What is beneficial about Catholic school as opposed to public school?

Question

We are thinking about putting our son in a Catholic school, although we are not sure about what other parents see as benefits and drawbacks to their child being there. Any advice for my husband and I?

Answer 1

In my opinion:

Catholic schools provide a good moral and religious base for children. As a rule they are also safer than public schools.

Educationally they are about average. They do a good job with average and above average kids.

However the resources of most Catholic schools are limited. If children need extra attention due to being way over or way under average, then their needs may not be properly met.

With love in Christ.

Answer 2

It has been many years since I was in school, but I'll tell you my first hand experiences. In those days in Catholic schools, nuns were the teachers and they taught and we learned, or else. I was a decent student, but I can't count the number of times I had to take home papers I had turned in, or notes on my behavior FOR MY PARENTS to sign off on, nor can I remember how many times I got home and my mother was on the phone getting an earful from a nun. Not all of us were Catholic, and of those who were, many of the families did not practice religion, but when those nuns called us to Jesus, we went. Classes had about 35 in those days and EVERYONE seemed to be so bright and competition was very strong. In contrast (I opted out of Catholic High School) and it was the biggest mistake of my life. Instead of taking of taking mandatory college prep classes, I was allowed to take what I wanted and soon found that I was over two years ahead of my peers. Being a kid and being able to get away with it, I never opened a book and still received A's and solid B's. If I didn't show up for a class or a day, no one called and I had a friend write me a note. By the time education caught up with me, I was bored stiff and enlisted in the Marine Corps at 17.

My Opinion

I believe ANY private school is the way to go with kids today and I support school vouchers for that reason. The NEA and various state teacher unions have helped to degrade public education to all time lows. Many, many public school teachers have their children in private schools to protect them from the stench and rot of public schools.

Answer 3

Not only do Catholic schools offer a safe and cooperative learning environment, but they do so at a more reasonable and much lower cost than the public schools.In general, studies show that Catholic schools by design foster the academic, religious, and moral development of their students. These schools frequently are characterized by parents as exhibiting a strong sense of community and as having an environment characterized by high academic standards, discipline and order, and a strongly committed and collegial faculty.Others reasons may be:
More internal diversity with regard to race and income than the typical public school;


On average, an 88 percent acceptance rate for those who apply;


Less specialized staff and less complex school organization than in the large public secondary schools;


More advanced academic courses and fewer vocational courses, with 72 percent of Catholic school students studying an academic program and only 10 percent concentrating on vocational studies (in public schools, children are distributed approximately equally across the academic, advanced academic, and vocational tracks);


A focused curriculum and high standards;


A principal with discretion in hiring and firing staff;


A written code of conduct that includes a dress code, standards for social behavior among students and faculty, and a list of prohibited behaviors; and


A lower incidence of students' cutting class, refusing to obey instructions, talking back to teachers, and instigating physical attacks on teachers compared with public and other private schools

Answer 4

Catholic schools instill a sense of discipline and focus in their students. The academics are usually (but not always) better than public schools. They also bring in a sense of morality (the Catholic version - of course) into the experience. Look at the public schools in your area. If they do not appeal to you, send your son to Catholic school.

Answer 5

As a graduate of a Catholic School, it better prepares you for higher education, teaches better study habits. generaly has more 1 on 1 interaction with teachers. More kids from Catholic schools go on to advanced degreees than ones from public schools. I think they are a good idea myself.

Answer 6

I don't believe there is a benefit unless you want religious instruction as part of your child's curriculum.
They may attract families of a different socio-economic background but I think there will always be good and bad influences in any school environment.
Stronger discipline can be a factor but the benefits of this are unproven in my opinion.

Answer 7

if you are RC and you believe in that religion go for it my children are all in cathlic school and it benefits them nicely the only thing is there not funded by the goverment so each year you have to pay levvy money only about£4.50 which is not bad for good education

Answer 8

I believe the major benefit is that there is less time wasted on silly things like the Three R's.....This enables them to spend more time on religious teachings.

Answer 9

If you have that faith, they teach it.
If you don't, I see no benefit.

Answer 10

discipline