History of the Schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles
The education of youth was a major concern of each of the earlier Ordinaries of the diocese. However, it was Bishop Thomas J. Conaty (1903-1915) who provided the first impetus to the development of a Catholic school system. Bishop Conaty encouraged the establishment of both parochial schools and private institutions.
For fifty years prior to Bishop Conaty's arrival, Catholic education in Southern California had a slow but gradual growth from the opening of the first school in Los Angeles by Francisco Bustamante in 1850 and the Sacred Heart Fathers "college" at the Plaza in 1851. During this period, academies or private schools offered elementary and secondary education for students in the 80,000 square mile diocese of Monterey-Los Angeles.
With Bishop Conaty's arrival came the first diocesan educational plan aimed at providing a continuous program from kindergarten through college under Catholic influence. The Bishop's first decisive step in educational reorganization was to appoint a Board of Examiners (1903). The duties of this clerical board were to advise him on educational matters, to inspect the schools, and to report on the quality of the teaching observed. On Thursday, August 20, 1903, the first teachers' meeting was held at the newly established St. Mary's Academy on 21st and Grand Avenue. Representing schools in Anaheim, Los Angeles, Oxnard, Pasadena, Redlands, San Diego, Santa Monica, and Shorb (now Alhambra) were a number of religious communities, namely Daughters of Charity (St. Vincent de Paul), Dominican (Mission San Jose), Holy Names, Immaculate Heart, St. Joseph of Carondelet, Mercy (Burlingame), and Ursulines. It was during this session that the first recorded principals' meeting in the diocese was held. Annual summer institutes, first held in Santa Monica's Columbia Hall, provided in-service education and training programs for all teachers — religious and lay — in the schools of the diocese. By popular demand, these sessions were later opened to interested public school and community personnel (1906-1915).
At this time a textbook committee was formed from the teaching staffs of the committee (1906) and the diocesan "multiple listing" policy for choice of basic textbooks used in the elementary schools had its origin. No recommendations for the secondary schools were reported. When Bishop Conaty died on September 18, 1915, he left a well-established pattern of diocesan organization of individual schools which his successor could develop. During his long episcopate (1917-1947), Archbishop John J. Cantwell, through his educational leadership and administrative ability, endeavored to meet the needs of a growing and expanding diocese. He appealed to many religious communities in the United States and abroad to staff schools. In November, 1922, Bishop Cantwell laid the cornerstone for the first diocesan-financed high school, Catholic Girls High School, later named Bishop Conaty High School, administered by Reverend Peter Corcoran and staffed by members of several religious communities of women. In order to coordinate the instructional program throughout the diocese, the bishop established the Office of Superintendent of Schools in 1920.
Reverend Matthew Marron was appointed the first superintendent with responsibility for administering and supervising schools. Steps in the upgrading of staff and the coordination of the instructional program in this period were: the creation of the Office of Superintendent of Schools (1920); the reorganization of the School Board as an Advisory Council (1920); the adoption of a course of study (1924); the appointment of a Board of Supervisors (1932); the appointment of a director of music (1937); the creation of the Office of Assistant Superintendent (1946) and the cooperative efforts of superintendents and community supervisors to improve the quality of instruction in the classrooms. Shortly after his installation as Archbishop of Los Angeles in 1948, the Most Reverend J. Francis A. McIntyre established the Youth Education Fund for the purpose of providing high schools and elementary schools in areas unable to finance building programs. Seventeen schools were built during the first year of this program. At the invitation of the Archbishop, three of the largest teaching communities assigned Sisters to full-time service as diocesan supervisors (1950).
Subsequent developments included the Manual for Teachers of Elementary Schools (1952) and the development of a curriculum bulletin and library (1955). In 1960 two superintendents were appointed, Reverend Monsignor Joseph Sharpe, the Superintendent of Secondary Education and Colleges and Reverend Monsignor James B. Clyne, the Superintendent for Elementary Education. Assignments of full-time diocesan consultants for the secondary schools were made in 1965. Originating with nineteen parochial schools and five academies in 1903 with a total enrollment of 2,895, the population of the schools has grown making the Los Angeles Archdiocese the fourth largest diocese in the United States in number of students enrolled in Catholic schools.
The total enrollment in 1995-1996 was 100,869 students in 229 elementary schools and 51 high schools. This progress has been due substantially, though indirectly, to the educational leadership of its Ordinaries: Bishop Thomas Conaty, Archbishop John J. Cantwell, Cardinal James Francis McIntyre, Cardinal Timothy Manning, and Cardinal Roger Mahony. The direct influence was provided by the school superintendents: Reverend Matthew Marron (1920), Reverend Monsignor William North (1937), Reverend Monsignor Patrick J. Dignan (1939), Reverend Monsignor Joseph Sharpe — Secondary (1960), Reverend Donald Montrose — Secondary (1964), Reverend Monsignor James B. Clyne — Elementary (1960), Reverend Monsignor John A. Mihan — Elementary (1969), Reverend Jeremiah T. Murphy — Secondary (1977). Archbishop Mahony reorganized the administrative structure of the Archdiocese in 1987 by the formation of five Pastoral Regions and cabinet form of administration.
Sister Cecilia Louise Moore, C.S.J., was appointed the first Secretariat Director for Educational/Formational Services. Monsignor Aidan M. Carroll was appointed Superintendent of Catholic Schools, unifying both elementary and secondary schools into one department with an Associate Superintendent for Secondary Schools and an Associate Superintendent for Elementary Schools.
In 1991 Dr. Jerome R. Porath became the first lay person to be appointed Superintendent. Over the years these superintendents have been ably assisted by dedicated and competent staffs. During the years of educational growth the involvement of parents in educational ministry has evolved to include not only financial support but also active participation in the educational programs. These programs include parent organizations, various boards related to education, and a variety of direct school services. The educational mission of the Catholic Church remains an integrated ministry embracing three interlocking dimensions: message, community, and service.
Today the Catholic schools in the Archdiocese strive to be communities of faith in which the Christian message, the experience of community, worship, and social concern are integrated into a total experience for students, their parents, and the members of the school staff. The schools are a living fulfillment of an educational plan begun by Bishop Conaty for the diocese dedicated to Our Lady, Queen of the Angels.
