Catholic Schools have been particularly hard hit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Families who choose Catholic education face (like so many of us) financial hardships due to layoffs and reduced work hours. In turn, Catholic schools face reduced enrollment. However, in the last few months, Catholic schools proved their ability to continue to make good on their promise of educating each student. As our current reality under COVID-19 continues, there lies a strong need to save Catholic schools from the havoc COVID-19 created.
Yes, with private, Catholic schools there are tuition and fees. However, while attending Catholic schools is not free, they are not exclusive and are open to all. In fact, Catholic schools have long been recognized as one of the “best educators as those wIth lesser means.”
Saint Frances Cabrini (Mother Cabrini) founded the first schools for the poor in New York City. She advocated the teachers to:
Safeguard the children confided to you as on precious loans.
Study well the personalities, the strengths of the students, because one cannot presume they are all the same. Treat each one according to their capacity and the gifts they have received from God.
Seek to form character.
Do not embarrass, correct patiently.
Do not show dislike either in words or actions.
Do not speak of the students’ defects to others.
Use all possible diligence to plan your schoolwork at the beginning of the year. Always be ready to answer to educational authorities and satisfy the families of the students.
These teachings still guide Catholic schools and Catholic educators today. Through treating each student with respect, and helping each individually as they need it, students within Catholic schools gain more than an education. They gain the ability to form a strong sense of self in addition to a strong educational background.
Attending Catholic schools often gives graduates an advantage over other students. A study from 2018 found that “...students who attended Catholic high schools had higher college grade-point averages (GPAs), were more likely to graduate, and were more likely to graduate with a STEM degree. This Catholic school advantage was wide-ranging, benefiting many subgroups of students, including non-white, low income, urban, and low-achieving students.”
Many entertainers, business leaders, and politicians from humble beginnings attending Catholic schools, like Will Smith, Susan Sarandon, Barack Obama, Martin Scorsese, Sonia Sotomayor, Nancy Pelosi, and Joe Biden, to name a few. They all acknowledge the positive impact Catholic schooling holds.
As it stands currently, many families currently sending their children do not have the same name recognition and benefits that come with that recognition as those named above. These families and the schools they send their children to are in dire need of assistance. The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has implemented a meticulously and extensively thought-out plan to reopen and all schools safely September. This plan has been reviewed and affirmed by state and local health officials. Meanwhile, many public and charter schools, including the School District of Philadelphia will begin virtually.
A recent Supreme Court ruling states private and Catholic schools can have more access to aid. Each child, whether in public, private, religiously-orientated, or charter schools, deserves the opportunity for the best education. COVID-19 is causing financial ruin across various institutions. Catholic schools deserve the same access to funds to help stay open, just as the public and other schools do. Ultimately, hindering this access only hurts our children.
It’s time to save our Catholic schools.