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why should everyone continue to support catholic schools?

(Editor’s note: Deacon Ron Karcher is the principal at Holy Childhood School in Mascoutah and over the years, has been principal at several other Catholic elementary schools. The Messenger asked him to reflect on the importance of Catholic schools.)

It is a familiar drill in the Catholic School systems. It seems that every few years there is falling enrollment and questions on what to do. It is a difficult question because the Catholic school becomes so much a part of the Catholic Church and the community that it is a real loss for everyone.

When the immigrants came to the United States they immediately began the task of building a church and soon followed the Catholic school. Many times schools were built because of the hostile environment and dislike of some immigrants. The Irish and Italians experienced not only the hostility in communities but in the public school systems. They realized that a Catholic education was necessary where they could pass on their faith. Today I feel the need is even more important. If we don’t teach our faith each day our Church and society will be the loser.

When I visit my heart rheumatologist and other doctors I am grateful that they went to school every day. I would not go to a doctor who just went to school one hour per week or never went to school. A Catholic school provides the Catholic faith on a daily basis.

I do prison ministry once a month and have a mini-RCIA program for those who are Catholic but have fallen away or for those interested in the Catholic faith. I see the seeds of faith planted when they were young, while they questioned and put it aside, come back; they want to get closer to God. Research has shown that children in Catholic schools, while they like most question their faith in life, many come back to faith that was planted in them in a Catholic School.
In 1884 the bishops of the United States set a goal. “Every Catholic child in a Catholic school.” While this goal was never met, many Catholics are realizing that Catholic schools are needed. Many other faiths are now realizing the need of teaching the faith on a daily basis.

A Catholic school, in addition to strong academics, teaches discipline and values and love as taught by Jesus and the Church. Catholic education is based on the premise that every child has strengths, God-given talents and interests that need to be encouraged and developed. G.K. Chesterton said, “Education is the soul of a society to be passed from one generation to another.” The crisis of Catholic education is a crisis not just for Catholics but also for American society.

Why Catholic schools? I don’t think our nation, our children can afford not to have Catholic schools that are vibrant, strong academically, safe and teaching more than “character education.” Catholic schools teach the faith and how it is lived every day.

— Deacon Ron Karcher