recite in turn in the order in which they are seated. All the others will pay attention to the letter or syllable being pointed out on the chart. While the one who is reciting speaks out loudly, the others will speak quietly, so that they can be heard only by the two on either side. Students chosen to point out the contents of the charts will do so without correcting and without saying a single word. A teacher will take care above all to be faithful in this.
Teachers will take great care that all the students are in the classroom before their own arrival and that none come late except rarely for good reasons and through necessity. They will be very exact in requiring that this point be observed, and the Inspector of Schools will pay special attention to it and even warn the parents when receiving students that the children must come every day at the exact hour and that they will be accepted only on this condition.
ARTICLE II
Concerning the Entrance of Teachers
into School and the Beginning of School
Teachers will go to their classrooms as soon as the rosary has been said in the morning, and likewise in the afternoon immediately after the litany of Saint Joseph without stopping anywhere.
They will walk with great decorum and in silence not hastily, but modestly, keeping their eyes and their entire demeanor in great reserve.
On entering the school, they will take off their hats and take holy water with deep respect. Having reached their own classroom, they will bow before the crucifix, kneel, and make the sign of the cross. After a short prayer and again bowing before the crucifix, they will go to their places.
When the teachers enter the school, all the students of each class will rise and remain standing as their teacher enters. Those before whom the teacher passes will bow as the teacher kneels to say the prayer, and will sit down until the teacher is seated.
If the Director or anyone else visits the school, students will act in the same manner but only the first time the visitors enter. In case the visitors remain and go from one class to another, the students will remain with their hats off until the teacher gives them a sign to be seated and to put on their hats.
From the time the teachers take their seats until school begins, they will apply themselves to reading the New Testament and will remain silent in order to give an example to the students. They will observe, however, all that takes place in the school in order to maintain good order.
School will always begin punctually at 8:00 in the morning and at 1:30 in the afternoon. At the last stroke of 8:00 and the last stroke of 1:30, a student will ring the school bell. At the first sound of the bell, all the students will kneel in a very modest posture and manner, with their arms crossed and their eyes lowered.
As soon as the bell has ceased ringing, the prayer leader will begin the prayers in a loud voice distinctly and calmly. After making the sign of the cross, and all the students have also made it, the prayer leader will begin the Veni Sancte Spiritus. The other students will recite the prayer with the leader, but in a lower tone. They will, in the same manner, say with the leader the other prayers prescribed in Le Livre des Prieres des Ecoles chrétiennes (CL 18). In the morning, the prayer leader will say the blessing before the meal in Latin, Benedicite. After breakfast, the leader will say the Act of Thanksgiving, Agimus tibi Gratias, and so on. In the afternoon, the prayers will be said in French, as is indicated in Le Livre des Prières des Ecoles chrétiennes (CL 18).
When the prayers are finished, the teachers will signal a hand clap. The students will rise and eat breakfast in silence.
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