No Catholic Schooling is Sinful?

[OutinChgoburbs]

Found it again, here at catholic.com.
This article is on topic.

catholic.com/thisrock/1999/9901fea4.asp

Thank you. I ask because you said, “If you want your children to know how to defend their faith” and the article says the quote is, “If you want your children to fight for their faith.” A child will not learn how to defend their faith in public school, in the sense the kids will suddenly become elqoquent apologists. I have yet to find this quote on the rest of the Internet, or in any of Bishop Sheen’s works that I own, so it gives me pause that it is out there on its own.

My opinion is that they will not know how to defend their faith unless first and foremost their parents are giving them a Catholic education. That does not necessarily mean Catholic school, but does mean educating them about their faith to the point where, if they went to public school, they could explain it and defend it. Parents are the first teachers of their children, and they need to take this seriously.

As far as a school building and organization goes, I think it depends on the parents and kids. I know in the early 1980s trying to find any form of education for special ed in our area, other than sitting in a room and having “dumbed down” activities, was unthinkable. Our special ed was a glorified holding tank. It was part of my reason for home educating my son, as Catholic schools did not want him either. He might be schizophrenic, but he’s a schizophrenic who is a Latin confirmed Catholic and can read at a post-twelfth grade level.

In our area today, Catholic schools and public schools work together when kids need that extra push or accomodation- and they are accomodated. I don’t see where one mode of education has to preclude the other for a child to have a Catholic education. I don’t see why a Catholic school has to be precluded, nor do I see where a public school has to be precluded. And if I were 10 years younger, I would home educate this bunch. Fortunately, we have a lovely, very small Catholic school situation.

 

[Lovemyfaith]

Where we live, our public school system is as good (if not better…) than our parish school. So, he can get a good education at the public school.

Well I doubt they would be good or better at the class that matters the most to me, religion. If the parish school has problems with religious education, please talk to the pastor or the local vicar or bishop if you have to, for the sake of all the children. Have some specific examples of what is going on. As far as the parents being unkind, I am afraid that can happen anywhere.
My children did get a great education at our parish school and that gives them the opportunity to have successful lives, but what matters most to me is they keep their faith. I was proud to be a part of that parish school and will continue to support it with my prayers and contributions.

 

[Melford]

I, if it is not reinforced at home, then it probably will not do much good.

Catholic school, CCD, “Faith Formation”, public school … these are tools for parents to use and springboards for ongoing education. If it is not followed up on and reinforced daily at home it is not going to go any good or make any difference. My children may attend “Faith Formation” (CCD) for sixty minutes a week, but it NOT all of the “Catholic Education” that they receive.

We talk about God and Christ in our lives and our Catholic beliefs when my 2nd grader tells me about someone being bullied. We discuss faith when my 4th grader helps me make dinner on Fridays and we talk about Lent. We learn about our faith and being Catholic when my 8th grader asks questions about war and civil rights.

Educating children is a 24/7/365 deal. We employee many methods and many tools to do so. As a parent, I use what resources I have and I make opportunities to teach. School is just one tool. As long as you raise children that are educated and eloquent in their beliefs and faith then you are doing right by your children.

Mary -

 

[buffalo]

If material selfishness is involved which deprive your children of the advantages of a good solid orthodox Catholic education it is very sinful.

It is a parent’s duty to be first teachers. You have to do the heavy lifting at home. The Catholic School bonds your children into the Catholic Community and they live the teachings of Jesus while in school for 5-6 hours per day. It is tough to beat that.

 

[mom24boys]

Our Catholic school tuition is sinful. :bigyikes:

 

[kristie_m]

I can’t help but think that if it were a sin for us to NOT send our kids to Catholic school then the church would be bending over backward to make it more affordable for everyone. I think the idea is most likely that we need to provide a Catholic education, whether that’s through CCD or some other program. JMO

 

[YourDailyTeen]

From what I know, it is not a sin to NOT send your child to a Catholic School. But it IS a sin to not give your child a Catholic education, thats why God assigned you as a parent. The job of a parent is to raise your child, and teach about the Catholic Faith.

 

[HOPEFUL_IN_UK]

I can’t help but think that if it were a sin for us to NOT send our kids to Catholic school then the church would be bending over backward to make it more affordable for everyone. I think the idea is most likely that we need to provide a Catholic education, whether that’s through CCD or some other program. JMO

It did used to be required for Catholics to send their kids to Catholic Schools, and I gather they weren’t always very affordable. That’s according to what I’ve heard some people say.

 

[abary]

As far as our tuition goes, we pay $2700 per kid, that is with two kids and the multi-kid discount (by the time you get to kid #5 in our school, that education is basically free until kid #1-4 respectively graduate). We have a $400 fund raising obligation, as well as supplies, uniforms, etc. I would have to guess that we probably pay $3,400 a year all told.

It costs our school $4300 to educate each child in the school. In my city, it costs the taxpayers $10,300 to educate each public school kid, and that is going up again this year.

Granted, my expenses would go down considerably if we allowed the state to educate our kids, but in a city where the public school accreditation is shaky at best, and ESL students (God bless them) are slowly climbing to majority, we do not consider the public schools an option.

It is our opinion that we are getting a good bargain for a great education, both religious and otherwise from our little school.

We do have to give up other things to make sure that the tuition is paid, but we do it gladly, because the alternatives for us aren’t really alternatives at all.