Can Catholic Schools Be Saved?

[CCM08]

In fairness to Catholic schools just because you can’t afford it doesn’t mean the price is high. In fact when one compares private schools across the board prep schools are the most expensive, protestant schools next, and Catholic schools the most affordable.
I’ve been on Bellermine prep’s scholarship board for a couple years now. What you have to understand is scholarships are for disadvantaged kids with truely lacking financial resources. I know people often complain that with their income they can’t afford private education because of the number of children they have and feel slighted that they aren’t in contention for scholarship money. As such there is a difference between a potential scholarship ward whose family is actually poor and one whose family has strained financial resources because of the size of the family. Obviously parents in that situation were able to chose their family size. Equally they are still much more likely to live in better areas and have access to higher quality public education in addition to having a supporting family structure that is likely to be equiped to help the student’s education.

 

[Julianna]

I know where you are coming from but since I dole out medication to my family whenever they need it, I guess I wouldn’t have a problem with another mom giving my kids medication. At our school, all of the teachers took first aid courses, and I was very happy to know that, and honestly anyone going into teaching should consider becoming certified in first aid. I understand with a large number of children the likelyhood and number of accidents is going to be greater than in my backyard, but I would think most of those accidents are going to be handled fine by whoever is there to handle those accidents.
My point is we have to find ways as a community to make things work for the greater good, which in my opinion is the faithful education of our children. I would love to see some moms who are nurses volunteer in the school nurses office. Maybe some retired nurses in the parish could help out, give your time, talent and treasure.

There is more to it than just another “mom” giving medication. Have the volunteers been through a cpr/first aid course? Are they certifiied in it? In today’s litigious world I think you need to grasp the bigger picture. I was asked to volunteer and give out medication. I refused. But that is just me. I’ll use the copier, put flyers together, make cut outs for bulletins boards. Another thing I didn’t do, was drive on field trips. There was an issue with my insurance company. Another thing you may want to check out. I drove my children myself. Driving another child to his/her home after school is different than driving another child to a “school-sponsored” field trip or event. The first is a favor between parents. Insurance company rules vary from state to state something worth checking out.

Retired nurse volunteers is an excellent idea and worth looking into. In the town we lived in, we also had a lot of military. We were lucky enough to get some donated playground equipment, (all checked out and in good working order), and it was put together by one of the students dad’s (shipmates? company? soldiers?). They all showed up one Sat morning, and by nightfall the kids had a new playground. It was awesome. The playground committee did their homework, and put in all the safety features required by the city,county, state guidelines.

Catholic schools are not exempt from law suits. Things happen. I just didn’t happen to think that “any mom” should be giving out medication or driving children on school sponsored field trips, so I made other arrangements.

My DH and I paid full tuition, even though I worked there. I did volunteer on a few committee’s until it got too “gossipy” and I had enough.

 

[Lovemyfaith]

At our school if there was not a nurse on duty, the school secretary gave out medication to students needing it. She was CPR certified. I did not have a problem with her giving out medication if necessary. If I did, I would probably come in myself and give my own childrent their medication. Working moms have to trust babysitters and daycare to give out medication, so I don’t have a problem with someone who is not a nurse doing just that. Of course, if a parent is not comfortable with that, I would suggest finding a school that has a nurse on duty at all times. Better to have the Catholic school exisits with a part time nurse than not at all.
I always volunteered with the children directly, they are usually not gossipy at all! Try the lunch room, school yard, library, etc. The kids are great, usually well behaved and so full of life.