Get your kids out of government schools

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Like I said, I didn’t know it was going to be like this until it was too late. My kids have already switched schools twice. I really didn’t want to do it again especially as I have a 5th and 8th grader and they would just have to change next year anyway. We’re making the best of it but it is what it is. Nothing I say or do will make much difference…the schools here are all run by the same few families. I didn’t think it would be this bad.
 
It’s been years since our daughter was in public school but we do have friends with kids still there and we have never experienced what the OP said, and as far as I know our friends and their kids haven’t either.
 
Homeschooling and Catholic school are not options for us because Hubby’s ex won’t agree to the former and we live too far away for the latter.

We do teach DSD about the faith at home and will continue to do so.

Our community school doesn’t have a ton of diversity as we live in a rural area. There are some Filipino kids but that’s about it. DSD has friends who believe they are gay but she knows what the Church teaches. Moving isn’t an option as we share custody with her mom.
 
On the somewhat-connected subject of income equality (I realize this doesn’t strictly address poverty at the lowest levels), this article seems to indicate a very positive trend.


Yes, the poor we will always have with us… and they’ll have trouble affording private school unless provided some significant assistance. However, the trend, barring lifestyle inflation, should be that Americans in general are becoming more able to afford it.
 
I think that really depends on the area. Catholic schools are VERY different in rural Wisconsin where my husband is from, from St. Louis where I am from and currently live. We currently live in what is considered one of the best school districts in the state, and Catholic school tuition is VERY high. Most of the families that choose it, do so for exclusivity or family tradition. I would venture to guess that an accurate statistic of the community would be around 70% non-practicing Catholic, 25% practicing Catholic, and 5% black students of various religions who were scouted for their athletic ability.
 
A school that is focused solely on the lowest denominator is not set up for a diverse student body, are they? A truly diverse school is going to have support for students who struggle, students who need advanced instruction, and even for those who struggle in one area but excel in another. A school that provides support for those who struggle is statistically far more likely to have specialized instruction for those who are gifted than a school where everyone is treated the same.

I find your second objection to be racist and also unrealistic. Do you have any idea the amount of sin that one finds in a typical Catholic high school or even all-white public school? They have bullying. They have drugs. They have cheating, fighting, gossip, and all the rest. The idea that minority and economically disadvantaged populations inherently sin and commit crime more is racist, classist, and exactly the kind of mindset one seeks to avoid passing on to their children by selecting a diverse school.

It’s true that public schools don’t have daily Mass. The parish church does every day at 7AM. Get up early.
 
Allegra said:
A negative school culture can definitely effect you!
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That just begs the question. It is the parent that should judge what is negative for their child. Not having enough drug heads as classmates may be seen as negative by one parent, and diversity by another.
Allegra said:
I find your second objection to be racist and also unrealistic.
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Racist??? Do you understand English? I said.
Also, “diversity” often includes a diversity of sin, or some criminal element that can offer negative role models for children susceptible to following the bad kids.
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You know, I don’t give two cents for those that want to tell other parents what is best, nor for people that throw in a racism out of the blue. That was uncalled for and uncharitable. You think public schools are so great. Then good. Have a lot of kids and send them to public school.

My Catholic school is nothing like you described. There has never been a verified case of drugs. Bullying is on a level that is so mundane most would not recognize it. There hasn’t been a fight in years.
 
So are Catholic schools. I mean be honest, the issue those advocating for the elimination of public schooling for Catholic schooling have is that they just want a different type of indoctrination.

As a former Catholic who spent 21 years in Catholic school and left the faith anyway let me tell you… Catholic indoctrination in most cases doesn’t usually take. In fact of my cohort I know of 2 people who remained what most on CA would consider fully faithful Catholics. The rest not so much.
 
I went to a public school once. Some one there had an opinion that was different then mine, and I have been reeling from the experience ever since.
 
Maximilian75 said:
We cannot say this and then have Catholic schools with the tuition they charge these days.

I don’t know what the solution is, but telling someone in today’s economy to homeschool or spend money they don’t have on private school is absurd.
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Well, that’s were we as Catholic Parishes and Dioceses need to renew our focus on Catholic Education. We need to work to increase our Parish donations to lowering the cost and really focus on lowering the costs. Get creative, etc.

We have to stop viewing Catholic schools as being something for just the “super religious,” rich, and/or people who live in poor school districts.

Far too many people have the view of: “ I will send my kids to private / Catholic school if I absolutely have to.” Instead of taking the mindset, “I will send my kids to public school if I absolutely have to.”

Public school should not be the default, it should be the worst case option. We need to all change our mindsets.

God Bless
 
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I was homeschooled, as were my siblings. People used to tell my parents that it was clear we were homeschooled because we were so well-behaved. All of us attended an online school later and my youngest brother attended public high school. Four of the six of us graduated valedictorian. Teachers told my mother that my youngest brother had the best citizenship skills of any student in the class.

Homeschooling isn’t torture.
 
Okay - I didn’t have the time to read through all this, but I will add my two cents.
I went to public school, but have nieces and nephews who went to an amazing Catholic school. Now, this particular school may be a rare exception, but I wish I had been able to go to such a school, but my parents could not afford it (I’m from a large family). At this Catholic school the parents are all on the same page as the teachers and administrators - the Catholic faith is the highest priority (although it’s academics are top notch too). The culture is a polar opposite of the public school that I went to. I was shocked the first time I went to a school event (a play or graduation) - as I encountered a gym full of well-adjusted, confident, intelligent, friendly young Catholic men and women. I have another sibling who’s kids went to public school, nice kids, but they have taken on many progressive values and have fallen away from the faith sadly - even though their parents are strong Catholics who taught them the faith at home. I also have family several family members who are teachers, including in public schools. They are on the front lines dealing with the progressive agendas being pushed. Obviously there are great teachers in public schools too, but I think the point is, there is sooooo much today that promotes a false understanding of our world and good and evil - so you need to do absolutely everything in your power to help your kids to overcome these influences. If you have a really good Catholic school that truly promotes a lived faith, this is a treasure beyond words. I wish I had had this. If in your life circumstance you do not have this option of sending your child to a faith-filled environment, then you need to work even harder to make sure your child has the foundation necessary to keep the faith despite so many influences that work counter to it. Bottom line, as kids grow into young adults, they need to really know down to their core that this Catholic stuff is all true, that this God who loves us really did leave a Church for us. The foundation needs to be strong and intellectual in order to withstand all that will be thrown against them. So I say, engage your kids as adults as soon as you can, giving them the meat of the Faith, and don’t just assume they will passively come to accept it just by doing all the regular Catholic things, like going with you to Mass every Sunday. I pray for all Catholic parents these days, you have a tough job!
 
His_helpmeet said:
Homeschooling isn’t torture.
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Thank you for jumping in. I was hoping someone with actual experience would counter that rather broad statement. I would hope that anyone who was considering home-schooling would listen to those who actual home-school over detractors who speak from ignorance. Likewise, I would hope that those who consider Catholic education will listen to those who have experience with it. I have, and think it is by far a great treasure that we need to expand. Ex-Catholics are not the best source of information for this sort of decision.
 
GodLover69 said:
I went to a public school once. Some one there had an opinion that was different then mine, and I have been reeling from the experience ever since.
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I found Public School to be interesting. I learned to keep my nose clean and stay out of my fellow student’s business, how not to snitch. If I ever ended up in the penitentiary, my experience in public school would have served me pretty well.
 
I came across this short video of recently retired superintendent Bob Voboril of Wichita Diocesan Schools, fundraising from a first grade classroom.

 
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Padres1969 said:
So are Catholic schools. I mean be honest, the issue those advocating for the elimination of public schooling for Catholic schooling have is that they just want a different type of indoctrination.

As a former Catholic who spent 21 years in Catholic school and left the faith anyway let me tell you… Catholic indoctrination in most cases doesn’t usually take. In fact of my cohort I know of 2 people who remained what most on CA would consider fully faithful Catholics. The rest not so much.
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When were you in Catholic schools? I’m curious because I attended during the post-VII years and the catechism instruction we received was pretty subpar. I will say that several of my classmates have remained Catholic and after a time away from the Church years ago, I came back. But I did have quite a bit to learn about the faith.
 
Private schools need more funding. My understanding is that Canada gov supports private and public schools. The public schools in our area have amazing academic programs. I have yet to find a private school in our area that has programs for academically gifted and talented children.
 
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