The following comes from a June 14 posting on the website of the Cardinal Newman Society.
The survival of Catholic schools depends on new financial models that foster a strong Catholic identity while also lowering tuition for those in need, according to Bishop Michael Barber, S.J., of the diocese of Oakland, Calif.
“The future belongs to new models of Catholic education other than the tuition-based model,” Bishop Barber recently told The Cardinal Newman Society. “Tuition keeps going up and we keep pricing out the students and families who are most in need.”
“Some schools admit larger numbers of non-Catholics to keep it open, then the temptation is to water down the Catholic identity and Catholic components of the school,” he said.
Bishop Barber believes the ideal solution would be to offer a strong Catholic education at lower cost or to find creative ways that allow the students most in need to receive the faithful education their families want for them.
The bishop said getting away from the tuition-based would especially benefit the Latino community in his diocese. “I have schools practically empty,” he said, adding that it is difficult to convince poorer families — Latino or otherwise — to send their children to schools with such high tuition or few financial aid and scholarship programs.
He recalled a Salesian school that is currently struggling to stay open in a poorer part of the diocese. Even though it is struggling, the school is “a beacon of hope” for the people in that community, as all Catholic schools should be. “I am trying my best to find ways to keep them [and other schools] going,” said Bishop Barber.
The Diocese of Oakland has already launched one project to support Catholic education: reshaping the land at diocesan cemeteries to incorporate grapevines that not only beautify the grounds but are now producing wine that provides scholarships for students in need.
“A project like this is important for our Catholic schools, especially in the poor neighborhoods, because the children who need it most are unable to afford it,” Bishop Barber, who used to work in vineyards while a student at the Jesuit novitiate in Los Gatos, Calif., told the Newman Society….
In addition to Bishop’s Vineyard, the diocese is exploring other ways to support Catholic education and to help struggling schools remain open. It is currently exploring the possibilities of starting a Cristo Rey high school, co-sponsoring schools with the Christian Brothers or adopting programs such as the Seton School program in Virginia or Catalyst school program in Chicago….
“Now I’ve noticed a growing trend in the schools in my diocese, particularly high schools. The trend of non-Catholics asking to come into the Church,” said Bishop Barber.
Even at the college level, the response is staggering, he continued. The campus ministries at the University of California, Berkeley — which many people consider one of the most liberal schools in the country — and Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, Calif., had two of the largest groups to come into the Catholic Church this past Easter, he said.
Are the schools in Oakland truly Catholic or are they quite secularized with leftist socialist Jerry Brown tyoe ideology?
There are two distinct components to the issue. One is Physical Location of the Student (a School Building providing day care) and the other is Education (information, correction, examples…) passed to the Student.
The younger the Student, the greater the need for a physical building to house them in, but as they grow older then alternatives to physically ‘attending’ class (eg, ‘Distance Learning’) open up.
Also, too many schools lack Good Playgrounds for Recess – which is vital to younger Students particularly, given the need to work off energy so as to pay attention in class. Older students have other means of exercise and seldom play on the swings…
We can provide both – but need maximum economy and productivity from the…
We can provide both physical structures and educational content – but need maximum economy and productivity from the investment, which is possible – with innovation.
Catholic School Teachers are amongst the best and most dedicated, but we need fresh ways to bring in New Teachers with solid Faith Formation supporting them – as salaries make up much of the cost for Schools whose buildings are mostly paid for already.
Competitive Pay is difficult compared to the deep pockets of the State, but the Solid Structure and Warmth of teaching in a Catholic Environment are perks that need to be enhanced and emphasized in recruitment
School’s out… of Excuses on Trans Order
https://www.frcaction.org/get.cfm?i=WA16F34&f=WU16F04
There are plenty of other issues parents need their local schools to address. Unfortunately for them, the president has made that a near impossibility with his transgender bathroom order.
Now, instead of getting down to real business, communities from coast to coast are tied up in fierce debates over who should be allowed in schools’ locker rooms, showers, and restrooms.
While most classrooms are emptying for the summer, the administration’s mandate is giving administrators — and parents — plenty to think about over the break.
Worried about the impact on their young children… parents’ arguments are only being bolstered by the…
I have school age Catholic children. Bishop Barber is exactly right … I do not use diocesan schools because they are typically not orthodox and are too expensive. I instead opt to teach my kids the faith myself.
“…Even though it is struggling, the school is “a beacon of hope” for the people in that community, as all Catholic schools should be.”
Wise decision, Carol. For while the school should be a beacon of hope it has too often proved, especially in California, to be a vehicle of indoctrinating Catholic children away from the faith. Subversion centers.
God bless and may He reward you for your efforts!
This why School Choice is so necessary! Let the educational dollars follow students to institutions other than the local, and often failing, public school.
Yes, because turning to the State to fund failing Catholic schools and agencies always works out so well: https://cal-catholic.com/?p=24351
The Catholic schools in the Oakland Diocese do not provide a Catholic or quality education. They are pockets of PC, leftist ideology, focused on the three R’s of recycling, reparations, and reproductive rights. If you want your child to loose their Faith and fall behind in STEM education , send them to a Catholic school. Within one generation a Catholic education went from exceptional and free to second rate and prohibitively expensive. It is doubtful that growing grapes or some other bright idea will solve the financial issue, so expect another “Bishop’s Campaign” to save the children. Sadly, there is little hope in restoring the Faith in the schools, as the Diocese masterminds don’t even recognize the problem exists.
It would have been helpful for the bishop to have been more precise about how many students at the UC Berkeley Newman Center and at St. Mary’s College in Moraga “came into the Church” this past Easter. How many were baptized versus how many uncatechized Catholic adults who received Confirmation? Adults receiving Confirmation wouldn’t count as “coming into the Church” in my book.
Also, what is the retention rate in the Church among Catholic elementary and high school alumni? Based on my own life experience, I’d say it’s very low, pathetically low. So low that if it were a corporation a decision would be made not to waste any more resources on them because they don’t yield a sufficient return to be worth the money. Parish adult…
Well when “Catholic” schools don’t teach OR represent Roman Catholicism well why would you send your children there??? Such a no brainer, please pray for the return of the TLM and the return of the TRUE FAITH.
And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up (Deut. 6:6-7).
Do Catholic families do this? I mean IN THE HOME !! Do they?
If yes, some of the negative effects of bad schools can be mitigated.
If no, no school can compensate for failure in the home.
Americans should be cautious advocating taxpayer support of Religious schools. Canada has such support.. They also have elected lay school boards governing those schools. The heirarchy has limited control over the Catholic schools. Be careful what you wish for. Plus, there’s a little thing called the First Ammendment to the US Constitution.
Education, like Work – is Over, as far as we used to know it.
Not just Computers – but AI (artificial intelligence) will be taking over in many areas, and the so called STEM programs for humans will not be able to compete with AI in many fields.
The moral formation of Human Beings is largely being done by Hollywerid / Media right now, and where it conflicts with Catholic Teachings will be the crux of future education.
“What good is if for a Man to gain the whole world and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” Luke 9-25
This needs to be a focus, for us all – Myself Included
Pray for Us All in these days ahead
This is a catch-22. Parents don’t enroll their children in Catholic schools out of fear that after their children are settled there, the tuition will suddenly spike and/or that the school will suddenly close–which does happen. As a result, tuition spikes and schools close.
I once attended a parish, in the mid-west, that had an interesting approach to tuition for the school. In January each family would meet with the Pastor and show him their W-2 forms. If they had given 10% of their income to the church that year, then school was free. Other families had to pay full tuition. It worked for that parish, it might work for some others. Who knows?
Parents must prepare themselves for persecution
https://www.lifesitenews.com/opinion/john-smeaton-parents-must-prepare-themselves-for-persecution
– The destruction of parental rights also takes pride of place in the political agenda of arguably the world’s two most powerful politicians over the past seven years:
“In a speech on October 12th 2009, Wellington Webb, appointed by Barack Obama as special adviser to the US mission to the United Nations, confirmed that the Obama administration would be promoting legalised abortion throughout the world, targeting adolescents in a worldwide abortion drive.
Hilary Clinton, who, according to current polls is the person most likely to become the next US president, made the following…