THE KALEIDOSCOPIC (NOT TUNNEL) VISION OF CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS: A KALEIDOSCOPE OF PEOPLE is the theme of the annual national Catholic Schools Week Celebration being held this week. This theme highlights the growing diversity of the Catholic school community and its success in teaching students of many ethnic, religious, and socio-economic groups across America.

In the Catholic Diocese of Springfield/Cape Girardeau which extends across the southern part of the state of Missouri, there are 23 Catholic elementary schools and 3 high schools. The superintendent of Catholic Schools for the diocese, Reverend Monsignor Edward Eftink Ph.d. has offices in Springfield, Missouri. A Diocesan School Board exists in the diocese made up of principals, parents, and clergy. Their role is to make general operational policy and to offer advice to the superintendent.

The strength of the Catholic School, and what makes the diversity of the schools so great, however, is the fact that schools are connected to a particular parish. Local control and ownership makes for a strong commitment. The people of the parishes choose to provide Catholic schools and are responsible for the operation of the school. This responsibility includes providing the buildings, paying salaries, staffing, and developing the particular philosophy as well as choosing curriculums and programs which will benefit the students. Today most Catholic Schools have local school boards which are made up of parents and parishioners who believe in the schools. Because of this kind of ownership, there is much hard work to support them both financially as well as through a many volunteer hours which build and strengthen parents' bonds.

In southeast Missouri 9 Catholic Schools exist with each one being unique by locale as well as by leadership. Guided by the Bishops of the Catholic Church and the documents which they have produced in regards to the mission of the schools, each school incorporates Catholic values not only in religion classes and worship, but in the daily life and relationships of the students and teachers. These 9 schools in our area currently hold these enrollments:

St. Denis, Benton, 90 students; St. Ambrose, Chaffee, 109 students; Immaculate Conception, Jackson, 180 students; Saint Augustine, Kelso, 143 students; Guardian Angels, Oran, 132 students; Saint Joseph, Scott City, 77 students; St. Mary Cathedral, Cape Girardeau, 230 students; St. Vincent de Paul, Cape Girardeau, 378 students; Notre Dame High School, Cape Girardeau, 234 students; TOTAL 1,573 students.

The financing of Catholic schools is accomplished through the parish Sunday offerings, tuition charged to parents, and hard work of parents. Some schools have developed endowment funds with many others beginning to look at the possibility. Each school has at least one major fund raising activity a year. Teachers greatly support these schools through their belief in the system and dedication while being reimbursed to a lesser degree than their equally qualified counterparts in the public system. Often operating on shoe-string budgets, these 9 schools together showed a total income of $2,058,472 during the 1988-89 school year, with an average per pupil cost of approximately $1,308 for each student in grades K-12.

Dr. James S. Coleman, a prominent sociologist, published PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS, the largest survey of nonpublic schools ever conducted by the federal government in 1981. The principal finding at that time was that students learn more in private schools than in public schools. Though discipline was more strict, and though "student rights" were not guaranteed by many legal safeguards that apply to public schools, the private school students felt they were treated more fairly and had a greater sense of control over their own destinies.

What the destiny of today's youth will be has caused people to wonder. Today's culture offers many challenges and will call for youth to make many choices that weren't even possible in the past. What will future leaders be like? What kind of values do today's youth hold and what kind of values will they operate out of in the future are the concerns that many hold. Catholic parents as well as many non-Catholic parents across America choose Catholic value-based education at a great sacrifice and price to themselves. Parents believe that in the long run, their children's views and lives will reflect critical reflection in the light of the Gospel and truly make them happy. It's through that kind of a kaleidoscope that they look upon the future for their children. It is this kind of vision that makes the world a better place for all inhabitants of our planet.