Why a
Catholic School?
I teach in a Catholic school. My first two years of teaching were in a
charter school. Growing up, my education
was completely in public schools. And we
are homeschooling our children. When it
comes to education I have experienced a pretty wide variety.
One of my greatest concerns is the
development of extraordinary, authentically Catholic schools. In that regard I have been quite blessed
personally. Like all schools, the school
at which I teach is not perfect. But
there is a real effort being made that the kids receive not just a good
education, but a Catholic education, and we are supported by wonderful priests
and a great parent community.
However, I had an interesting
conversation the other day with a friend of mine who teaches at another
Catholic school in my diocese. We were
“talking shop” and she shared with me the struggles her school has because
about half the student population is not Catholic and about half of the remaining
population is non-practicing. She is the
junior high religion teacher and at a recent open house two parents came up to
her and confided that they were happy their daughter attended that particular
school since it would help her get into a good college (how?), but they really
would prefer it if religion was not part of the curriculum. They want her to have a good GPA, but they
aren’t concerned about her actually acquiring any faith.
My friend wasn’t sure how to
respond. Why would you tell all that to
the religion teacher? So she would understand
if the daughter didn’t really try? As a
veiled threat not to ruin her GPA?
The bigger question to me is, why did
they enroll her in a Catholic school in the first place? Although I have rarely come upon this
situation, my friend tells me for her it is commonplace.
Why should someone send their child to
a Catholic school? I teach in a very
good neighborhood with highly ranked public schools. Why should someone send their children to my
school?
To prepare them for high school? The public schools can easily do that. To prepare them for college perhaps? The charter school across town can do
that. Maybe to prepare them for 21st
century jobs? The secular private school
can do that, and give them the status of being a private school student to boot.
No, there is only one reason for any
child to attend a Catholic school, especially in a neighborhood with good
public schools. To prepare that child
for eternity. The public schools will
not do that; the charter schools are forbidden by law from doing that; and the
secular private schools distinguish themselves from us precisely by promising
not to do that.
And yet, ultimately, that is what
matters. High school lasts four years,
college maybe six, a 21st century job maybe 40, but eternity lasts
forever. Preparing children for eternity
is the number one task of every Catholic school. That is what parents are passing on the free
public schools and paying for. And if
it’s not, it should be.
It is what the last two popes have
been repeating over and over. Of course
the other academic subjects are important, and no school trying to be faithful
to Christ would neglect them, but you can get those anywhere. A Catholic school, however, has the power to
prepare students for eternity.
As we all know, many schools are
failing miserably in that charge, which is why it is so critical to pick the
right Catholic school. The problem is
even worse among our universities. And
parents who have children in Catholic schools should be asking questions,
finding out what their kids are learning in religion and other
disciplines. Every school is made up of
many classrooms, each with its own culture.
But a school with a parent body that is involved and actively interested
in the Catholic identity of their school, can go very far in ensuring that
their kids are being prepared for eternity.
It is also, of course, important to
remember that the Church teaches that parents are the primary educators of
their children. The schools are supposed
to play a supporting role.
