Why don't Catholic Schools get more play on this board?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about 19:48 who said that most Catholics don't know how to use the internet? Is that a bigot?

Don't you think that response was a bit tongue-in-cheek? I'm pretty sure that was a joke.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not bigotry, just ignorance. Your profile of Catholic education is about 30 years out of date. You should talk to some of the "unqualified" teachers at parochial and independent Catholic schools around Washington, who have passed on higher public school salaries because they don't want to deal with all the NCLB testing requirements. But whatever. Some people will always see this is a competition.

In my post, I said that it is a commonly held view (and not as a PP said in "my little enclave" as I have lived all over the US and I assure you both Catholics and non-Catholiocs hold this view) BUT I then went on the explain why people think this - that it is mostly historical (i.e., even more than 30 yrs out of date) reasons. I also said that there are strongly academic Catholic schools, many here in Washington. I was just trying to explain why this is a widely held view point. It is not necessarily bigotry (but I think the PP who made the Internet comment is an ass and a bigot).

My mom and grandmother were both grade school teachers, both raised Catholic in NY, and neither of them thought a Catholic parochial school was a good educational choice when I was school aged (so at least 30 years ago ). The reasoning they used was much as I explained. This view point goes back several generations and there are historical reasons for it. I do think however, that even today, its a little hard to refute that the Catholic church's primary educational mission is to produce good Catholics and that shows up in parochial school curriculum. I do not believe that means academic subjects are taught in this day and age by unqualified teachers (or nuns) or given short shrift in Catholic schools. In fact, I am one of the posters who encouraged an OP on another thread to send her kids to HTS when she was worried about status and educational standards. I think both of her concerns were groundless considering the school.

[Anonymous]

I agree with "Because they suck" above. Brainwashing, self-rightous, hypocrites . . . they will get between you and your children.

[Anonymous]

Ignorant pp -- you sound like a bigot

[Anonymous]

OP, the same can be said of the Jewish schools. Once a person makes up their mind to send a child to a religious school, all the DCUMs will not sway them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We're evaluating whether to send dear child to Catholic school beginning in K - one of us is a graduate of catholic schools the other is not. We'd do it for the sense of community, and culture (though we are both very liberal, but that's a different question), but also for the academics. But I don't see the DC Catholic schools discussed much here (we're parishioners at one in DC that is mentioned here occasionally). After doing some searches, I'm wondering why there isn't more discussion on these pretty active boards of the Catholic schools? What is their reputation as compared to the exclusive private schools? Are the exclusive private schools so sought after for reputation or for truly stellar academics? Are Catholic schools considered just a step above public schools? Is it more of a cultural choice than an academic choice in this area? Any thoughts appreciated.

Often, Catholic schools are considered (and in fact are) a step (or several steps) *below* public schools, depending on the public schools in question.

[Anonymous]

It seems like a big concern many people have with Catholic schools, or really all religious schools, is that they seem to have a dual mission: (1) education, and (2) proselytization. Many people want their children educated without any overt ideology being pushed. I'm sure some Catholic schools are light on ideology, and indeed some non-religious schools might be preaching some ideology. But still, the Catholic Church as an enterprise is pretty heavy on ideology, so I'd be willing to assume that most Catholic schools come with a pretty heavy dose of ideology.

This is really a less-offensive paraphrase of what 14:43 was saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In light of the accusations of bigotry and hatred, I would like to point out a few things. Whether or not PPs want to acknowledge it, it is considered "common wisdom" by a large portion of the US population that Catholic schools do not, in general, provide a strong academic education. Of course there are exceptions to this, and several of those exceptions are here in the Washington area. This is not anti-Catholic sentiment or bigotry, as some PPs claim. Rather its the accumulated knowledge and experience of generations of educators, academics and others who have seen it first hand time and again.

It's interesting but I completely disagree. You and your family or the small enclave where you grew up may think that but it doesn't apply everywhere to everyone. Esp in places where there is a high concentration of Catholics. And, I'm not a Catholic.

I grew up in the Boston area, where there are many, many Catholics. It is indeed considered common wisdom there that, by and large, Catholic schools are not as good as public ones - at least in those towns with reasonably good, good or excellent school systems.

[Anonymous]

raised Catholic
attended Catholic schools

do not consider myself brainwashed at all - and had a solid education that prepared me well for college and grad school
In fact, I tend to question things more than most.

I always say - Give a kid religion so that there's something to rebel against!

So many DCUMers assume that we're all brainwashed. Sure - some are, but so are right wing Christians who homeschool or send their children to their "own" schools as well. I guess I'd rather be "brainwashed" by religion than by money, which is really what the "top tier" schools are all about.

Anonymous wrote:It seems like a big concern many people have with Catholic schools, or really all religious schools, is that they seem to have a dual mission: (1) education, and (2) proselytization. Many people want their children educated without any overt ideology being pushed. I'm sure some Catholic schools are light on ideology, and indeed some non-religious schools might be preaching some ideology. But still, the Catholic Church as an enterprise is pretty heavy on ideology, so I'd be willing to assume that most Catholic schools come with a pretty heavy dose of ideology.

This is really a less-offensive paraphrase of what 14:43 was saying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:raised Catholic ... do not consider myself brainwashed at all ... So many DCUMers assume that we're all brainwashed. Sure - some are, but ...

I don't think anyone's saying all Catholics are brainwashed, but just that we don't want some organization preaching ideology to our children (especially if it's not an ideology we don't embrace).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What about 19:48 who said that most Catholics don't know how to use the internet? Is that a bigot?

No..they are just a jack@ss

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree with "Because they suck" above. Brainwashing, self-rightous, hypocrites . . . they will get between you and your children.

I'm betting you're the same poster, sock puppeting yourself. Because after this first unoriginal post, you completely ran out of anything new to say and have to resort to "dittoing" yourself.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I grew up in the Boston area, where there are many, many Catholics. It is indeed considered common wisdom there that, by and large, Catholic schools are not as good as public ones - at least in those towns with reasonably good, good or excellent school systems.

Ah but for those of us growing up in that city, Catholic schools fulfilled one of their basic missions - educating the middle and lower class since the public schools were failing us miserably. They gave us discipline, fundamentals and scholarships.

[Anonymous]

I do think however, that even today, its a little hard to refute that the Catholic church's primary educational mission is to produce good Catholics and that shows up in parochial school curriculum. I do not believe that means academic subjects are taught in this day and age by unqualified teachers (or nuns) or given short shrift in Catholic schools.

NOT and WOW....this board is a little more than one can take with all of these off-base comments. First, I find it fascinating that people ASSUME what Catholic Schools look like and teach like in the inside when clearly, they've not experienced it in any way. But, more importantly, I'm a bit shocked by the outright generalizations that are occuring about Catholicism....all of which are media-based misconceptions. This is a bit disappointing given that you all claim to be open-minded and intelligent. So much for my brief introduction to this forum!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it true that the archdioscese of washington sent out a letter to current parents of students in catholic schools -- asking them if they wanted to reenroll to sign some kind of statement saying that they wouldn't speak publicly against church teachings?

Yes, however it wasn't a separate letter -- it is now spelled out in the registration form for new and returning students.