I think it really depends on the Catholic school. I toured several of the cheaper Catholic schools and academically don't see much of a difference when compared to the public school. I did see a big difference when comparing them to Stone Ridge. Love that place.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Catholic schools skip putting a condom on a cucumber, kwanza, "teachers meetings". Then they teach children skills that will guarantee they will be independent. They also plant Jesus and God's love in their transem.

Really? The Catholic Church promotes independence? I guess I should rejoin.

We're talking about skills from the schools, not the church.

I must agree . At our school there are no class newsletters from the teacher. Junior has to write his homework down and Mama can't check it online or look up Junior's grades. Homework every day and the child is accountable. Must get turned in at class time or no credit. Everything is written by Junior, not typed by Mama after he goes to bed. The teachers and principal know every single child and their strengths and weaknesses.

These kids know their math facts cold and can spot bad grammar a mile away. They know Greek and Latin roots so vocab is a breeze. They may not have the fanciest lab eqipment but they have science every day. They have PE twice a week and a teacher who has zero problem with sitting them down if their teamwork or sportsmanship is lacking. They know when to have fun and when to settle down and work. They stay together as a class for many years so they get each other's peculiarities and everyone is accountable to themselves and each other.

We couldn't be happier.

Anonymous wrote:Catholic schools skip putting a condom on a cucumber, kwanza, "teachers meetings". Then they teach children skills that will guarantee they will be independent. They also plant Jesus and God's love in their transem.

Really? The Catholic Church promotes independence? I guess I should rejoin.

Catholic schools skip putting a condom on a cucumber, kwanza, "teachers meetings". Then they teach children skills that will guarantee they will be independent. They also plant Jesus and God's love in their transem.

This thread is making me happy about sending my children to Catholic school (DH is Catholic. I am not). To the above poster, I have NEVER associated Catholic with snooty....now Episcolpal schools are another matter!

Trying to live, discipline, work, teach, socialize, play sports with an underlying moral code. I have witnessed this implemented and succeed and will be forever grateful to the teachers, parents and administration at my child's school

This. My kids were in a private Catholic school for two years. We lived in a part of the county where the public schools were just not an option. They've been in public school everywhere else we've lived.

It wasn't the academics that made the difference. It was the environment. Their Catholic school stressed fairness, kindness, morality, compassion, and discipline. Doing the right thing was more important that achieving the desired goal. Their Catholic High School was amazing! Very few discipline problems. No bullying that I ever heard of. Just a general atmosphere of acceptance and friendliness.

And 30% of the student population was non-Catholic.

In catholic school we have seen much more focus on community, respect, morality and being a good person, thinking of others. I also agree on someone else's posting about focus on the basics- not teaching to the test.

They focus on the basics, which is not done at the elementary level in public school. Each time they up the benchmarks, kids are missing out on very important concrete facts (addition, anyone? complete sentences?)

attended both
children in Catholic
public school HS teacher

Anonymous wrote:the intangibles -- discipline, respect, community and utilizing precious resources w/o wasting so much.

10:36 again. Agreed. You know, these days people equate Catholic schools with some kind of snootyness (sp?) but actually the "utilizing of precious resources w/o wasting" was born out of the fact that Catholic schools originated because Catholics were the underclass in this country 100-150 years ago and priests and nuns could educate our children for free. Catholic school was free according to my parents (or with a little donation on Sunday). Its just carrying on some type of tradition much the same as some forms of Judaism.

the intangibles -- discipline, respect, community and utilizing precious resources w/o wasting so much.

Anonymous wrote:I'm catholic and went to public schools. My kids go to catholic school.

The difference that i see is that there they teach right and wrong at catholic school. Some people think its all about catholic teachings but I don't see that focused on. I see its more what would Jesus do kind of stuff. This is really something that Publics can't do and why many people pay tuition at catholic school. There might be great CCD programs out there but I don't think they compare well to what the catholic schools provide in consistency and quality.

10:36 again. I agree with this completely. Now, if you want severe Catholic teachings there are schools for that too and for any other religion for that matter.

I'm catholic and went to public schools. My kids go to catholic school.

The difference that i see is that there they teach right and wrong at catholic school. Some people think its all about catholic teachings but I don't see that focused on. I see its more what would Jesus do kind of stuff. This is really something that Publics can't do and why many people pay tuition at catholic school. There might be great CCD programs out there but I don't think they compare well to what the catholic schools provide in consistency and quality.

PP here. I went to both types of schools and so did my kids.

Trying to live, discipline, work, teach, socialize, play sports with an underlying moral code. I have witnessed this implemented and succeed and will be forever grateful to the teachers, parents and administration at my child's school

Just curious about this. What do you think Catholic schools do a better job of than publics? Of course, not all schools are created equal but in general. This is either from you attending one or the other and your kids.