WOLFE, John Mark

WOLFE, John Mark. (North Washington, IA--Dubuque, IA, Oct. 3, 1958). Superintendent of Schools, Dubuque Archdiocese. Msgr. Wolfe, the first superintendent of schools of the Dubuque Archdiocese, was appointed to the position by Archbishop James J. KEANE in 1922 and served until 1946.

Faced with the task of requiring all schools to conform to uniform regulations, Wolfe established the diocesan school office as a civil entity with a board of directors and officers. Articles of incorporation were drafted and signed on August 6, 1925. Pointing out a declining enrollment in the four upper grades, Wolfe advised schools to have supervising principals with at least two years of college training. Junior highs were organized from the seventh, eighth, and ninth grades, and promotion was made by semesters. Student grouping was to be done by ability, sequential texts were to be selected from a basic list, and schools were to follow a uniform number of teaching days. Wolfe asked that teachers be appointed to the system in April or May so that they would be ready for the fall schedule. He also encouraged at least monthly faculty meetings. Wolfe periodically compiled a graded and classified list of library books for elementary and high school students, established courses of study, and encouraged schools to make classes intellectually rigorous.

The four-year course in religion was developed in 1936 and four units of high school credit for religion were allowed in 1943. Creative writing was stimulated by encouraging schools to publish school newspapers and magazines. Extra-curricular activities in debate, music, athletics, and mission were promoted through societies. In 1939, Wolfe encouraged schools to participate in federal assistance for school lunches. For children unable to attend parish schools, Msgr. Wolf encouraged the establishment of summer schools of religion.

Extracurricular activities were encouraged. Scouting had been started in the archdiocese in 1917. Msgr. Wolfe repeatedly praised its programs and activities saying,"The racketeer and the gangster go out the window when scouting comes in the door." In 1925 the Dubuque Archdiocesan Athletic Association was established. The same year the annual ARCHDIOCESAN BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT for the Secondary Schools was started at COLUMBIA COLLEGE.

Concerned for the missions, Wolfe encouraged all children under twelve to enroll in the Holy Childhood Association and others to participate in the Propagation of the Faith. In 1932 every school was asked to organize the Catholic Students Mission Crusade to acquaint students with the needs of the world's missions. In August 1935, Wolfe served as co-director of the national Catholic Mission Crusade convention at Columbia College. Through his direction, fourteen elementary schools were opened, twenty-nine high schools were approved by the Iowa Committee on Secondary Schools, and three were accredited by the North Central Association. Between 1923 and 1945 elementary enrollment increased 12.7% and secondary enrollment increased 37%. While mission director, Catholics in the Dubuque archdiocese contributed more than $4 million to home and overseas missions.

Recognizing his outstanding work, LORAS COLLEGE conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws on Msgr. Wolfe on June 3, 1937. From 1937 to 1938, he directed the Central Committee charged with the centennial observance of the ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE. So respected was Msgr. Wolfe that upon his retirement in 1952 from the national board of the Catholic Mission Society, a special tribute was paid to him by Bishop Fulton J. Sheen, the national director.

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Source:

Driscoll, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Justin A. With Faith and Vision: Schools of the Archdiocese of Dubuque, 1836-1966, Dubuque: Bureau of Education, Archdiocese of Dubuque, 1967, p. xiii-xvi