What kind of advantages are there to Catholic Schools for your child?

  • Thread starter Thread starter notsmart
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
N

notsmart

Guest
If I were to send my daughter to Catholic School, if they would let me (not catholic) what would be the advantages? Its so expensive, I would hope there are more than a few.

Thanks!
 
Itdepends on the school. There is a Catholic school near my house. The advantages of that particular school over out local public school are that they include God in many aspects of their day, therefore giving God a sense of normalcy that might otherwise be missing. And the friends that my kids would make would be more likely have similar values as mine. The advantage of it over homeschooling is that it puts the children in a large community of other Catholic children, so that they can see that their faith is not unique to their family, but something that is shared by alot of people.

For me, the benefits were not worth the costs (not just financial, also the other negatives particular to our situation), so we chose homeschooling. But there is a strong chance that even if we had decided not to homeschool, we wouldn’t have used the local Catholic school. The advantages I mentioned above all come with another side to the coin. I would hope a really strong Catholic school would infuse not just God, but ORTHODOXY into the schoolday, include weekly or daily Mass, strong religion classes, strong and faithful community. This isn’t our situation though.
 
Oops, just noticed you’re not Catholic - so maybe my reasons don’t mean much to you. Maybe others can list the non-religious benefits they’ve seen from their Catholic schools.
 
Oh, I did not mean to open up a can of worms! Sorry about the Catholic School near your home. I dont personally want to home school, even though I know a mom who does. My child will be entering Kindergarten, and we are debating about this. The public school is rated very high here. I sent an email to the Catholic School’s site, and they did not answer any of my concerns. Maybe it was a busy day. They could not provide any stats on their school to compare with the public one. I was a bit surprised, because all my life I have been told its the best education around.
We know a family who sends their boy there, but they seem to have a very blase attitude about it. They told me they send their son there, because they both grew up in Catholic Schools. So, thats not much of a help to me to decide.

The exposure to God all day, well that is good, I assumed that would be happening, and its a bonus since I dont expose my daughter to God at all. But, I have to justify the expense, and I was hoping there would be more reasons.

Thank you for giving me an answer, I am sorry its not the best for your family where you are also.

Sincerely,

Monica
 
I wouldn’t recommend Catholic school if the school you’re looking into is anything like the ones in my area. Here, the public school that I went to is academically superior to the Catholic school, IMO. And the Religion/catechism classes there are extremely poor. I’m sure it depends on the school though 🙂
 
I concur with all of the above. You need to know what’s up with THIS school. A good Catholic school is fantastic. But one that is not so good is just that: not so good.

You should make an appointment not later than February of the year you intend to enroll to look at the place yourself. October isn’t too early.

As for expensive? Nope. Not compared to other private schools.

The Episcopal grammar school my daughter went to now charges $28,700 for all day kindergarten, and the independent (non-parochial) Catholic high school she attended now charges $30,000 for kindergarten and almost $37,000 for high school.
 
Here are the advantages I have found **where I live: **
  1. Much more community feel - we know the families - who’s kids belong to whom, and we know the teachers really well.
  2. Our school is K-8 so my children go to school with their own sibs. In addition to that, the students form strong bonds because they are together all the way through. (this can be a plus or minus depending on the particular class - some classes seem to have a nicer batch of kids and if you’re stuck with the not-so-nice … well, you’re just stuck)
  3. Love the whole uniform thing - don’t have to deal with trashy clothing options in Jr. High
  4. School does not have to tolerate awful behavior. Bad kids, if they are unwilling to change are given the boot. Our school is big into respect - students MUST respect teachers and each other. We had a Jr. High student who posted something totally disrespectful about his teacher on his myspace. The school had problems with him in the past and that was that last straw - he was kicked out.
  5. Religious aspect - kids are told in no uncertain terms that mean behavior will not be tolerated because it’s not what Jesus would have them do. Prayers are said every single day - mass is once a week and the Priest always gears the homily toward the children. Great messages even if you aren’t Catholic.
  6. Can celebrate Christmas, Easter, etc. rather than the polictically correct Winter Holiday etc.
  7. By far, the majority of the kids come from traditional two parent households - and they seem to be a bit more sheltered than their public school counterparts. Again, this could totally be my imagination - no real way to compare other than what my own kids tells me.
  8. School seems more back to basics than what my public school friends describe of their schools. Spelling is really important as is handwriting. Most of the teachers have been there many years and continue to teach the way it’s always been taught.
Good luck with your decision.
 
That is a great answer to help me out. Thank you yellowbird.

I like the idea of uniforms also. It makes it less distracting to kids who even at this age talk about what others are wearing, which is distracting.
 
notsmart said:
That is a great answer to help me out. Thank you yellowbird.

I like the idea of uniforms also. It makes it less distracting to kids who even at this age talk about what others are wearing, which is distracting.
Click to expand...
Actually, when I went to Catholic school, the girls who followed the skirt length rule were made fun of by the other girls and, to a lesser extent, the boys. Girls were expected by their peers to show at least half their thighs, and if they were sent to the principal they’d just roll their skirts down on the way there.
 
Larowyn said:
Actually, when I went to Catholic school, the girls who followed the skirt length rule were made fun of by the other girls and, to a lesser extent, the boys. Girls were expected by their peers to show at least half their thighs, and if they were sent to the principal they’d just roll their skirts down on the way there.
Click to expand...
I should visit that school, and see if its like that there. Even though I am not a baptised person, or Christian I guess, I still insist and my husband also does- that our daughter will dress modestly.
 
Take a tour during the school day, if possible. Ask to see test scores. Talk to a variety of people who send or have sent their kids (not just one or 2 families, because if they had a really bad or a really good experience, it may skew the results!) Many schools have open houses mid-winter for prospective families. Attend. Ask questions. Arrange to meet with the teachers. Review the curriculum. (I work in a Catholic school, and all these things are done by families where I work, and it is considered a good thing when parents take an active interest. It usually means the parents will continue to be involved on a volunteer level!)

Just as with public schools, there are excellent, average, and poor Catholic schools, and excellent, average, and poor teachers!

We chose Catholic first because the kids would be surrounded with people who valued the same core beliefs we did. We got to know the families fairly well, because it was a smaller setting.

For high school, we chose to continue with Catholic, because 1) the sheer size of the public school was overwhelming - 1000 kids per grade level at public versus less than 200 for Catholic and 2) the Catholic school is considered a college prep school, so all classes are geared towards college, AP classes are offered, and even some college level classes are offered to senior high students.

It is a bit (ok, a lot) more liberal than I personally care for, but we figure that is the same as the college environment will be, only here our kids come home each day and tell us what is going on, so then we can help them prepare to counter all the liberalism. We figure that will help prepare them to defend themselves in the long run. My 16 year old has gotten VERY good at defending the conservative POV!👍

Good luck with whatever you decide! Personally, I think parental involvement is the key, no matter where your child goes. Get to know the teachers, volunteer in the classroom, be involved!
 
Larowyn said:
Actually, when I went to Catholic school, the girls who followed the skirt length rule were made fun of by the other girls and, to a lesser extent, the boys. Girls were expected by their peers to show at least half their thighs, and if they were sent to the principal they’d just roll their skirts down on the way there.
Click to expand...
From what I’ve heard, this was a problem at my kids’ school so they decided both boys & girls in 6th - 8th grade would wear uniform PANTS - and no hip huggers - they have to come up to their waist. My daughter thinks they are so dorky but it’s what everyone is stuck with. 👍
 
I have used Catholic and public schools from preschool through high school. I liked Catholic school for high school for my 4 kids. I also suggest visiting the schools, meeting some of the families and if you decide on using a private school- make sure to volunteer and be aware of what you are spending your money on. I have not been unhappy with my decision to be very careful when choosing good schools for my children.
Advantages:
Christ in the school
parental (name removed by moderator)ut welcome
being with other families that also monitor their children
respect and caring evident throughout the day and curriculum.
service projects encouraged and available
heavy academic college prep (high school)
dress code or uniform dress
restrictions on behavior
grooming of leadership skills
most accomplishments are celebrated with mass and prayer
children have many opportunities daily for shared prayer
children have yearly retreats

These are just a few things I could think of real quickly. I will ask that those who hate Catholic schools or have had a bad experience refrain from reprimanding me now. I have had bad luck on this forum when I have said favorable things about Catholic schooling. Go figure. I just want to have respect for my beliefs and experience here.
 
notsmart said:
I should visit that school, and see if its like that there. Even though I am not a baptised person, or Christian I guess, I still insist and my husband also does- that our daughter will dress modestly.
Click to expand...
Not just Catholic schools. All girls’ schools with uniforms do the roll up the skirt thing. Except maybe SSPX and Yeshivas.
 
Also make sure your children don’t have too much trouble getting along with peers. Sometimes Catholic schools harp on about how caring and loving an environment they have so much that they actually believe that nothing bad can happen in the school. Based on first-hand experience, the principal, superintendent, and even the bishop himself may deny that anything is wrong when something clearly is.
 
Larowyn said:
Also make sure your children don’t have too much trouble getting along with peers. Sometimes Catholic schools harp on about how caring and loving an environment they have so much that they actually believe that nothing bad can happen in the school. Based on first-hand experience, the principal, superintendent, and even the bishop himself may deny that anything is wrong when something clearly is.
Click to expand...
Would it be risky to send my non christian child then? I mean it may be a stigma of sorts to some people that may make her an outcast sheerly based on that. I want her to be able to make friends of course.
 
notsmart said:
Would it be risky to send my non christian child then? I mean it may be a stigma of sorts to some people that may make her an outcast sheerly based on that. I want her to be able to make friends of course.
Click to expand...
I don’t think it would be risky… I suppose it depends on the school though. At our school in 2nd grade they all make their 1st Communion so a non-Catholic child may feel a bit left out but as far as being ostracized by the kids… I don’t think kids really notice or even care.

That would be a good question for the Principal though.
 
yellowbird said:
I don’t think it would be risky… I suppose it depends on the school though. At our school in 2nd grade they all make their 1st Communion so a non-Catholic child may feel a bit left out but as far as being ostracized by the kids… I don’t think kids really notice or even care.

That would be a good question for the Principal though.
Click to expand...
Good to hear.

Well, if I end up believing that this is where God is telling me I should be, then maybe by then we will be ready to conform and be catholics by then. She is only going into K now, so its possible I guess.

I know 1st communion was a big deal for the catholic girls I knew, but I never saw it, I only heard about it. They talked about their dresses, and veils, and shoes and stuff like that. It sounded to me (as a non believer) more like a event about those things.

Now, I am older and realize that, while I dont really understand it, its very important for Catholics.

I know this is off topic, but why cant the kids do this when they want to? Is there a signifigance with their age? Lets say, if my child (who is rather intelligent, and has been asking me about God) decides they want to be baptized, is she considered an infant? At the age of 5? Or does she have to do this class thing called RCIA if I did not send her there?
 
notsmart said:
Would it be risky to send my non christian child then? I mean it may be a stigma of sorts to some people that may make her an outcast sheerly based on that. I want her to be able to make friends of course.
Click to expand...
Well I was a Catholic and some pretty rotten things happened to me in a Catholic school anyway. The school administration just brushed it all aside like it was not important, and then when my parents complained to the bishop and the superintendent they said they couldn’t do anything.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top