Archdiocese of Brooklyn Announces Closing of 22 Schools
Monday February 14, 2005
Such sad news for the 4,000 students who attended the schools being closed. I didn't realize that over 3,000 Catholic parochial schools have shut their doors since the 1960's. The main reason seems to be declining enrolments which created a financial crunch. You might want to borrow a copy of Catholic Schools: Private and Social Effects by William Sander. (At $136 a copy it's the sort of tome one borrows...) Much food for thought on the history and current situation in Roman Catholic parochial education.
Waldorf Schools | Faculty Reading
Waldorf Schools | Faculty Reading
Comments
The reasons that Catholic School enrollment is declining is multifold. For one thing, with the decline in viable jobs in America, many parents simply cannot afford the benefits of a Catholic School education. Then there is the scandalous issues within the priesthood that overshadows the stellar work of the schools. Those parents that can easily afford Catholic school education and more (the ones with the deep pockets) are utilizing their resources to fund new educational alternatives like Montessori schools. As a parent who is trying to actively create such resources within the Catholic schools within my community (where there are a vast majority of parents with such deep pockets [I am not by any means one of them]), I am finding that many parents are clamoring to have their families, resources and time utilized to such an end. I am being deluged by parents who have simply heard about my idea to create a summer school program for children of all grades, faiths and economic backgrounds under the umbrella of the closed diocese schools. That’s right, I want to use the closed schools and vacant diocese facilities for the purposes of creating Montessori and other such innovative educational techniques to all children for a minimal fee. Daily parents come up to me and ask, “what can I do to help you make it happen?” Sometimes I hear, “I am not Catholic, but want to participate.” Also, I get: “we have no where for our children to be after school or in the summer, where can we sign up, we will pay anything…!!!” I think that as a parent, I do not wish to complain about the problem, but be a part of the solution if I can. As people in the community of man, how many of us are willing to say the same?
My son has attended catholic schools since he was 5 years old. Unfortunately, in the tenth grade he failed our of Saint Francis Prep.in Queens. I have contacted all the catholic schools in my area and none will admit even though he has passed all his classed during the summer. schools are closing . Yet here is a family in search of one catholic school with compassion, with heart, with understanding to allow a young man to continue with his catholic education. The catholic schools have turned their backs on us.
We hae supported The Knights of Columbus, CYO
and home school Association. Forget about the magazines, candy drive etc. There is no place for us. We have been shunned. Perhaps the school should change soe of their policies
It is sad. I wish you and your son well.