Growing up in Catholic school meant praying with my friends was normal. My parents were shocked at the amount of bad words, sexual jokes, and other undesirable information that I heard from my peers at a Catholic elementary school. I will have uniforms so i won't have to worry about picking out my clothes. or more often upon issues in day-to-day life that may have impacted their spirituality. Not only is this a financial burden, but it is further compounded by the decline in number of younger priests and nuns who had been such an asset teaching at these schools as part of their vocation. Since I want her to realize the most important values in the present society, it might really be a good idea to introduce her to a Catholic environment. I should mention that we live in Southern California and are self-employed, so the high taxes and overall cost of living really amplify the financial impact upon this issue. It gives parents another choice. … Federal and state laws mandate that public schools serve all children, including those with emotional, mental, and physical challenges. The cultural immersion could be great for your child, but if his or her conscience isn’t well-formed at home that immersion can have undesired results. Public School Pros and Cons. A principle should not be afraid of confrontation. We take a closer look at the pros and cons of three of the most popular education choices today – public, private and charter schools. There are many pros and cons to both, my personal opinion is that public school is better for the children. My earlier article “Going to a Catholic School: Some Pros and Cons” offered some things to think about. The login page will open in a new tab. It seems that I was one of the few parents who made these feelings known . Sometimes parents believe that since they are paying tuition or they donate generously, their child should receive special attention or maybe a behavior issue should be overlooked. . School schedules; Most catholic schools start earlier in the morning than public schools. We can’t hunker down and live in a bubble. I pay for my grandson to go to Catholic school. I know in Catholic schools they have some sort of Mass or ceremony, where a priests come and bless the children on a regular basis. Unfortunately, it seems to be more of the same ideology that I found problematic in his Junior High School Religion classes. But on the positive side, it also gives you an almost automatic group of prayer warriors who will hold you in prayer without even asking! She loves leading small faith groups for moms and looking for God in the silly and ordinary. If you are trying to decide between a public and private school for your child, one of the biggest differencesyou will find between these choices is the class size. Private school vs public school has long been a debate topic and probably always will be. It is neither pro private nor pro public. Merridith Frediani’s perfect day includes prayer, writing, unrushed morning coffee, reading, tending to dahlias, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three teenagers. Since you’re not paying tuition, you can stash away more cash for college. Pros and Cons for Public Elementary Schools. Latest Content from Jackie Angel, Fr. Careful consideration and appropriate discernment are tantamount when formulating the best direction to educate children, especially within the Church. Well that applies to schools where the principal has the guts to enforce the dress code. Schools may compensate for this by having fundraisers which means buying huge candy bars, wrapping paper, and magazine subscriptions. . Catholic schools participate in the mission of the Church, integrating religious education as a core subject in their curriculum. Most parents sacrifice to pay tuition and want to get their money’s worth. My son currently attends a public high school because we could not find a Catholic High School we could afford or find worth the value of the high cost, spiritually or academically. We continue to reinforce his strength by practicing our own and discussing Faith-based issues. There atr pros and cons about both. catholic school grads tend to have much better basic grammar, punctuation, writing and arithmetic skills. Public schools have licensed nurses in the health rooms, offer higher teacher salaries, and better facilities. It can be a difficult decision for parents to make, and should be made after careful consideration of what is best for your child and family overall . Half the kids aren’t CATHOLIC… Which means 50% of the families just don’t get it. Mike's NEW podcast and get the 365 day reading plan! If your choice doesn’t work out, it can be changed. And as far as minorites are concerned who cares. Public schools invest in identifying at-risk students and provide behavioral and academic support. People are usually passionate about one or the other for valid reasons. Weekly school Mass, however, is more than just attending Mass. Con: (but this one sits the fence between pro and con…) Usually in a smaller school environment, everyone knows everyone else’s business, this includes parents and families. We have seen the pros and cons of public school, homeschooling and Catholic school when it comes to curriculum development, pedagogical instruction, moral foundation and so on. OURS DOES NOT. We are living in troubled times. Advent Meditations with the Holy Family. Your family can provide witness to living a Christ-centered life. Public schools teach our society’s cultural values. This makes it harder to find friends. ...home schooling vs public schools an Online Outline Introductory Paragraph Begin with an interesting quotation related to your opinion about home schooling vs public schools (You will need a transition here) - Public school vs. home school has been a great debate for many years. Just because the school is Catholic and the kids go to Mass, doesn’t mean they’re any more saintly than the public-schoolers; and the difficulties attracting and retaining quality staff can make it more difficult to address behavioral problems in the classroom. The Pros and Cons of Public vs. Private school teachers generally earn less than their public school counterparts, with teachers at parochial schools at the lowest end of the salary range. Even without school choice programs, placing one’s children in private Christian schools rather than the state-run public schools has long been an option. . In the end, it’s important to make the best decision for your family. Our principal is a mealy mouthed cowardly dufus who admitted to me he only cares about the money. Kids will talk readily about their feelings, but they really need strong Catechesis to help them keep their Faith in this godless day and age. She blogs and writes for her local Catholic Herald in Milwaukee. We are hopeful that things get better . However, this means sending them to parish religious education class… A Catholic school education is so much more than high test scores and graduation rates — although those are certainly remarkable parts of it. Didn’t Satan himself appeal to Adam and Eve’s feelings/egos in the Garden of Eden? Private or public or even the homeschool, each of them has their own set of challenges. 7th and 8th grade only got a little better. Public schools are able to afford park-like play structures and state-of-the-art gymnasiums. Her experience in the Washington public school system had been remarkably good, ... a private Roman Catholic school in Bladensburg, Md. While I often heard on Sunday morning “Why do I have to go to church when I just went on Friday?” from my children, it was an argument I was happy to have, because it gave me the opportunity to discuss the Sunday obligation and the importance of prioritizing our Creator. According to Public School Review, there is debate as to the effect of class size on academic achievement. After I was pulled out, I lost most of my friends- the parents didn’t want their kids playing with someone who didn’t go to the school anymore, regardless of our shared Faith. Since Catholic schools are often smaller than their public counterparts, there is often a better student-to-teacher ratio. Mike's NEW podcast and get the 365 day reading plan! Con: Cliquishness. In fact, Catholic schools have higher graduation rate of 99% when compared to public schools. My 2nd-grade daughter is still in catholic School, but so far, things are not getting any better. So, unless things get better, we are looking at either homeschooling our daughter or sending her to one of the better public schools in the area. However, higher quality schools are often located in more expensive neighborhoods, so housing and food costs will be greater. Once children have graduated from diapers and baby food, the next big decision for parents becomes where to send their precious tots to school. They practice proclaiming the readings. A fair amount of civic pride wells up in support of the local high schools and people come together to build communities and relationships. According to the National Center for Education Statistics , private school teachers earn an average of $10,000 – $15,000 less than comparable public school positions. There are, however, some Montessori charter schools that are more accessible. Has Ascension's free media strengthened your faith? What do you mean?? I’m a big fan of Catholic education, but when choosing the best school for our children all things must be considered. However, it also means there may be a disruptive student in your child’s class who demands more teacher attention, taking it away from the rest of the class. The Pros of Charter Schools. All rights reserved. Sounds like or school. This met our expectations for grades K-5, but really dropped for middle School (Grades 6-8) when it is most needed. What matters most is the parents’ attention to what their children are learning in public school, and the parents’ understanding that they are still their children’s primary educators (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1653). What are some pro/cons of going to Catholic? Depending on where you live, you might have the option to choose between a number of public elementary schools or there might be only one. The trick is to balance what you think is best for your child with what you can afford. . Jesus calls us to make disciples. She was told it was /my/ responsibility to learn to get along with the other students, and her request was dismissed. We’ve had shaved heads, hair dye, other than uniform clothing, other than black shoes, mohawks, spandex, jeans with holes in them, cleavage on 8th graders showing… You name it… And invariably the principal will send home multiple uniform notices to the same families just for show… But there will always be a rich kid here or there that automatically gets to run around the school looking like he or she wants cuz Daddy wrote a big check. Public school in our area are terrible. Catholic schools teach Christ’s truth. There are tangible social, structural, and curriculum differences that could help your child succeed with these comparison points. I encourage parents who are deciding on a school for their children to research school quality and student performance in your own school district, as well as the Catholic schools available in your area. Rather than continuing to teach Catechism, Scripture and Apologetics (not to mention the rich history of the Catholic Church) . It is part of the job. The caliber of public elementary schools varies greatly but there are some benefits that are common amongst most public schools. or are better for those whose kids are in other Catholic School schools. Don’t get us wrong. In public schools, it is more likely to be about thirty students. Upon confronting the teachers in 6th grade and the principal, I was told that the text was weak (and that the school would be adopting new textbooks with more Catechism) and that their current method of teaching was more effective at reaching kids of this age (rather than memorizing, learning and discussing). All rights reserved. For families with a disabled child, this means two different schools with two different schedules and a lot of chasing around. Now as a parent, I have become friends with other parents trying to raise good Catholic kids and we support each other. Your kids won’t be too sheltered—but as parents you’re going to need to know your stuff. All in all, sending your children to public school can be both a risk and an opportunity. Gathering your children for Sunday Mass is harder when “no one else has to go” and public schools are more open to cultural ideology regarding sexuality and marriage. . Teachers can tailor their lessons to their class more effectively and offer more one-on-one support. School uniforms Sometimes, this may get a bit too much and leave you wanting some space. Private School Parents and Professionals share their experiences and perspective on the pros and cons of Public School vs. Private Schools Pros and Cons Private schools and public schools have advantages and disadvantages. Again, this one is both a pro and a con. In most medium and large metro areas, there will be at least one wealthy suburb which has the highest home prices, along with the best public schools. He also has begun his Confirmation classes. Public schools allow you to be just a “mom”. President Clinton provided momentum to the school uniform movement when he said in his 1996 State of the Union speech, “If it means teenagers will stop killing each other over designer jackets, then our public schools should be able to require their students to wear school uniforms.” The pros and cons of school uniforms 1 They are typically located in more diverse areas and federally-funded, removing the tuition barrier. Being exposed to a variety of beliefs can make for some interesting family dinner conversations as parents respond to what kids hear in school. I attended Catholic school as did my children, however the Catholic school connected with my parish has become primarily for the financially elite. Blame those limited financial resources again. Advent Meditations with the Holy Family. Kids are resilient. The National Center for Montessori in the Public Sector reports that out of the 5,000 Montessori schools in the U.S., there are about 500 public programs. Uniforms also put all kids on an equal playing field with regard to attire, eliminating worries about wearing the latest trend. The good news is that many schools offer assistance. Back-To-School | Special Education: The Pros and Cons of Public vs. I looked at teaching at Catholic school as an ex-Catholic who went to Catholic school the majority of my life. Ontario has four public school systems: English public, French public, English Catholic, and French Catholic. It has a lot of benefits that other people mentioned and frankly the Catholic part didn’t bother me too much, as I wouldn’t be teaching a religion class. The Church me a mistake when it agreed to educate everyone who ISN’T Catholic along with everyone who IS! However, I am in a same-sex relationship. It sends a message to students that education is important when parents take time to help out at the school whether it’s in the classroom or school events. As with all major decisions regarding your children, get them involved in the conversation. While some Catholic schools can accommodate some kids with learning or physical disabilities, not all can and they aren’t federally mandated to. . The pros and cons of private schools vs. public schools involve more than the cost of an education today. But sometimes Catholic schools can be too small as in just one classroom per grade, and sometimes only one or two other kids of the same gender as yours. As a Catholic family living your faith, you are a walking evangelization team. Still, sending your kids to Catholic school usually costs a lot of money and it means you probably won’t have much left over for college. This article also reviews the pros and cons of private boarding schools. Copyright © 2020 Ascension Press. This creates a more dangerous atmosphere in public school where the lines are blurred and students who do take a truly catholic stance are ostracized and bullied. . There also needs to be a sense that decisions are made based off of what is true and right, not off of large checkbooks from individual families. She loves leading small faith groups for moms and looking for God in the silly and ordinary. Mention them in the comments below. It’s good to know that enrolling my daughter in a Catholic junior high school will teach her the inherent value of all mankind since we are all children of God. It can go too far. Merridith Frediani’s perfect day includes prayer, writing, unrushed morning coffee, reading, tending to dahlias, and playing Sheepshead with her husband and three teenagers. The public vs private decision often boils down to what others at your income level in your town are doing. We can’t hunker down and live in a bubble. I’m sure every school id different, but our Catholic Schools are not what I remember. I myself have not attended the Catholic or Public, I have only had to deal with private schools and public schools, but from observation the biggest difference between public and Catholic is the religious aspect of it. But sometimes, you need time for yourself, away from the kids which a public school can give. Feel like I’m wasting my money. Managing demanding parents takes the principal away from the job of running the school. When talking about it with my mom recently, she said she figured she’d provide me with a religious background and when I was older I could choose whether or not I’d continue to practice it. Most Catholic schools are small, private schools. In many Canadian provinces, Catholic schools are funded by the province and may offer free education. Barely half of the children are Catholic, fewer than that are from families that are practicing their faith and half of our parish is Spanish speaking. Heres what i have so far: PROS ----- I will have Religion Ed. In the private school where I teach, the relationship we have with parents is very important. Talk to parents whose kids attend the school you are looking at. Since Catholic schools are often smaller than their public counterparts, there is often a better student-to-teacher ratio. However,  if you live in a poorer district or a small town with a small tax base, your school may not have funding to support some special services.  School districts and schools within those districts can vary wildly; a school in rural North Dakota is going to be very different from one in inner city Chicago or suburban New York. I feel ya! However, this means sending them to parish religious education classes and as a family, you may be an island. Parents can forget that teachers and principals are professionals. […] can’t expect public schools to uphold our values. My husband and I have different religions and we respect each other beliefs, but he gave me permission to decide for our daughter. Having this mix of students in the classroom also teaches compassion. The pro-Catholic school mum Mandy is a mum of five: three daughters, one step-daughter and one son. Some catholic schools truly have a surface sheen but a truly toxic and faith smothering undercurrent. Which is the best choice for your child? This means that, if you go through it from Kindergarten-12th grade, you'll be with roughly the same group of people. Take it to prayer and do your research. Morality and virtue are woven into social studies so children don’t just learn that slavery is bad, but also that—as Catholic Christians—we believe in the inherent value of all people because they are children of God. If my children were still at home, I would send them to public school. As a Catholic family living your faith, you are a walking evangelization team. Smaller class size means more individualized attention and your child won’t be just another kid. Ex - Spanish. It may also be harder to find a home if the district is in high demand. Public school teachers are required to be certified by the state. So, it’s a great idea to give your child quality education early on by enrolling them in a catholic elementary school. A study by Walter F. Przygocki discusses teacher retention and the challenges for Catholic schools. For more:  Thoughtco.com and Public School Review. On top of which 15% of the days are “free dress” and they violate the rules for that as well. It’s not a bad idea to talk to people and research the schools in your area. catholic school will probably give a more rigorous traditional eddication. In urban and suburban areas, kids can walk or bike to school. School districts are staffed with psychologists and special education experts who work with classroom teachers in developing individualized education plans for kids. Selecting a school for your children can be a challenging process. She went to private/Catholic school through 8th grade. How I wish this were not the case! You will discover that there isn’t a “right” or “wrong” answer here. Catholic schools, whether private or public, profess different educational affiliations while encouraging students' growth in the life of the Church as well as study of doctrine and theology. After logging in you can close it and return to this page. However the school has very few minorities. Catholic Schools Vs Public Schools Shacourtney Zimmer. Children attend the school based on where they live, making public schools true neighborhood schools. Add constant bullying on top of that because I was a shy, bookish kid who didn’t understand double entendres, and I was eventually pulled out to be homeschooled. There are awesome and amazing Catholic and public schools out there and terrible ones. “Teachers in Catholic schools are more likely to leave their positions than teachers in public schools,” he said. My hope is that this list will help you form questions to assist in that research. In addition to following rigorous and innovative academic standards, the schools in the Archdiocese of Hartford provide a learning experience geared toward educating the whole person. The difficulty attracting and retaining quality teachers probably also played into this situation- one illustrative example of lackluster staff engagement occurred when my mother tried to get me moved to a seating assignment away from kids who bullied me. Classroom size can get larger as the kids move to higher grades and some kids have trouble finding their niche. We should expect Catholic schools to aid in our children’s faith formation, but even in a school with faithful and caring […]. Has Ascension's free media strengthened your faith? Students graduating from Catholic schools, it seems to be just another kid breaking the,! Teachers and principals are professionals dress ” and they violate the rules that! 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A private Roman Catholic school pros and cons of both truly toxic and faith undercurrent.