71 - 80 of 85 Comments

1. Daniel Monzon

   1 year ago

   My wife and I have six children and the cost of Catholic school is prohibitive for us even with scholarships. We are home schooling and would like to know if Jennifer Hartline would be willing to share with us which curriculum she is using? We have used Seton and other supplemental materials.

2. Larry

   1 year ago

   The point of schools is to educate students - help them learn the ideas and skills they need to be prepared to function well in society once they are on their own. We need to know how to learn wherever we get our education (public, private, home, online schools, etc. If Catholic schools need the tuitiion of more students going there, that's a different issue. Whether we learned our Catholic faith from CCD, in a Catholic School, from parents, etc. we need to learn it. Learning the skills and ideas we need to know for life after 18+ years can be learned in many ways these days - and home schooling is one good valid way. Good Catholic parents will teach their children the faith and be involved in their faith community. How we get vocations (which are from more adult experiences and less on teen seminary schools these day) is a different matter. The Church faith community and the Church help inspire and open up our hearts to God's calling to some. Most aren't called and it is not a steady same number who decide to become priests, nuns, sisters, monks, brothers, etc. each decade, as you look over historical growth. Parents decide - but local priests, sisters and lay leaders need to teach and inspire us about our faith. That's where I think we fall short, not parents per se.

3. Leah

   1 year ago

   So my question is: What can I (we) do to fix these problems? If I (we) love our Church so much, I (we) would never abandon Her - especially during tough times. Instead of merely discussing the issues, let's talk about solutions. I agree wholeheartedly that there needs to be reform in Catholic Education, but I also hope to be an active member in that reformation, not a hindrance.

4. J. Bob

   1 year ago

   Excellent item.
   
   One has to realize that not all Catholic schools emphasize religion. I know of one instance personally, where non-Catholics were teaching Catholic doctrine.
   

5. Amanda

   1 year ago

   Thankk you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This article is awesome. My husband and I homeschool our 5 children for the very same reasons you have listed and we have also gotten the gilt from our local priests. They will get the hint...the easy way or the hard way. Catholic schools must change their outrageous tuition if they expect to stay open. God bless our Church! And you for writing such a wonderful article!!!

6. Sonja Corbitt

   1 year ago

   I agree that the us-versus-them argument is worn out. We have an excellent Catholic school option, but it is completely cost-prohibitive for us and our family, and I am so glad you pointed out (some of) the "hidden costs" associated with it. It's incredible how little money it takes to give your child a Catholic education, field trips and labs included (my 12 year old consistently tests post-high school in the majority of his subjects and above grade level in all; my four year old began reading this year). But that is still not why we homeschool. We do it because it has forged incredible bonds of love and faith in our home. I wouldn't trade that for any argument, guilt trip, or second full-time income.

7. JP

   1 year ago

   We are only to follow our religious leaders to the extent they follow Christ. It would be wrong, and foolish, to send our children to any school, Catholic or otherwise, no matter what anyone says, if it is against our highest sense of God's direct guidance of what is right for our own individual families.

8. Cee Why

   1 year ago

   At one time I believe that Catholic parochial education was excellent; and in some areas, even superior. However, now the students reflect that very naivete that they are superior. The insolence, immaturity, and overbearance of students that I witnessed in Catholic schools was shocking. ( I had the opportunity of working with high school students throughout a large thirteen county area). Teachers seemed to mollycoddle and overattend their every want and need ------just like an inexperienced babysitter who is afraid the baby will cry and wake up the neighbors. Catholic schools need to wake up--they do not lead in education any more, and the fallacy that their is a moral obligation to send kids to Catholic school is inane. Thank God and bless the parents who teach their children at home.

9. Troy

   1 year ago

   Jen, you said, "In my opinion, this is an abysmal failure on the part of the Church." I have problems when you are at odds with some Priests and a Bishop without having talked to them personally. I do not have a problem with Catholic homeschooling, but bashing Priests and a Bishop.

10. Theresa

    1 year ago

    Can the Home School Groups not ask to meet with their local Bishops? Seems to me at least some Bishops would listen....My impression has been that most Catholic Home-schools are the better alternative to Public Schools in many parishes where there are no Catholic Schools. I imagine it is also much less expensive to home-school these days.... In many places, Home-schooling brings together several families and parents--which is even better. No doubt, and unfortunately, also, some home-school parents are also concerned (from experience) that their children would get a watered-down version of Catholic Catechesis, as well as in other subjects, etc..., at least in some of the Catholic Schools still in operation.... Also, from what I have heard, children in home-schooling excel in their studies, over and above most traditional schools. After all is said and done, the Catholic Home-schooling "experiment" is working well; why not recognize that and support it? Why not everyone read the "signs of the times?"

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