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knowloveserve
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I received an interesting phone call yesterday from a gal who works with our parochial school (which is literally 5 doors down from my house). She asked in a kind way-- and begging for complete honesty-- what would it take for us to send our kids to school there. I laughed and told her my wish list of aiming for the moon:
1- that school be affordable (it actually is, comparatively to other private schools in the area but still out of our budget.)
2- that orthodox nuns be teaching instead of the lay staff.
3- that they dump their efforts to embrace the Common Core Standards.
4- that they drastically reduce homework expectations so we can better cultivate our family life.
Then, and only then, would we CONSIDER sending our kids to school. Of course she and I both knew it was a lot, but she's just gathering research and knows that I am, in fact, the leader of the homeschooler's group at this church, etc.
But it was an interesting talking point.
What about you? What would it take for you to consider sending your kids to an otherwise great school that's within walking distance of your house?
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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TryingMyBest
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I read this in an online bulletin of a tradish church in Chicago and I thought it summarized exactly what I would want in a Catholic school (in terms of philosophy not curriculum). Here is the link. Below is a cut and paste of the article since it's the link to the current bulletin which will probably change in a day or two.
Ramblings - Fr. Brankin
Catholic Schools Week
Well, welcome to Catholic Schools Week. Now what do you think that means? Well the newspapers might make
mention of it, and the Archdiocese of course sponsors it, but I think often we can think that Catholic Schools Week
celebrates the fact that Catholic schools have significantly better scores than do the public schools.
And they actually do. our children scores are about a year ahead of their public school counterparts. And that is
wonderful—though I suspect that by the time they all reach
college—things will have pretty well evened out.
Besides I am sure that as far as scores go, Lutheran schools are just as good. And I don’t think that Baptist schools
do any worse. I would imagine that they are all pretty close. So as wonderful as all that is, I don’t think that
academic excellence is what Catholic Schools Week is all about.
Maybe we are unique because of our better discipline—that
there are less gang or drug problems here than in a
public school. Well if that is so maybe we should call this “semi-military school week”.
Really when you get down to it, our scores ought to be better and our discipline ought to be better. And it would be
a sin if they weren’t better than our unfortunate public school cousins who have to spend half the day going through
metal detectors. How could you fail to have better scores when
you’re not forced to be dealing with some of these
problems every day?
If we are celebrating anything today that might set Saint Odilo apart from all the other schools and make it a unique
and vital and important part of the life of this parish, th
is community and our families, it is that Saint Odilo School
is Catholic and trying to be more Catholic every day.
You see, if a Catholic school is not particularly Catholic—i
f religion is just the blow off subject we tack on at some
point in the day—then there is not much difference between us and the public schools—and not much reason to
stay in existence.
If we were able to move all our rooms and halls and cl
assroom techniques and teaching
methods and lesson plans to
Hiawatha and no one at Hiawata would notice anything out of
the ordinary—well then something would be wrong.
It would mean that whatever was going on here and at
Hiawatha was virtually interchangeable. We would therefore
be taking tuition under false pretenses. If there were no discernable difference between us and Hiawatha, then why
not just send our kids to Hiawatha for free.
But we are Catholic and striving every day to be more Catholic.
Our teachers are commissioned to punctuate their whole da
y—and all their classes with the things of the faith—
with prayer and devotion—signs and symbols. They are to let the children know that not only do the children live—
but so too do the angels and saints and souls of the just—and all around them.
Our faculty has been commissioned to help the children understand that there is a whole universe of the supernatu-
ral that is beyond us and beside us. That the world is
bigger than biology and history and numbers and chemicals—
that there is Someone behind it all and in it all. There is Someone who makes sense of it all.
Our staff is commissioned to make each day—all day—charged with the electrifying presence of God. To teach the
children about the power of Holy Water and to start each class with the Sign of the Cross and a prayer.
Yes, our children go to Mass every day—and then we expect them to be here on Sunday. In that way not only do
the priests get the opportunity to teach the children and sta
ff, but the children get the opportunity to see how faith is
part of their everyday life. They learn that faith and relig
ion and the supernatural is not something alien to their
lives— not apart from their lived experience. Religion is not something we do over here in the church while real
life is lived over there in the school.
No. Our children are being taught—if they are learning—that it is all real—God and revelation and the
galaxies—Jesus and Mary and science, the Incarnation and history.
Our teachers are sent forth this year and every year to
ensure that in their math classes our children are being
helped to understand that it is God—a God of Reason and Order—who created mathematics. Our teachers’ task
is to connect all the books about science and computers and things with meditations about the Creator of it all. At
some point in each day—even in science class—the hope is that our teachers will stop their lesson, and in their
own sense of wonder ask the children: “Is it not marvelous how God has done all this?”
My hope and prayer is that when our children read about the world’s wars and insurrections—about revolutions
and depressions—they see the absence of God. That when men grow away from God, they hurt each other. My
hope is that when they study about the Jazz Age and gangs
ters, and crime and punishment, they conclude that this
is what happens when people abandon Jesus and his Church.
My fervent prayer is that when they read in Social studies, for example, about the Supreme Court decision that
allows for abortion, they will say intuitively “That is horrible! People don’t do that to other people.”
As well, they can look at Food Drives and Christmas toy programs for poor kids and say instinctively— “That is
what Jesus wants.”
Our students need to be able to connect all of history with God and with their faith. We are striving for a school
and staff and students who can piece things together and lear
n that life is one—and their faith is part of that life.
They must learn that where there is no God there is
no peace—and where there is no love there is no life.
When Catholic education is working—that is when our children can see what’s good and evil in the world and in
the newspapers and know why. You see, our Saint Odilo teachers have to be more than good teachers who happen
to be Catholic. They must be missionaries—they must be apostles.
They must help our children develop a Catholic attitude toward life, so that the children can see in every aspect of
the world, from politics to history to the environment. God’s guiding hand.
The true triumph of Catholic education is that our children see God when the rest of the world sees only events.
Catholic education is the development of a Catholic a
ttitude where every part of life is filtered through Jesus,
Mary, the Church, the Mass, and sacraments-questions of heaven and hell.
Sure that’s medieval. Sure that’s primitive. But it is also wonderful.
We have a lot here at Saint Odilo—and we are working towards more. Only a scattering of parochial school
children have daily Mass—or have ever even witnessed Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, let alone pray it
as our children do many times during the school year. Our children understand confession like few others. They
go about four times a year. And we never stop encouraging our kids to even go on Saturday. May Crownings,
Rosaries, acts of contrition, grace before meals,
genuflections, are all a part of life here.
We’re not perfect by any means but these are all some of the concrete ways we are trying to develop a
Catholic way of life in our school.
Yes, our children learn their fact and figures, they do their sums and do their homework like any kids in any
school; but St. Odilo kids have an edge, for they are learning that in every part of their lives—God is with them,
and that they are with God.
And that is the true meaning and glory of Catholic Schools Week.
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TryingMyBest
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As for the nuns I wouldn't make that a requirement since that's impossible to meet anyway. There are so few orthodox nuns left in the USA and I'm not sure staffing all of the parochial schools is the best use of their talents. I think it might be better to build up the monasteries again and then eventually it will lead to teaching sisters again.
Jenn
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Mom21
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Our son went to our area's Catholic school until 4th grade. Here's what I would want in a "real" Catholic school. NONE of this was present in the school where our son went.
Less emphasis on sports, especially football. This was my biggest frustration.
Teaching of the faith, not religious feelings, attitudes, social justice, etc.
Quit trying to sell it as a "faith based" school but a CATHOLIC school.
Daily Mass.
Daily recitation of the Angelus at lunchtime.
Daily recitation of the Rosary or at least a decade if time is an issue.
Faculty and staff who are true Catholics and know the faith.
Catholic textbooks, not secular ones.
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SallyT
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One day I hope the teaching orders -- the Nashville and Ann Arbor Dominicans especially -- will be big enough, and have founded enough new communities, to be a real presence in Catholic education nationwide. That is their charism, and they're going for it in as big a way as they can, but even with their huge postulant classes, it'll be a long time before nuns in the classroom are a cultural norm again.
Otherwise, my list would look a lot like Mom21's. Even then, though . . . I think I'd see school as something we did because we were up against a wall in some way. I've had kids in school before, and I'm not anxious to go back.
Sally
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Castle in the Sea
Abandon Hopefully
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Erica Sanchez
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Even if a there was a perfect school next door, I wouldn't send my children. I told that to my pastor who wants to have a school with all the good things mentioned above. Maybe, if like Sally says, there was some desperate reason, like I died. We are so happy homeschooling in our imperfect homeschool. There are things that happen here that just can't happen in the best of schools like you all know. When asked a question like this, I always answer in the positive because we homeschool for these reasons and not because we can't find a good enough school.
So, what I mean to say is that it would be hard for me to come up with a list at all. :)
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Have a beautiful and fun day!
Erica in San Diego
(dh)Cash, Emily, Grace, Nicholas, Isabella, Annie, Luke, Max, Peter, 2 little souls ++, and sweet Rose who is legally ours!
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JodieLyn
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How about allowing partial enrollment? then you can homeschool and yet enroll your child for something like Spanish or Band or Biology Lab, without having to enroll them for the whole day.
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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JodieLyn
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Ah.. like a college.. you can enroll for a course of study to gain a degree and follow those requirements or you can enroll to take a single class without further obligations to follow any rules or regs the school might have.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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organiclilac
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I once told someone that I could design the perfect school, but I still wouldn't send my kids there. I like having them with me (and with each other) all day. I do agree with Jodie about partial enrollment, though. It would be great to send my older one for just a class or two.
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Tracy, wife to Shawn, mama to Samuel (4/01) and Joseph (11/11), and Thomas (2/15)
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JodieLyn
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Oh and have Mass AND allow the "public" to attend so that those who homeschool in the area would be able to attend Mass too. 
__________________
Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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JennGM
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I would not want a daily rosary at school because I want to pray it as a family. But I do want daily Mass.
I want the catholic schools to have their own standards and textbooks, and not just be public schools or state regulated schools with religion added as an extra subject. Catholic life needs to be permeated through the school and curriculum.
I want books, not technology. I don't want computers or Ereaders or anything like that in the classroom, and I want strict restrictions on personal technology.
Teachers need to be good practicing Catholics who cooperate with the parents. They need to realize that I am loaning my God given authority to them.
Even if all my above criteria is met, the one that can never be is having appropriate peers, students who come from similar backgrounds and have parents who agree that sanctity is the common goal for our children. I wouldn't want to have a restricted school, because there is always opportunity for growth and conversion for families who are searching. But there is too much bombardment in the homes of tv, computers, video games, etc. I don't want to put my children in a bubble, but I do want some filter so they aren't smothered by the world's influence. That is one thing I see when a child goes to school, a loss of innocence and a gain of human respect.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Kathryn
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Like you, our church and school is across the street and down about 5 houses. My 2 oldest attended from 2007-2009. Like you, cost is a huge factor. With only 2 kids (and an infant) I was working part-time at home so it was affordable. 5 years, 4 kids now and no time for part-time work it is waaaay beyond our reach financially.
Another reason we left was the overwhelming workload and desire to teach at least one grade level ahead of public schools. This did not allow for much of a family life b/c DS simply could not keep up with the expectations. I was literally (re)teaching everything at home every night (for hours in 2nd grade!) b/c even for the cost there were 26 children in his 1st and 2nd grade class so he wasn't getting much 1 on 1 help.
Last, while it is mostly lay people teaching, that wasn't my issue...it was more the mindset of many families I met looking for a "quality" education, not necessarily a "faith based" education. I couldn't believe how many families either weren't members of the Church (or any church), if they were members didn't regularly attend Mass and how many seemed more focused on the academic/extracurricular activities vs. any faith formation.
BOY...I wish they'd call me! 
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Kathryn in TX
(dd 16, ds 15, dd 8, dd 5)
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4 lads mom
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Erica Sanchez wrote:
Even if a there was a perfect school next door, I wouldn't send my children. I told that to my pastor who wants to have a school with all the good things mentioned above. Maybe, if like Sally says, there was some desperate reason, like I died. We are so happy homeschooling in our imperfect homeschool. There are things that happen here that just can't happen in the best of schools like you all know. When asked a question like this, I always answer in the positive because we homeschool for these reasons and not because we can't find a good enough school.
So, what I mean to say is that it would be hard for me to come up with a list at all. :) |
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What she said. 
__________________
Mom of four brave lads and one sweet lassie
Scenes From This and That
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MarilynW
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Erica Sanchez wrote:
Even if a there was a perfect school next door, I wouldn't send my children. I told that to my pastor who wants to have a school with all the good things mentioned above. Maybe, if like Sally says, there was some desperate reason, like I died. We are so happy homeschooling in our imperfect homeschool. There are things that happen here that just can't happen in the best of schools like you all know. When asked a question like this, I always answer in the positive because we homeschool for these reasons and not because we can't find a good enough school.
So, what I mean to say is that it would be hard for me to come up with a list at all. :) |
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Exactly what Erica said too!
One of my very dearest friends locally has even agreed to homeschool my kids if something happens to me.
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Marilyn
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JennGM
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I do think the home environment is the best possible scenario. I grappled with this decision earlier this year when I was facing ill health with heart problems and then the open heart surgery.
It would have been easier in some ways to send them to school, but I think I made the right choice keeping them home, warts and all.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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Mom21
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JodieLyn wrote:
| How about allowing partial enrollment? then you can homeschool and yet enroll your child for something like Spanish or Band or Biology Lab, without having to enroll them for the whole day. |
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We live in a state that allows partial enrollment. Our son has been enrolled in band the past couple years. Overall, it has been good but going to the public school for a class does have its own unique issues. It can really disrupt the flow of your school day, especially if the class is in the middle of the day.
In our state, you have to follow more regulations if you enroll your child in a public school class.
While it is good in theory, it's one of those "be careful what you wish for."
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JodieLyn
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Yeah, we could do it here too and don't. But we're talking about a private school setting rather than public school.. and within walking distance of the school.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Private school wish list
