Cathedral Preparatory School - Literulae Yearbook (Erie, PA)

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a All education as we understand it consists essentially in preparing youth for what he must be and what he must do here in this world in order to attain the pur- pose for which he was created-final happiness with God. In this concept of education, the whole youth must be considered, body and soul, mind and will, his destiny, natural and supernatural, and all with due re- gard to the relative needs and importance of each. We hold that the function of American secondary education is to provide all students embraced in its program with the moral, intellectual, social, and physi- cal training designed to prepare them to live in our democratic society. We believe it essential to this end that the student be well grounded in the principles of moral or ethical conduct, that he be trained to respect the rights of others, to have regard for authority, to think clearly and independently of emotion or preju- dice, and that he be provided with a sufficiently varied social experience in his school life to enable him not only to take his place in the world of adulthood, but if possible to assume leadership in that world. More specifically we believe that the secondary school should emphasize basic and general rather than specialized education, that the effort to prepare the adolescent for life should center around the develop- ment of character, convictions, and attitudes which are fundamental to vocational success rather than specific work skills. We believe that the development of specific work skills and specialized training holds a place in the American system of education, but this phase of educa- tion must necessarily yield in importance to moral and intellectual development. We believe that the more gifted should be encouraged to develop their talents so that they may assume leadership in the world and fill their respective places in life with honor and distinc- tion. Those of mediocre ability should be directed to fit themselves for some useful position that will bring them contentment of mind and secure for them the necessary comforts of life and reasonable security for the future. All should be trained for a profitable use of leisure time. These objectives can best be secured through careful guidance throughout the four years of high school life. It is the responsibility of the school to see to it that the student does not squander the best years of his life because of lack of direction Q PHILOSOPHIC BASIS OF CATHEDRAL PREP if .V xv , f ,W 1 . v if J 'frvif 'rf r - J S

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Q Before 1921, the Diocese of Erie was without any facilities for the higher education of Catholic youth. Recognizing the need to provide religious training to those attending high school, Bishop John Mark Gannon founded the Cathedral Prepa- ratory School for Boys. Monsignor Joseph Werle was appointed first headmaster of the new institution in 1921. The school first conducted classes in the basement of St. Peter's Cathedral, which was to be its location for the next twenty-three years. A faculty of seven taught English, social studies, science, and reli- gion to sixty-live students. The iirst graduating class, the Class of 1925, consisted of thirty-five boys. By 1944 the space under the Cathedral had grown too small to accommodate all the boys who wanted to avail themselves of a Catholic educa- tion. The property adjacent to the Cathedral was purchased and the main part of the present Prep School was constructed. A pool, a gymnasium, and laboratory space were added. The total cost of the work was 361,200,000 By 1955 the enrollment of the school had grown so large that even these new facilities had become overcrowded. A new wing was added to the building at a cost of S800,000. An auditorium with a seating capacity of over 1200 was part of this additon. The present class of 1964 is almost eight times as large as the first graduating class. A faculty of seven teachers has grown to fifty-three. The base- ment of the Cathedral, which was the original school, now serves as the cafeteria. Cathedral Prep provides spacious, well-equip- ped classroom facilities for over 1300 students. There are modern laboratories for physics, biolo- gy, and chemistry, a language laboratory with all the electronic equipment necessary for a thorough course in speaking and understanding a modern foreign language, and a wide variety of visual aids for classroom use. A large, well-stocked library is available for everyone. The 200 block bounded by Ninth and Tenth streets, Sassafras to the east and Myrtle to the west, is today a dynamo of outstanding Catholic leadership 0 A CENTER OF EDUCATION IN THE HEART OF ERIE A 5