Religious Continuum?

[Anonymous]

We see what you are doing. We know why you are doing it. And you aren't enriching the experience, you are diluting it.

But we do love the money you pay.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We see what you are doing. We know why you are doing it. And you aren't enriching the experience, you are diluting it.

But we do love the money you pay.

LOL

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:SR parent. No one cares or is even interested in what religion you are. If you are concerned, the admissions office will have a non- catholic family call you.

+1 from another SR parent.

My son is in a private Catholic boys' school, not one of the 4 originally mentioned. Both DS and DD attended parochial school from K through 5.

We have had non-Catholic friends in all these schools, and no one cared about each other's religion. Some of the non-Catholic parents have been among the most involved volunteers and most generous supporters of the schools. We've always liked that non-Catholics attended our child's Catholic school, because their choice validated the school, their kids enriched it, and their tuition supported it.

I think there are some anti-Catholic sock puppets on this thread, trying to scare people away from Catholic schools.

So, OP, I'd say you should visit the school, talk frankly to the admissions office about your concerns, talk to non-Catholic families (of which there are many) at each school, and make up your own mind. Don't be scared by a book Pat Buchanan wrote about his insular Irish-Catholic school experience during the Truman administration.

Stone Ridge is more diverse than the other schools mentioned, so it is no surprise your experience has differed. But you are incorrect. The Catholic insularity is alive and well in CCDC and certain parts of MOCO. Look at the other posters on these threads. We are a New York family that is Catholic, and when we moved here, we were very shut out and isolated from the local Catholics and their Columbia CC clique. That has been our experience. Obviously others have a different experience. We thought we were paranoid until we read about it and talked to others. The other posters have it right, it's a Gonzaga, Visi, Blessed Sacrament, etc. group. Trust me, it's there, I've seen it in action. You may disagree, but you can't change our experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Stone Ridge is more diverse than the other schools mentioned, so it is no surprise your experience has differed. But you are incorrect. The Catholic insularity is alive and well in CCDC and certain parts of MOCO. Look at the other posters on these threads. We are a New York family that is Catholic, and when we moved here, we were very shut out and isolated from the local Catholics and their Columbia CC clique. That has been our experience. Obviously others have a different experience. We thought we were paranoid until we read about it and talked to others. The other posters have it right, it's a Gonzaga, Visi, Blessed Sacrament, etc. group. Trust me, it's there, I've seen it in action. You may disagree, but you can't change our experience.

There's certain mindset at work. If you wish something weren't true, you just deny it exists. Or you find a single anecdote that you suggest disproves a general truth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Stone Ridge is more diverse than the other schools mentioned, so it is no surprise your experience has differed. But you are incorrect. The Catholic insularity is alive and well in CCDC and certain parts of MOCO. Look at the other posters on these threads. We are a New York family that is Catholic, and when we moved here, we were very shut out and isolated from the local Catholics and their Columbia CC clique. That has been our experience. Obviously others have a different experience. We thought we were paranoid until we read about it and talked to others. The other posters have it right, it's a Gonzaga, Visi, Blessed Sacrament, etc. group. Trust me, it's there, I've seen it in action. You may disagree, but you can't change our experience.

There's certain mindset at work. If you wish something weren't true, you just deny it exists. Or you find a single anecdote that you suggest disproves a general truth.

Whst does this latter post mean? Anyone understand it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The other posters have it right, it's a Gonzaga, Visi, Blessed Sacrament, etc. group. Trust me, it's there, I've seen it in action. You may disagree, but you can't change our experience.

Rich people are insular. Hardly a shocking discovery. Do you think it's different at the elite non-Catholic schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The other posters have it right, it's a Gonzaga, Visi, Blessed Sacrament, etc. group. Trust me, it's there, I've seen it in action. You may disagree, but you can't change our experience.

Rich people are insular. Hardly a shocking discovery. Do you think it's different at the elite non-Catholic schools?

Yep.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Rich people are insular. Hardly a shocking discovery. Do you think it's different at the elite non-Catholic schools?

Yep.

Maybe because you're in the 'in-group' there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Stone Ridge is more diverse than the other schools mentioned, so it is no surprise your experience has differed. But you are incorrect. The Catholic insularity is alive and well in CCDC and certain parts of MOCO. Look at the other posters on these threads. We are a New York family that is Catholic, and when we moved here, we were very shut out and isolated from the local Catholics and their Columbia CC clique. That has been our experience. Obviously others have a different experience. We thought we were paranoid until we read about it and talked to others. The other posters have it right, it's a Gonzaga, Visi, Blessed Sacrament, etc. group. Trust me, it's there, I've seen it in action. You may disagree, but you can't change our experience.

NP here. I attended a single-sex Catholic high school in the area (not Visi or Gonzaga), and as a non-Catholic, I did not pick up on any of this insularity or exclusion at all. I never felt ostracized or left out, and made friends from a number of religious backgrounds. My school had a significant non-Catholic population, probably something like 1/3rd. Nobody cared, or necessarily even knew, who was Catholic and who wasn't. So the idea that non-Catholics are, as a rule, socially marginalized at Catholic high schools is simply untrue in my experience.

That said, I am aware of the Blessed Sacrament/Columbia CC "clique" as PP called it. It exists, for sure, but by no means does it dominate at Catholic high schools in the area. There were some families from that crowd at my school, including some good friends of mine. I guess it's unlikely that my parents would ever have become good friends with their parents, but that didn't particularly matter to me. And in my school's case, it was a pretty small number of families (a few kids per class), so hardly a dominant element of the school's social scene. My feeling, though, is that even at schools where there were more of those families, it was just that - a clique, one of many social groups within the school. It may be hard to break into that crowd, but who cares? There are other people you can be friends with.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Stone Ridge is more diverse than the other schools mentioned, so it is no surprise your experience has differed. But you are incorrect. The Catholic insularity is alive and well in CCDC and certain parts of MOCO. Look at the other posters on these threads. We are a New York family that is Catholic, and when we moved here, we were very shut out and isolated from the local Catholics and their Columbia CC clique. That has been our experience. Obviously others have a different experience. We thought we were paranoid until we read about it and talked to others. The other posters have it right, it's a Gonzaga, Visi, Blessed Sacrament, etc. group. Trust me, it's there, I've seen it in action. You may disagree, but you can't change our experience.

NP here. I attended a single-sex Catholic high school in the area (not Visi or Gonzaga), and as a non-Catholic, I did not pick up on any of this insularity or exclusion at all. I never felt ostracized or left out, and made friends from a number of religious backgrounds. My school had a significant non-Catholic population, probably something like 1/3rd. Nobody cared, or necessarily even knew, who was Catholic and who wasn't. So the idea that non-Catholics are, as a rule, socially marginalized at Catholic high schools is simply untrue in my experience.

That said, I am aware of the Blessed Sacrament/Columbia CC "clique" as PP called it. It exists, for sure, but by no means does it dominate at Catholic high schools in the area. There were some families from that crowd at my school, including some good friends of mine. I guess it's unlikely that my parents would ever have become good friends with their parents, but that didn't particularly matter to me. And in my school's case, it was a pretty small number of families (a few kids per class), so hardly a dominant element of the school's social scene. My feeling, though, is that even at schools where there were more of those families, it was just that - a clique, one of many social groups within the school. It may be hard to break into that crowd, but who cares? There are other people you can be friends with.

Current catholic school parent at Blessed sacrament. We are not legacy in any way! I would agree with this and also add that once HS starts it matters less your religious backround. especially if your kid is a good athlete! I would say though if your daughter is obsessed with visitation, you will be at a disadvantage.

[Anonymous]

Current Visitation parent here. Our daughter has many non-Catholic friends at school - probably about 1/3 - and while some of her classmates belong to the country clubs in Chevy Chase, most don't. Girls come from a wide variety of schools, but many do come from parochial schools, and yes - most of them are from Maryland. We are Catholic, from Virginia, not at all part of the country club set - and our daughter has friends from all different groups at Visitation. If Visitation is where your daughter wants to go, regardless of whether or not she's Catholic, I'd worry way more about being academically prepared than about any religious differences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A couple of observations:

I sent 2 kids there (and the other 2 DID attend MCPS High Schools) so I know EXACTLY what it is like - but thanks. YOU may wonder, but there are plenty non-Catholics there from Montgomery, Howard and Frederick counties who seem to have made that choice. Maybe you should ask one of us.

And maybe you ought to ask one of us how we really feel about your using the Catholic schools as an low cost alternative to the Public schools. Although I doubt you would get a straight forward answer.

All I will say is this and I am not looking for a fight. But have you ever been to GC's new campus in Olney? Beautiful and great facilities. HUGE campus! Enhanced academic programs. New energetic teachers.

Ok, now consider this, if it weren't for the demand created by non-Catholics and the non-practicing Catholics and their willingness to pay the tuition, that state of the art campus would NOT exist. In other words, if the folks at GC only relied on practicing Catholics to support it, it would still be in the outdated site in Wheaton or not in existence at all. And the same can be said for a lot of Catholic schools in the area.

[Anonymous]

[quote=AnonymousAll I will say is this and I am not looking for a fight. But have you ever been to GC's new campus in Olney? Beautiful and great facilities. HUGE campus! Enhanced academic programs. New energetic teachers.

Ok, now consider this, if it weren't for the demand created by non-Catholics and the non-practicing Catholics and their willingness to pay the tuition, that state of the art campus would NOT exist. In other words, if the folks at GC only relied on practicing Catholics to support it, it would still be in the outdated site in Wheaton or not in existence at all. And the same can be said for a lot of Catholic schools in the area.
The truth is that organizationally speaking, the local Catholic high schools are not much different from the local Episcopal schools, for example. The high schools are independently operated and receive no funding from the Archdiocese. They accept both Catholic and non-Catholic applicants.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:[quote=AnonymousAll I will say is this and I am not looking for a fight. But have you ever been to GC's new campus in Olney? Beautiful and great facilities. HUGE campus! Enhanced academic programs. New energetic teachers.

Ok, now consider this, if it weren't for the demand created by non-Catholics and the non-practicing Catholics and their willingness to pay the tuition, that state of the art campus would NOT exist. In other words, if the folks at GC only relied on practicing Catholics to support it, it would still be in the outdated site in Wheaton or not in existence at all. And the same can be said for a lot of Catholic schools in the area.

The truth is that organizationally speaking, the local Catholic high schools are not much different from the local Episcopal schools, for example. The high schools are independently operated and receive no funding from the Archdiocese. They accept both Catholic and non-Catholic applicants.

Actually the money at OLGC comes from the sale of the former site of the school on Georgia Avenue ... not frpm the handful of Protestants that are hitchhiking on the Catholic schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:[quote=AnonymousAll I will say is this and I am not looking for a fight. But have you ever been to GC's new campus in Olney? Beautiful and great facilities. HUGE campus! Enhanced academic programs. New energetic teachers.

Ok, now consider this, if it weren't for the demand created by non-Catholics and the non-practicing Catholics and their willingness to pay the tuition, that state of the art campus would NOT exist. In other words, if the folks at GC only relied on practicing Catholics to support it, it would still be in the outdated site in Wheaton or not in existence at all. And the same can be said for a lot of Catholic schools in the area.

The truth is that organizationally speaking, the local Catholic high schools are not much different from the local Episcopal schools, for example. The high schools are independently operated and receive no funding from the Archdiocese. They accept both Catholic and non-Catholic applicants.

Actually the money at OLGC comes from the sale of the former site of the school on Georgia Avenue ... not frpm the handful of Protestants that are hitchhiking on the Catholic schools.

Uhhhh nope! I am the parent that had 2 kids graduate from there. Also I am very close to folks on the Board. That sale did not cover the total cost of building the new school and it does not cover the costs of operating the school. In fact, the school is soliciting donations for building out additional facilities. Thanks for trying , though.