I would like to reflect today on the uniqueness and contribution of the faith-based education to the fabric of our society. Every year the Catholic Church designates the last week of January to Catholic Schools in order to bring attention to the very important issue of educating the whole child – his mind, body, and yes – his soul.
The most prominent feature of any faith-based school, be it Catholic, Jewish, Christian, or other, is the ability of harnessing the wisdom of time-tested religious tradition and most importantly, values. Such schools view the art and science of education within the context of the infinite horizon and help students see the “big picture” which means they address the material and spiritual dimension of each person. Faculty and administrators in those schools are especially mindful that they are forming citizens of integrity for the present community of faith. They approach the quest for knowledge with the conviction that the students and their peers are responsible individuals and in this context foster the spirit of caring and sharing.
This topic is very close and personal to me. As Headmaster of St. Joseph School for over 20 years I have seen many factors that influenced the current state of the religious schools, be it the political, economic, social, or demographic factors.
The goal of faith-based schools is the formation of the well-rounded students rooted in the conviction that all human beings are created in the image of God, therefore are equal and should be treated as such in the face of law. These schools do not have to bracket off questions of spirituality or morality which are the by-products of collaboration and cooperation between the administration, parents, and students thus creating a special culture permeated by Gospel values. Culture in a faith-based school is expressed in various cores of beliefs, values, traditions, and symbols which provide meaning to the school community. It clarifies how and why things are done the way they are done. In such a school, students feel a sense of belonging, meaning, stability, self-worth, and are easily able to maintain distinction between vulgarity and duty, right or wrong.
I am not naïve to think that every student attending a religious school will become a saint. But I am convinced that he or she will be equipped with tools to make worthy choices at an appropriate time. When the youngsters have the network of supporters who will encourage and cheer them along the path of values there is a lesser chance that they will fall into the traps of egoistic and hedonistic culture. Even if they go astray, deep within them, they will have many resources to find their way back to loving and merciful God. While today’s society is very divided, debased, and characterized by fighting and dishonesty, the foundation based on values such as searching for the truth and mutual respect, will immunize the students in the religious schools against the modern-day cultural plagues.
It seems obvious that for most parents the education of their children is their primary focus and concern, sometimes even more important than providing food or clothing. Pope Francis teaches that schools do not replace parents but complement them. The parents have a right and obligation to be involved in the education of their children. Fortunately, faith-based schools see parents as their main partners and valuable collaborators.
On many occasions Pope Francis emphasized that parents are of paramount importance in selecting and overseeing the education of their children. “Parents themselves enjoy the fundamental right to choose freely the kind of education accessible and of good quality – which they wish to give to their children in accordance with their convictions.” (Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on Love and Family). There are countries where the government provides subsidies for education of each child while giving the parents ability to designate to which school these state funds would go for the educational expenses of their child. In other words, the state ties educational money to a student and not to an institution. The arrangement of giving parents the freedom to select a school without being financially burdened creates a healthy competition among schools which drives improvements and prevents a monopoly by government-run schools. In addition it provides an equal opportunity to all social classes who could attend any school of their choice.
Unfortunately, in the United States, this model is not favored, in part because of nativism in earlier centuries and inertia to enact positive change. The Blaine Amendment of the 19th century forbids a penny of public funding from going to non-government run educational institutions. However, the historians agree that the Blaine Amendment was a thinly veiled attempt by nativists to prevent ethnic and religious minorities from flourishing. Times have changed. Attitudes have shifted. New reality emerged and different cultural paradigms guide human life. Diversity of cultures is now celebrated. At its height the Blaine Amendment appeased some 38 states but it has already been rescinded by many. In the manner of distribution of justice I believe it is time for parents to have at least an option of tax credits or vouchers when selecting the best education for their children. Many parents pay into the public education system through taxes but are unable to have any of their taxes applied to their child’s schooling when they choose a non-state run school. In fact, according to the annual report published by the Diocese of Worcester, the two Catholic schools in Webster saved the tax payers $4,193,085 in 2016, while all the Catholic schools in Worcester Diocese in central Massachusetts, saved the State over $88 million.
In summary, religious freedoms guarantee parents to choose the schools which best fit their set of values and faith-based schools offer a stimulating environment that nurtures all dimension of the human person. In my role as Headmaster at St. Joseph School, I noticed that in the past few years more and more parents who are not Catholic and many of whom do not identify with any particular religion, choose to make financial sacrifices to enroll their children in a Catholic school. They make an investment in their child’s future because they see the added value of a faith based education – they search for something more than just attaining knowledge. The children are the spring of the family and the future of society. Any discrimination against the options for their education is destructive to the future of young generations and our country.
Msgr. Anthony Czarnecki
