Chicago Tribune: 23 Catholic schools closing

[Tweed]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0502240317feb24,1,6185380.story?coll=chi-news-hed

"Confronting decades of sinking enrollment, the Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago will shutter 23 schools and merge or consolidate four more by next school year, according to a source familiar with the plan.

The shakeup will affect one in 10 schools in the nation's largest parochial system and could displace more than 4,000 students across the city and Cook County suburbs.

Superintendents with the Catholic school system delivered the bad news to pastors and principals Wednesday, although the official list is expected to be released Thursday by Cardinal Francis George. Many children took letters home to their parents after school Wednesday.

One area expected to be hit hard is the Southwest Side, in working-class neighborhoods largely populated by Latino and African-American families."

Sad to see those schools go. I went to Catholic grade school.

[Ian David]

1. Too bad they spent all that money trying to stop gay marriage

Not to mention settling claims of clergy child molestation.

By "they" I mean the leaders of the church, not Catholics in general.

If organized religion would just concentrate on how they personally serve God-- instead of if they think people outside their religion are pissing-off God-- they'd have a lot more time, energy and money for more important things. Like, for example, educating their children.

It is a shame that Catholic schools have to suffer.

[The_Casual_Observer]

2. As with all schools, these are poorly funded. The teachers

barely make more than a poverty wage. Education has taken a far back seat to entertainment in this country.

[displacedtexan]

3. Of course, they have the public school system to fall back on...

Too bad that there's no money, no room, no supply budget, and no teachers to serve those kids.

The IBM Biz Accountability model, which republicans introduced into our public school debate as a campaign "REFORM!" issue, has caused our public education system to cut to the bare bones to appease taxpayers.

Just my observation (after teaching 20 years in Illinois).

[Radical Activist]

12. Maybe this will force more people to support public school funding

if many families are now forced to choose public schools or a much farther away Catholic School. On the other hand, I'm sure Republicans will use this as evidence of the need for vouchers.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. I'm not so sad. I went also.

I'd say the decline of catholic education is at least in part due to the ultra-right wing political drift of the church hierarchy. They repel people.

Example: despite the fact that the pope had condemned the Iraqi mass -murder turkey-shoot sponsored by Bush et al in 2003, my local parish played... I'm serious... "Off We Go into the Wild Blue Yonder" every twenty minutes from the bell tower. This was during the height of the "air-war". ( I use quotes cause the term implies that the other side had an air-force with which to defend itself. It did not.)

I decide my son would not return for third grade.

Sad part is Catholic school provided fall-back quality academic education for people in areas with dysfunctional public schools. Too bad the ascendant right wing has decided to exploit this situation to prom- mote an agenda. And a disturbed one at that.

I say, good riddance. Let's focus on getting the gov't to give us decent public schools.

[Ian David]

5. From what I understand, Catholics agree very little with "their" church

I don't have links to the articles handy (I have to get stuff done right now while the baby is sleeping).

But from what I remember reading (and have heard personally) the edicts coming out of the upper-echelons of the Church hierarchy are way out of step with the thoughts and values of actual Catholics.

It's really no small wonder that many parents don't want those things being taught to their children.

Meanwhile, His Holiness the Poop is back in the hospital again. It could be punishment for publishing a book that described gay marriage as "an ideology of evil."

I wonder if maybe he caught a venereal disease from Jerry Falwell who seems to have fallen ill at the same time. About the same time as Michael Jackson, too. Hmmmmmm.....

[Smarmie Doofus]

11. My sense is that rank and file catholics...

oppose the church on issues where compliance with the church dictates would prove in anyway inconvenient. Example, Catholics overwhelmingly support and practice birth control. ( It's kind of inconvenient not to). To a lesser extent, they support abortion rights under most circumstances ( in case the bc doesn't work.)

OTOH, most RCs support the hierarchy's idiotic position on homosexuality and homosexuals ( the thinking here, I think, is " This has nothing to do with me so, why not support the church?" Similarly, many RC's supported the war and the reelection of Bush cause they share the hierarchy's angst that the secular left has the moral high ground on these issues and this they will NEVER admit.

[XNASA]

6. Why oh why does every institution I've ever been a part of.......

.....whither and die. :cry:

[Ian David]

8. If that's true, please become a Republican

Please, I would love to see the Republican party whither and die.

I think there's hope for the Catholic Church yet.

There is already dissension within the ranks, with some bishop or other even advocating the use of condoms.

I think once the current pope's hat is empty, you will see a more progressive leadership more in line with the current Catholic parishioners.

Someone, somewhere must see the writing on the wall: The church has to adapt or die.

Otherwise, I see The Voice of the Faithful or some other lay-group becoming its own church.

I think this is why popes never retire before they die. They don't want to see their successor un-do anything they've done themselves.

[XNASA]

9. Good idea.

Joke: What do you call a pollack wearing a $10K hat?

Answer: "Your Eminence" :D

[mopinko]

7. the up side

now those parents that are commited enough to the future of their kids will have to advocate for a good education out of their local schools. what a shame.
maybe good, private, secular schools will replace them. schools designed to serve children and parents instead of bishops. hmmmm.
sorry, i did a 12 year sentence. i say good riddance.

[Ian David]

10. Or those same parents can push for school vouchers

That way, we (the taxpayers) can subsidize a whole generation of kids who are taught to deny evolution and to demonize homosexuals.

I don't mean to single-out any particular religion or denomination, nor to imply that all religions (or religious schools) share those "values."

I'm just not a big fan of using vouchers-- especially not to pay for religious education.

[mopinko]

13. they might

believe me the parents of kids in catholic school have been pushing them. i think they are a clear violation of church state separation.

[Ian David]

14. Institute for Humanist Studies funds first humanist charter school in U.S.

November 18, 2004

For Release: IMMEDIATELY UPON RECEIPT
Contact: Duncan Crary [phone]

Institute funds first humanist charter school in U.S.
Tampa, Fla. school board approves Carl Sagan Academy

ALBANY - An application to open the first humanist charter school in the United States was approved on Wednesday, Nov. 17 by the Hillsborough County School District in Tampa, Fla.

The Carl Sagan Academy charter application, submitted by the Humanists of Florida Association, was made possible through a $7,500 grant from the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS) of Albany, N.Y. The IHS Grant Fund awards $130,000 annually to humanist organizations throughout the world.

"We congratulate the Humanists of Florida Association for their efforts in bringing about this significant achievement," said Larry Jones, president of the Institute for Humanist Studies. "It is my hope that humanists around the world will be inspired and energized to replicate the Carl Sagan Academy model put forward by HFA."

The public charter school is named in honor of the late Carl Sagan, astronomer and humanist. Sagan is famous for making science interesting, relevant and understandable to everyday people.

"As I read (the) proposal, I imagined what Carl would've thought of it. I'm certain he would have been thrilled," said Ann Druyan, Sagan's widow.

Carl Sagan Academy is scheduled to open in 2005 and will serve a middle school student population in the neighborhoods surrounding the University of South Florida. The curriculum will be dedicated to encouraging free inquiry, teaching of the scientific method, rational problem-solving and democratic principles -- key elements of humanism.

"The board and membership of HFA is committed to making Carl Sagan Academy a successful school that produces exceptional students, ready and able to become full and active participants in American society," said Jennifer Hancock, executive director of the Humanists of Florida Association.

The philosophy of humanism maintains that people can lead moral, ethical, responsible, charitable and happy lives without appeal to the supernatural.

For information about Carl Sagan Academy, or to interview the sources above, contact Duncan Crary at: 518.432-7820. For information about humanism and the Institute for Humanist Studies, visit: www.HumanistStudies.org

###

http://humaniststudies.org/pr20041118.html

[mopinko]

15. cool. i'm sure carl would have been proud

he was instrumental in founding and supporting IMSA, in aurora.

[Logansquare]

16. Adding insult to injury, they told the *kids* in person

about the school closings, instead of sending letter to the parents, or some other less traumatic way of going about it. I guess the archiodese doesn't want to spring for stamps?