Why do we have Catholic schools? Why are they important? Why do they matter?
Catholic education not only teaches general education but also balances education with deep spiritual immersion. Catholic education is very active in teaching a child that God is in their life and all around him/her. A child will learn how to see these “footprints of God” in their daily lives. As a child’s awareness of God develops, he or she also becomes an instrument of God’s grace in the family, community and in the world.
A Catholic education means giving a student the opportunity to learn about the holy scriptures. Furthermore, the learning of the scriptures is governed by underlying faith. The students are encouraged to put into their daily lives the lessons they have learned from the good book. In addition, a Catholic education teaches a student on how to make use of the scriptures as a tool for guidance and inspiration to get them through during the toughest parts of his/her life.
Catholic education not only focuses on engagement and responsibility in relation to the church but also to the community as a whole.
According to a survey done by a non-catholic and non-American source, the study suggested that students coming from private school are the least to engage in civic engagement. On the other hand, the study indicated that students from Catholic education ranked highest in terms of participating in community and civic engagement. This could mean the highest in terms of charity donations, writing to legislators, volunteering, and voting.
Most of these Catholic education graduates do not do these civic responsibilities for themselves, but rather for a sense of justice and responsibility.
Catholic schools exist to teach the Catholic faith and help parents place their children on the path of holiness and sainthood so they may attain heaven.
Another fundamental of having a Catholic education is the idea of service. Catholic education puts a lot of focus on service, and that is why there are service programs running from kindergarten up to the 12th grade. Some schools even have service programs that may reach levels of undergraduate and graduate.
Catholic education values in God’s word that states, “you are your brother’s keeper”. Hence, Catholic students are always taught to be sensitive to the needs of others and respond positively in any way they can.
Benefits of a Catholic School
What does this really mean?
Students ‘fully alive’ in the faith
As the quote from St. Irenaeus, “The glory of God is the human person fully alive.”
It is the mission of Catholic schools to develop the unique gifts of each and every child so they may fulfill their God-given potential. Catholic schools work toward this by fostering children’s intellects and forming their character. Catholic schools recognize that all things come from God and that because of this, all of creation, all knowledge, and all people are connected.
Students learn discipline, respect, virtues, values, and morals that will serve them for a lifetime, allowing them to navigate the storms of life and not just survive, but to be “fully alive!”
Helping students lead full lives
The human soul yearns for life, and not just an empty life, but a one vibrant.
The mission of Catholic schools is to help parents equip their children to lead full, active, vibrant lives where the children not only survive but thrive and make tangible contributions by serving others and their community.
And the only way to do this is to know and love Jesus Christ, who said, “I am the way, and the truth and the life” (Jn 14:6).
It is only through Christ, that we may have life and be “fully alive.”
Catholic schools introduce students to Jesus Christ. They help lead students to discover their true identity as children of God, who contemplated them and loved them from the beginning of time.
They Let The children know who they are
Children understand that they are precious, unique children of God created by him for a specific purpose. Catholic schools prepare students for more school and the world of work; they form the whole person, body, mind, and soul, that in Christ, they may realize the fullness of their humanity and be “fully alive!” Imagine how different the world might be if every person realized and believed this truth, that our very identity and dignity comes from God.
How different the world might be if we all viewed every other person as possessing that same degree of dignity, as a child of God, and treated each other accordingly.
How different the world might be if people found their identity in Jesus rather than in the fleeting pleasures and pitfalls so far beneath their dignity.
In conclusion, not all education systems are made equal. Each school or educational system has its own principles and philosophies that govern how they teach and develop a child. Having said that, a Catholic education system has been proven in time, surveys and studies to offer advantages compared to other forms of education systems. In fact, the many benefits of a Catholic education mentioned above are just the tip of the iceberg.
