Catholic school enrollment continues to fall in US

[Julianna]

I would not send my children to our local Catholic school. My siblings attended there and they were immediately classified into the “have not” category that the rest just had to put up with out of charity. Those of us who did not go there were classified as sub-human. My sister and I could not play on the same community (as in city-sponsored) softball team because the other parents were uncomfortable with their children being exposed to a public school kid. By the time my siblings were in third grade, the standard of bully or be bullied was well in place in that school and the “room mothers” were full participants. That school is nothing about Jesus and all about elitism, social status, and keeping white kids out of school with black kids. (With the exception of the occasional child adopted from Africa or Haiti) The religion teachers don’t teach any controversial Catholic teachings and the parents don’t want them to because they don’t believe in it themselves. The vast majority are nowehre to be seen at Mass. The children end up hating the faith and leaving it. What you get for your $2000 is a stuffy feeling of superiority, a lot of teachers who can’t handle students with special needs and yet boast about their superior classroom management (which consists of expelling or cutting off the scholarship of any kid who is having difficulty), and no music class. If even a small percentage of Catholic schools in this country are run the way this one has been for the past three generations, it’s no wonder that former students (and those who were deemed unworthy to be students) have no intenetion of bringing their own children there, especially where there is a good public school alternative or an option to homeschool.

Oh yeah. I have experienced the same and worked there too boot. Definately a “class system”. The volunteer moms were the worse. They were up the Principal’s you know what on a regular basis, trying to “influence” the way things are run. When the tuition was going to up, there was a parent-teacher meeting, and one of these “uppity” types, responded to a comment from a working class single mom who said, “I understand tuition increases, what I don’t understand is you (the school) have upped them every year…it is beginning to be hardship for some families.” Mrs. Highbrow responded, “Well, this can’t be helped, I’m sorry you can’t afford it, my husband and I can because we want the best Catholic education for our children.” I was floored.

I worked the before and after school program at the Catholic School. I had about 150 kids enrolled. My kids were treated like lepers. The school had sports teams, soccer, t ball, baseball, etc. The school teamed up with the YMCA league and the practices were held after school, which many of my kids could not participate because both parents or the single parent worked. I went to the Principal with several of my parents and asked why the practices could not be done right here on campus. A logical question, so “all” could participate. The Principal and Father said, “Great idea”. The parents volunteered on Saturdays to get the ground in shape for a soccer and baseball field. It worked. I also taught CCD on Wed evenings. Classes were held at the Catholic School The next day, I would hear “mostly the snooty kids”, accuse the CCD kids of stealing things out of their desks and wrecking their classroom. I heard teachers from the very school ask the Principal to tell the DRE to hold the classes at the parish hall (which is not big enough). They acted like the public school kids were little terrorists. And you are right on the money about wanting to keep their kids away from the black kids and other minorities. It broke my heart. I was satisfied in knowing that I had 1/2 the student population before and after school, and that the $$$ coming for that program were a big bonus for the school. I had talented community members come in and teach everything from karate, cooking, ceramics painting, dance, etc. Activities these kids would not be able to participate in because both parents work outside the home. The fees were very affordable. Between the sports practices held on campus and the after school activities on campus, all could participate, and I even had some of the snooty’s kids want to “stay after school” for the activities. Oh, yeah, I hear ya. Been there, done that, got the t shirt.

 

[thomasf]

I would not send my child to a catholic school. All the horror stories I hear about the bad teaching going on there leading kids away from the faith is horrible. I would rather send the kid to a public school, which my taxes already pay for, and home school them in the faith. That way I know they would be taught right.

IMO the schools have brought this on themselves allowing the teachings to be corrupted and watered down, and improper formation as well. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of kids who went to catholic schools, were taught wrong, and left the faith as adults. Although I did not go to a catholic school, I did go to ccd at a parish that also had a school. When I started going to church again as an adult I discovered that I learned very little about the faith growing up in those classes.

 

[jonathan_hili]

Is it primarily because of cost?

Here in Australia, Catholic education is booming, not only primary and secondary, but also tertiary education with Catholic universities like Australian Catholic University (ACU) ever expanding.

 

[Julianna]

I would not send my child to a catholic school. All the horror stories I hear about the bad teaching going on there leading kids away from the faith is horrible. I would rather send the kid to a public school, which my taxes already pay for, and home school them in the faith. That way I know they would be taught right.

IMO the schools have brought this on themselves allowing the teachings to be corrupted and watered down, and improper formation as well. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of kids who went to catholic schools, were taught wrong, and left the faith as adults. Although I did not go to a catholic school, I did go to ccd at a parish that also had a school. When I started going to church again as an adult I discovered that I learned very little about the faith growing up in those classes.

There really isn’t much a CCD teacher can teach in a hour, once a week. My confirmation candidates (back in the late 80’, early 90’s) said to me, “once we make our confirmation, we’re done, until we get married, right?” Really? Done? Well, I got to hand it to them…they really believed there wasn’t any more to learn after the age of 14. These same kids are invited to the Baptist Church around the corner for Sunday Night Live, ski trips, retreats, roller skating parties etc. Their church had this huge bus. When it wasn’t taking the seniors somewhere, it took the kids. Nothing like that on the Catholic side of town. The men to women ratio of Sunday school teachers is about 1/2 and 1/2. At my parish it was 85% women. I used to take a good bunch of my kids home after CCD. Our sessions were held on Sunday around 4 PM at the Parish Hall, then I would go to the 5:30 Sunday Mass…the ones who would come with me, I took home. I am glad I had a mini van, because a lot more them were coming to 5:30 Sunday Mass with me. And yes, some would go around the corner to the Baptist Church for Sunday Night Live at 7:00.

The Catholic School parents figured they got everything they needed and paid well for it, so it wasn’t an issue.

 

[ProVobis]

I would not send my child to a catholic school. All the horror stories I hear about the bad teaching going on there leading kids away from the faith is horrible. I would rather send the kid to a public school, which my taxes already pay for, and home school them in the faith. That way I know they would be taught right.

I don’t blame you. Seems like in the old days the Baltimore Catechism, written at three or four levels of intelligence in easily memorizable form, could easily teach Catholics what they needed to know. Today you don’t know what you’re going to get as far as Catholic teaching goes.

 

[MommaElspeth]

I think it is the cost. We recently had an “inquiry” period to see about starting a parish school.When I filled out the first questionnaire, I was checking yes (is it a good idea, would you want to volunteer, would you like your kids to have a Catholic education) until I got to the bottom : Would you be willing to pay $400 a month tuition for each child? I have three children, so $1200. My monthly income is $1600. It would be completely impossible. After it was determined that we did not have enough support, one of the Catholic schools from the nearby city came in to see about running a bus to their school. They charge $3000. The principal was trying very hard to sell my 5 year old, until she found out that we would require three full scholarships to consider it. (and it would be consider, because I don’t really want an hour and a half on the bus everyday for my lower elementary age kids)

 

[mountee]

I would not send my child to a catholic school. All the horror stories I hear about the bad teaching going on there leading kids away from the faith is horrible. I would rather send the kid to a public school, which my taxes already pay for, and home school them in the faith. That way I know they would be taught right.

IMO the schools have brought this on themselves allowing the teachings to be corrupted and watered down, and improper formation as well. I can’t tell you how many stories I’ve heard of kids who went to catholic schools, were taught wrong, and left the faith as adults. Although I did not go to a catholic school, I did go to ccd at a parish that also had a school. When I started going to church again as an adult I discovered that I learned very little about the faith growing up in those classes.

As cradle Catholic educated from grade school through college in Catholic schools, I completely agree. Over the past several years I have reached the conclusion that I am a poorly catechized Catholic, but I am working on fixing that. Pease remember that while many of the teachers are wonderful, practicing Catholics, many of the teachers and administrators in Catholic schools do not practice the faith or agree with the catechism. This is not an opinion it is a fact I could prove if I really had to. I would remind you that recently a Cincinnati Catholic high school administrator was fired for writing support for gay marriage on his blog. Cost of course is an issue but many students receive financial aid. It is a multi-faceted problem that will not be solved easily.

 

[New_World_Man]

I think the financial aspect is obviously the biggest factor. I would also say that many parents used to send their children to Catholic schools in larger cities because they feared for their safety. Myself as an example,I grew up in Chicago,and my parents didn’t want me going to CPS. In suburban areas,where the schools are better and safer,the parents may feel differently.

 

[oldcelt]

I think the financial aspect is obviously the biggest factor. I would also say that many parents used to send their children to Catholic schools in larger cities because they feared for their safety. Myself as an example,I grew up in Chicago,and my parents didn’t want me going to CPS. In suburban areas,where the schools are better and safer,the parents may feel differently.

My small area has a centralized Catholic School system that has seen a serious decline in enrollment despite the fact that they provide an excellent education. One obvious factor is the declining size of families in general…maybe the most important in my judgement. Cost is probably second…and the fact that the public schools are very good is probably third. Finally, the area is not as predominantly Catholic, or religious at all for that matter, as it was 40 years ago.
Were it not for endowments from wealthy Catholics I question how long the system could remain viable…and those endowments won’t last forever… and I think the loss would be a shame. The presence of Catholic education in this area is truly a part of our collective culture.

 

[JamesCaruso]

Probably due to the economy and the fact that many, if not most Catholic schools are Catholic in name only. If I had a family and the income to afford Catholic school for my kids, I would not send them to a Catholic school in my archdiocese. In fact, I’ve thought about the idea of suing some Catholic schools in civil court for “false advertising” I guess would be the term. Parents send their kids to these schools assuming they will be getting church teaching and instead they are taught anything but Catholic teaching. At my Catholic high school, for example, I was taught that Jesus may have been gay, Jesus did not know he was God, moral issues (premarital sex, birth control, abortion, etc) are only wrong if your conscience tells you it is. I could go on and on.

I can see that you live in Seattle, but from your description I would have guessed somewhere in Sweden, although that is probably unfair to the Swedes.

 

[manualman]

I would not send my child to a catholic school. All the horror stories I hear about the bad teaching going on there leading kids away from the faith is horrible.

That’s rather a broad paintbrush you got there! Try this: “I would not get involved with those followers of JESUS. I tried that out with one of his apostles named Judas and the guy was obviously only in it for the money and prestige of being one of the Messiah’s buddies. I’m not falling for that again.”

It’s really not all that hard to do a little due diligence and figure our for yourself if a school has a genuine committment to the faith or if it has been co-opted to some other primary mission. Visit it. Talk to the principal. Ask about how the faith is integrated into school life. If the place really is a low budget snob factory with a once a week religion class and an all school mass a couple times a year tacked on like an afterthought, then by all means walk away. But why on earth would you ASSUME they are all like that? My kids attend a catholic school that has a pricelessly central view of Christ, the Sacraments, Catechesis and formation. A bargain at any price.

Nevertheless, it IS getting harder and harder for regular folks to afford it. No wonder since the public system gets more and more bloated all the time. The Pubs in my district spend over $14,000 a year per student in tax money they grab from you and me. No wonder we have less and less ability to pay for that AND private tuition as well. It’s effectively a tax on catholic parenting.

 

[TimeEntrance]

The enrollment in public schools has declined too. In Milwaukee a number of the public schools have closed entirely or consolidated. In one venerable high school building three schools have been placed in there. There are a number of public high schools buildings in Milwaukee that now have two schools in them. Ans some former middle school buildings now are jointly middle schools and high schools.

The same thing is happening in Chicago public schools.

foxnews.com/us/2013/03/21/chicago-teachers-begin-learning-which-schools-city-plans-to-shutter-under/

**
Plan to close 54 public schools rocks Chicago community**

 

[Cider]

In my experience, where I’ve lived, the Catholic schools are often Catholic in name only and are run by non Catholics and cater to non Catholic students. My sister went to a Catholic high school and we were friends with more than one family with kids in the local Catholic schools. The orthodox Catholics I know, are more likely to be homeschoolers. Maybe that will change when we have Catholic schools run by faithful orthodox Catholic teachers and administrators and for Catholic students.

 

[Yerusalyim]

For me it’s a matter of finances. I simply can’t afford the tuition. I support vouchers for this very reason.

 

[JamesCaruso]

In my experience, where I’ve lived, the Catholic schools are often Catholic in name only and are run by non Catholics and cater to non Catholic students. My sister went to a Catholic high school and we were friends with more than one family with kids in the local Catholic schools. The orthodox Catholics I know, are more likely to be homeschoolers. Maybe that will change when we have Catholic schools run by faithful orthodox Catholic teachers and administrators and for Catholic students.

That’s a shame. They’re good in my area, so it’s distressing to hear all the nightmare scenarios out there. It sounds like some of you live in really backward areas as far as the Church is concerned. Homeschooling is not always an option, but maybe the only option for the religious part of your kids’ education. I hope help is on the way. Is the entire Diocese this way? Maybe the Bishop needs to be informed. If the Bishop is the culprit, maybe the USCCB needs to be informed. I truly believe Cardinal Dolan would bring pressure to bear. He’s on Sirius/XM radio and it has call in shows live. Wouldn’t that make a nice show? I encourage it, or dropping him an email or letter.

 

[pnewton]

I am a big fan of Catholic education. It is one of our great traditions. Our Catholic school is independent of any parish, but receives support from all in the area. I have to believe that tuition is the biggest deterent to enrollment. It is a close thing for blue collar, working middle-class like me to be able to afford it for one child, and that involves sacrifice. Still, I would have it no other way. The spiritual nurturing received there is priceless. We are a few weeks from firs communion now and I am very pleased with the level of preparation receive in his religion class.

I wish that some voucher system was in place to give a choice for those in lower income brackets. It is hard to make ends meet for the school, even with some scholarship help. My own parish is going to start a new initiative to sponsor one to two scholarships this next year, and hope others will jump in.

 

[WildCatholic]

I like Catholic Education, but being orthodox doesn’t guarantee students will like it. I went to a Catholic high school in a very orthodox diocese and had faithful teachers. However, it was very clicky. To be honest I think a lot of it was that since most of the kids werent that different from public school kids (most were middle class farmers kids) they felt that because they went to a private school they were better. Also our sports were better, and people took this to mean we were better behaved, which we were in school, but outside most weren’t.

Also I got bullied terribly at my Catholic school. Gotta love being called a f** and loser because you actually practice your faith and don’t do drugs or drink.

Even so, I still promote catholic education because of its ideals and I think people should send their kids there, but make sure they actually LIVE a catholic life. A lot of the parents at my school sent their kids because they wanted to school to teach them the faith so they didn’t have to (kind of like a lot of parents at public schools).

 

[JamesCaruso]

I like Catholic Education, but being orthodox doesn’t guarantee students will like it. I went to a Catholic high school in a very orthodox diocese and had faithful teachers. However, it was very clicky. To be honest I think a lot of it was that since most of the kids werent that different from public school kids (most were middle class farmers kids) they felt that because they went to a private school they were better. Also our sports were better, and people took this to mean we were better behaved, which we were in school, but outside most weren’t.

Also I got bullied terribly at my Catholic school. Gotta love being called a f** and loser because you actually practice your faith and don’t do drugs or drink.

Even so, I still promote catholic education because of its ideals and I think people should send their kids there, but make sure they actually LIVE a catholic life. A lot of the parents at my school sent their kids because they wanted to school to teach them the faith so they didn’t have to (kind of like a lot of parents at public schools).

The Jesuits used to say, “As the tree is bent, so it grows.” I looked up this saying and they (Brainy Quotes) attributed it to, of all people, Bill O’Reilly. I’m afraid it was around long before he was! A truism though, but it takes more than just the school as you say. Attaching stakes and wires to a tree one hour a day, or even a few hours a day, will not ensure it grows straight; it takes constant attention.

 

[PatriceA]

That’s a shame. They’re good in my area, so it’s distressing to hear all the nightmare scenarios out there. It sounds like some of you live in really backward areas as far as the Church is concerned. Homeschooling is not always an option, but maybe the only option for the religious part of your kids’ education. I hope help is on the way. Is the entire Diocese this way? Maybe the Bishop needs to be informed. If the Bishop is the culprit, maybe the USCCB needs to be informed. I truly believe Cardinal Dolan would bring pressure to bear. He’s on Sirius/XM radio and it has call in shows live. Wouldn’t that make a nice show? I encourage it, or dropping him an email or letter.

Well I can give my perspective on our former parish school. We don’t live in a backwards area. There are some really, really great Catholic schools in our Diocese. Ours just doesn’t happen to be one of them. But what can you do when the school administration sticks their heads in the sand and refuses to believe there are problems in the school? The Bishop even assigned a specific priest to the parish to try and fix the problems, he’s given the school one year to shape up. What the school administration does now is up to them and how much they want to stay open.

 

[livnlern]

The high costs to send kids to Catholic schools is a problem.
Back in the day, there were more nuns and brothers to teach in school and since they didn’t get paid like lay teachers do, the cost to run the schools was lower. And you had teachers that really knew the faith.