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| As educators are fond of reminding us, learning is a life-long process. For fortunate Catholic children this process began in a Parish School where we learned and practiced the basic disciplines of our faith while receiving the best education from dedicated teachers. |
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| Read Fr. Landi's story of conversion--Fr. Joe Landi: Out of the World and Into the Kingdom--His journey to priesthood by Rissa Singson. |
When parents ask to have their children baptized, the priest or deacon reminds them, “In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training them in the practice of the faith.” Some of these children find their way into Catholic Schools where this will happen, most do not.
It’s not that most Catholic parents wouldn’t prefer that their children be in the safe and structured environment of a Catholic School. The problem is an economic reality—Catholic Schools’ tuition has priced a Catholic education out of the realm for many. Operating expenses of a parish school, even with parent and grandparent volunteers, continues to rise. The biggest expense is the salaries of teachers. Sisters and Brothers no longer teach in our schools for a $50 a month stipend. Most religious-order teachers have been replaced with lay teachers who have economic needs that their salaries must meet.
We should be proud. In the midst of the negativity hurled at our Church by the media, there is one thing that they cannot fault and for which we Catholics can be justifiably proud—our schools. However, how do we make a Catholic education available to all Catholics thereby reflecting the ethnic, social, and economic mix of our church while paying our teachers a living wage?
The supporters of California’s Proposition 38, which would make a $4000 annual voucher available to all families—even those who can already afford private schools—claim that its passage will strengthen government and private schools. Its passage would reimburse parents who pay taxes used to support government schools while paying for a private education. Supporters of Proposition 38 also claim it would make available a private education to everyone regardless of their financial status while still supporting government schools. Opponents claim it “would be the most devastating thing that could ever happen to education in this state.”
In Catholic schools, there is an impending teacher shortage caused by our paying lower than government school salaries. Yes, teaching in a Catholic School is a vocation. However, the recent increased salaries and lower-sized classes in government schools, while not a magnet pulling seasoned teachers away from Catholic education, it has meant that new teachers are not applying in the numbers previously experienced. Government schools are siphoning off the new teachers. With our salary base, they cannot afford to live in the communities where they would teach.
Catholic schools must also pay teachers what they’re worth. The salary structure for teaching in Archdiocesan Catholic Schools was increased last March. Since the government schools in San Francisco increased salaries this Fall nearly $7,000 annually, the Archdiocesan Board of Education should again review our salary structure.
Unfortunately, the cost for a Catholic education is going to increase dramatically and that increase will be passed on to parents. It may turn our schools into education for the children of wealthy Catholics, further widening the social-economic gap.
Don’t look for the passage of Proposition 38 to help Catholic school children’s parents. The forces of darkness will spend millions to defeat it.While passage could provide the money to defray an inevitable increase in our teacher’s salaries, it probably won’t pass. If it passes, it will have been with help of the Holy Spirit and your vote.
From Cana, Jesus carried his teaching and healing ministry throughout the regions of Galilee and Samaria. He recruited those who would be responsible for passing his teachings to the next generation, ad infinitum, to those who have and are now spreading the Good News teaching in our Catholic Schools. All Catholics are called to be their support with our time, talents, and treasures. We must work together for ours, our children, and for Christ’s sake.
Read other articles of
Spiritual Enlightenment in the October 2000 edition of The Charismatics
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