Implications for the Future
The decline in Catholic school enrollment has some implications for the future, including a loss of community and a related rise in crime, a negative effect on faith formation and Mass attendance, and the continuation of the loss of Catholic identity. These implications are meaningful, and serve to reinvigorate the Church’s commitment to Catholic education.
Loss of Community and the Related Rise in Crime After conducting significant research into the decline of Catholic schools, two Notre Dame University law professors, Margaret Brinig and Nicole Garnett, theorized “that urban Catholic schools are uniquely suited to build and grow social capital, not just among enrolled families or parishioners, but among all residents …show more content…
Carlson identified evangelization, catechesis, and social justice as the fundamental characteristics of a school’s Catholic identity, concluding that “the most important element in a school 's Catholic identity is its commitment to make Christ present to everyone who attends the school or who comes into contact with it.” He identifies a school as Catholic when it is “Alive in Christ.” (http://archstl.org/archstl/post/trinity-essential-characteristics-d) In contrast, Fr. Peter Stravinskas saw the decline in Catholic identity as a response to “awe and intimidation before the secular education establishment,” and the “professionalization” of the Catholic school. Fr. Starvinskas noted that “professionalization” grew out of an “embarrassment over the very obvious lacks of our schools when contrasted with the public option.” (http://www.cuf.org/1999/03/what-happened-to-our-catholic-schools/) Public schools, particularly suburban public schools, were seen as newer, led by certified administrators who got the best out of certified teachers. Catholic schools were seen as old buildings, filled with large classes, led by uncertified …show more content…
The principal of a Catholic school must be strategic, even entrepreneurial, in his or her approach to marketing and enrollment management. United with strong pastoral leadership, “religious and lay leaders are creating new schools, new networks of schools, new governance models for existing schools, new pipelines of talent, new philanthropic efforts, new public programs, and much more. But all of this is taking place inside the time-tested boundaries of authentic Catholic education.” (Smarick, 2015) Enrollment data is trending upward in many Catholic school districts, most noteworthy Philadelphia, Chicago and New York, as well as the Cristo Rey model of schools. These districts are reaping the benefit of business models that protect the Catholic identity of the school and meet academic needs of students and financial needs of the school. (need
The decline in Catholic school enrollment has some implications for the future, including a loss of community and a related rise in crime, a negative effect on faith formation and Mass attendance, and the continuation of the loss of Catholic identity. These implications are meaningful, and serve to reinvigorate the Church’s commitment to Catholic education.
Loss of Community and the Related Rise in Crime After conducting significant research into the decline of Catholic schools, two Notre Dame University law professors, Margaret Brinig and Nicole Garnett, theorized “that urban Catholic schools are uniquely suited to build and grow social capital, not just among enrolled families or parishioners, but among all residents …show more content…
Carlson identified evangelization, catechesis, and social justice as the fundamental characteristics of a school’s Catholic identity, concluding that “the most important element in a school 's Catholic identity is its commitment to make Christ present to everyone who attends the school or who comes into contact with it.” He identifies a school as Catholic when it is “Alive in Christ.” (http://archstl.org/archstl/post/trinity-essential-characteristics-d) In contrast, Fr. Peter Stravinskas saw the decline in Catholic identity as a response to “awe and intimidation before the secular education establishment,” and the “professionalization” of the Catholic school. Fr. Starvinskas noted that “professionalization” grew out of an “embarrassment over the very obvious lacks of our schools when contrasted with the public option.” (http://www.cuf.org/1999/03/what-happened-to-our-catholic-schools/) Public schools, particularly suburban public schools, were seen as newer, led by certified administrators who got the best out of certified teachers. Catholic schools were seen as old buildings, filled with large classes, led by uncertified …show more content…
The principal of a Catholic school must be strategic, even entrepreneurial, in his or her approach to marketing and enrollment management. United with strong pastoral leadership, “religious and lay leaders are creating new schools, new networks of schools, new governance models for existing schools, new pipelines of talent, new philanthropic efforts, new public programs, and much more. But all of this is taking place inside the time-tested boundaries of authentic Catholic education.” (Smarick, 2015) Enrollment data is trending upward in many Catholic school districts, most noteworthy Philadelphia, Chicago and New York, as well as the Cristo Rey model of schools. These districts are reaping the benefit of business models that protect the Catholic identity of the school and meet academic needs of students and financial needs of the school. (need