Independent vs. Parish Catholic Schools

[Abundant]

In my city, there is a private Catholic school run by the Legionaries of Christ and not affiliated with a Parish. It is significantly more expensive than the other Catholic schools in the area, but the academics seem to be better and there are 2 consecrated lay women present all of the time and 2 consecrated lay men in addition to 2 priests. So, from what I can tell, the formation is great too.

I have a 2 part question: as Catholics, do we have a responsibility to send our children to Parish schools over independent schools? I know the Archdiocese oversees the parish schools, but who oversees the independent Catholic schools?

Has anyone experienced (or know of someone who has experienced) the 2 types of schools and is there a difference that you know of?

 

[marymary1975]

I went to what you would call an independent catholoc school. In fact where i come from there is no such thing as parish school. Schools like the one run by the legionaries of Christ are run by a congregation. To me that is the only difference. So franciscans would oversee a Franciscan school as Jesuits would oversee the Jesuit school as Agustinians will with Augustinians school. I really don’t see any differences. My daughter goes to parish school and the only difference I can see at least with my school or with the schools I am familiar ran by Franciscans and Augustinians is that in hers all the teachers are lay while in my school and in Franciscan school I know, many teachers were nuns or priests.

 

[Corki]

In my city, there is a private Catholic school run by the Legionaries of Christ and not affiliated with a Parish. It is significantly more expensive than the other Catholic schools in the area, but the academics seem to be better and there are 2 consecrated lay women present all of the time and 2 consecrated lay men in addition to 2 priests. So, from what I can tell, the formation is great too.

I have a 2 part question: as Catholics, do we have a responsibility to send our children to Parish schools over independent schools? I know the Archdiocese oversees the parish schools, but who oversees the independent Catholic schools?

Has anyone experienced (or know of someone who has experienced) the 2 types of schools and is there a difference that you know of?

My children have attended both independent and parish schools.

do we have a responsibility to send our children to Parish schools over independent schools?

No, however if the parish school is at your own parish, you should still be supportive of the school in the same way you support other parish programs.

I know the Archdiocese oversees the parish schools, but who oversees the independent Catholic schools?

’

There is a lot of variation here. In our diocese, the Superintendent of Catholic Schools (I think she actually has a new title) loosely oversees the independent schools. They provide support and training but there is no one at the school that actually “reports” to the diocese. In a parish school, the principal reports to both the Superintendent and the pastor. All of the independent school with which I am familiar also have accreditation so they have accountability through the accreditation organization.

The biggest difference in the elementary years is curriculum, IMHO. Our diocese has struck a deal with the state that all of the diocesan (parish) schools follow the state curriculum. Religion class is added to it. Our independent schools do not have that restriction. They can select text books that are more Catholic and teach subjects in an order that does not necessarily adhere to the state curriculum. They have more autonomy in hiring teachers as well.

 

[phil19034]

Has anyone experienced (or know of someone who has experienced) the 2 types of schools and is there a difference that you know of?

Independent Catholic schools are run by Religious Orders (nuns, monks, friars, etc) or by Lay Catholics. Most Lay schools (not all) do unofficially report to their Bishop. The Schools from the Religious Orders usually report up through their Provinces. They may or may not have a dotted line to their local Bishop.

 

[JB_Dugan]

I
I know the Archdiocese oversees the parish schools, but who oversees the independent Catholic schools?

Actually the Archdiocese (The Bishop) oversees ALL Catholic schools within his jurisdiction.

“The bishop must also supervise the teaching of Christian doctrine in the seminaries, as well as in secondary and primary schools”

In virtue of this right of superintendence, and because of the intimate relations which exist between instruction and education, the bishop is empowered to forbid attendance at un-denominational schools, at least in those districts where Catholic schools exist, and where attendance at the former schools is dangerous. In virtue of the same right he will very often be bound to erect Catholic schools or favor their establishment (Third Council of Baltimore, nos. 194-213)

Independent schools operated by an order (Jesuits, Marianists, or Legionaries of Christ) fall under the authority of the local bishop.

As a practical matter, Independently supported schools operated by a religious order are a benefit to any diocese. They provide top notch religious education and relieve the local diocese of the expense of operating another school.

 

[90Domer]

Independent schools in our area are run by orders as well. They are not overseen by the diocese and are also more expensive. We are looking at that choice for high school.

My special needs son was finally accepted into a parish school (we were members of another parish and never re-registered with ours as we were heavily involved in the Church), and now we are members. I have to say that compared to our old parish, this one is much more devout and the children behave beautifully at Mass.

I think it pays to visit and try to get opinions from other parents. Hope this helps.

 

[jmjMom9]

I am leery of Legionary schools. I don’t think I’d put my child in a Legionary school due to the methodology of their indoctrination. We do let our children attend retreats and camps with Legionary priests, but I wouldn’t want that prolonged and institutional influence.

However, I’m not too enamored of parish schools either.

There’s an independent Catholic school near us that is run by a board that is solidly Catholic. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend that school to anyone over a parish school

To me, I prefer Catholic homeschooling, then a solid Catholic school, then public school, then a lukewarm Catholic school.

 

[tafan]

I have a 2 part question: as Catholics, do we have a responsibility to send our children to Parish schools over independent schools?

With respect to your first question, canon law is very clear: if we are able, we are to send our children to schools which provide a catholic education.

“Can. 798 Parents are to entrust their children to those schools which provide a Catholic education. If they are unable to do this, they are obliged to take care that suitable Catholic education is provided for their children outside the schools.”

The church has a long history of various types of catholic schools: those run by parishes and diocese, those run by religious orders ( which must operate with the permission of the local bishop. These certainly satisfy church law. The legionnaires school would likely fall under the latter.

Recently there is a relatively new phenomena, truly independent schools started by groups of laity, due to a perceived weakness in the more traditional catholic schools. These also are acceptable if the parent truly believes they provide a catholic education, but buyer beware, the church is not helping you determine that or monitoring it. You are on your own.