This week is Catholic Schools Week in Boise and across the United States. It is a time to celebrate and appreciate the opportunity to attend a Catholic school. Catholic schools have a long and interesting history in our country. Almost simultaneously Catholic schools originated from Franciscan missionaries in Florida and Jesuit in the middle colonies. As the United States progressed from colonies to states, the school’s needs and objectives evolved.
In the years following the American Revolution, the country, being predominantly Protestant, structured the schooling and curriculum on the teachings of the Protestant Church. This was at times done at the expense of the Catholic children looking for and education. In response to the threats of prejudice, Catholic Church leaders decided to start their own schools to ensure a proper education founded in the beliefs of Catholics.
Between the 1830s and the 1960s, the number of schools and students increased. By around 1965 Catholic schools in America reached its all time high with more than 12,000 parochial schools. In addition, close to 50% of all Catholic children attended a Catholic School. In 2006, the number of schools is about half of that and the percentage of Catholic children attending Catholic schools is closer to 15%. Although this may seem like a significant drop, about 40% of all Catholic schools have a waiting list for incoming students and the needs in suburban areas continues to be high.
In Boise, we are truly blessed to have 4 parochial schools and a Catholic high school. It seems appropriate this year’s theme for Catholic Schools Week is “Faith, Academics, Service”. We are lucky to be part of a school which embraces our faith as we establish high academic standards and promote a community focused on providing service to others.
What do you think about your Catholic education? What would you say to someone who was interested in sending their children to St. Joe’s?
Ann-first!! ha beat that Luke!!! i think my catholic education is very necessary and useful. TO anybody who was ending their child to saint joes, i would say that St. Joe's is a challenging school, and it will help your kid beyond eighth grade!
ReplyDeleteAbby- Second!!! I feel very fortunate to have such a great Catholic education. I think that my Catholic education is very important and beneficial. I would recommend St. Joes to anyone. It is a great school and it has an amazing facility! I have gone to St. Joes for like ever and I still like it! I will miss it when I graduate.
ReplyDeleteAtticus- I think that my catholic eucation is verry importand and that I am very lucky to have one because some kids dont eaven get the chance to have an edducation. I would say that St. Joes is an amazing and will help your child beond anyones recignition. I really like St. Joes and would recomend it.
ReplyDeleteI had soccer that is my reason mr. Grant i am sorry i let you down brother/ ally i let you down. I think that Catholic education is extremely important. I am very fortune to have a great education because lots of kids dont have the opportunities i get. I think St. Joes is ok but its St. Joes and the uniform really bothers me. but, i can live with it an am exited to get the heck out of here.
ReplyDeleteSincerely,
Luke
Isabelle- I think my catholic education is great because I get to learn about my faith and find out things I didn't know before. I would tell someone that st. Joes is a great school with great teachers that will teach your child everything they need to know for years to come. You get to learn about your faith and have fun at the same time.
ReplyDeleteMadison- I think that getting a Catholic education is great. We are really privileged to get to go somewhere like St. Joes. I would tell someone that sending their kid here is a great idea. It is challenging and everyone is so nice and welcoming! By the time kids leave here they are definitely ready for high school.
ReplyDeleteKEndall- I think our catholic education is so good! some people dont even get an education so we are very fortunate to have our school. i think that is someone was thinking about sending their child to st joes i would tell them to do it! its a great school and i have learned so much since i have been here!
ReplyDeleteHalle- I love my Catholic education at St. Joe's. I never really appreciated it until this year. I think that it's hard to understand how lucky we are to go to St joe's and the education we recieve until we are older. I would say that a catholic education is important. My sister in college says shes never been more prepared for college, some of the public school kids might have a harder time than we will. Also since our school is smaller we develop friendships that you can't have at other schools. You don't find a closer group of kids anywhere else.
ReplyDeleteAlly- I feel really lucky to have a Catholic education. We are really fortunate to get to learn about our faith and what we believe in. If someone was looking into sending their child to St. Joe's I would tell them that it is a great school with a great education. They do a good job of preparing you for high school.
ReplyDeletegabby- i think that going to a catholic school and getting and catholic education is great. it really sets a good foundation to go on to high school and college. its seems like the kids that have gone to a catholic school succeed, and do not such a hard time. i feel very blessed to go to such an awesome school. if a parent was wondering if they should send their kid to a catholic school i would definitely say yes.
ReplyDeleteMarya- i think that i am very lucky to be getting a Catholic education. i have grown to appreciate it more this year than any other year. i am going to miss St.Joes and my awesome classmates so much! if somebody was interested in sending their kids here, i would tell them that it is a great school and that they should definitely send them there!
ReplyDeleteRyan- I think that i have a huge opportunity to have a catholic education with all of the great teachers and the ciriculum that the teachers teach us. I think that i get a better education because of the choices of my parents to put me in a catholic school. I think i would say that it is a great choice to do so and that you will fit in because even though there arnt any groups or clubs you can still fit in because the kids a the catholic schools are usually very welcoming
ReplyDeleteAngie- I think that we're all really lucky to get a Catholic education. I always try to imagine what it would be like going to a public school where you don't learn religion and everyone's a different religion. The opportunity of being able to go to St. Joe's is amazing! I have loved the experience here. If someone was thinking of sending their kid here, I would strongly encourage them to! It's really worth the money to be sent to this school. I love being able to learn about my own religion and in-cooperating our religion to everything we do at school. It's an awesome school and I'll really miss it next year.
ReplyDeleteSophia-I am really proud to have grown up with a Catholic education. It taught me morals at a young age, and helps me live a Christian lifestyle. St. Joe's has been so fun, and many of the things that I remember have something to do with God, whether it's Catholic Schools Week or flying paper birds last year in church with Mrs. Rollison(haha). Going to a Catholic school kept me humble about all of my blessings, but also helped me realize just how blessed I am. At St. Joe's it's all about strengthening your relationship and following Jesus, and acting how He would. I think that's a great thing to teach a kid when they are still open minded to everything. I would tell someone to send their kid here if they want them to grow up respecting others and to go on and live life acting kind and caring like Jesus did.
ReplyDeleteCooper- I am very thankful that i have a good catholic education because allot kids don't have the education that we at St.Joes have offered to us. St.Joes is a good school it gets you prepared for high school.
ReplyDeleteDanielle- I love my Catholic education ever since i have came to st. joes i have felt more closer to God every year, being a Catholic is very special not all people have a good education, but i really think that Catholic schools give a really good education and is worth the price because most Catholic schools r pretty expensive. Our parents paid that money for us because they knew we would get a wonderful education. I would say to people that st joes gives u a great education, great friends, great programs, and great teachers who really get you prepared for the nxt chapter in your life
ReplyDeleteJACK-I HAVE LIKED MY CATHOLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION VERY MUCH
ReplyDelete(ESPECIALLY WHEN I HAVE AWESOME TEACHERS. EX. MR. GRANT, MR. YANCI, MRS. MCCLURE, MRS. RUSSELL). IT IS A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO GO TO A SCHOOL WITH SUCH A GREAT EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM. I HAVE ALSO LIKED IT VERY MUCH BECAUSE MY CLASSMATES HAVE BEEN GREAT. I WOULD TELL OTHER PEOPLE TO DEFINITELY SEND THEIR KIDS TO ST. JOE'S BECAUSE THEY WILL GET A GREAT EDUCATION, HAVE OPTIONS ON SPORTING TEAMS, AND MEET MANY GREAT FRIENDS ALONG THE WAY.
Nolen-Catholic schools are great. They really do get you prepared for life. I like my teachers and my classmates. The education in catholic schools are also very good compared to other schools. Im proud to grow up in a catholic school.
ReplyDeletePhillip - I think that our Catholic education has higher standards than the public schools. The education at St. Joes is marvelous. When you come here you feel like part of a family.
ReplyDeletejosu-i think that st. Joes is a very good school. the athletics and academics at st joes are superb. i have been privileged to come here for the bast nine years. St Joes will get you ready for high school and beyond.
ReplyDeleteCRistina- i love having a catholic education. you get to talk about god freely and not get send down to the prinicpal office while doing it. plus, i think we get a better education than public schools. we are challenged more and learn so many great life lessons.if your interseted in a catholic education, itrs great!
ReplyDeleteNerea- i love going to a catholic school minus the uniform..but anyway the education is awesome here. Also catholic school are nomorally small and its very nice because we all know eachother and the eight grade is really close which i love. IF you interested in sending your kids to catholic im all for it!!!
ReplyDeletePeter- I love Catholic education. I love my experience at St. Joe's and love all the teachers (especially Mr. Grant). If someone was interested in Catholic education, I'd say DO IT!
ReplyDeleteMarcos- Catholic education is very important. Because of this reason is that you can participate in more stuff than you can in a public school. And St. Joes is the best catholic elementry school in Idaho. I will tell the person who is thinking of coming to St.Joes is say that, it is a great catholic school. Has very high acidemics. And Very competitve in sports. And just participating in this school for many years will be awesome.
ReplyDeleteKaed-i believe that Catholic Education is very important and i highly recommend that every student should have a chance to go to a Catholic school here in the U.S. but obviously that is not going to happen because of the cost. Catholic Education and the Catholic Schools Week is a very important week for us Catholics. Also Catholic Education is actually, i think, a lot harder than public schools and i think that you learn a lot more than public schools. St. Joes is a great choice for a highly academic school and a very competitive school in sports and i highly recommend it!
ReplyDeleteAriana- I think that Catholic schools are better for students because it gets you prepared better for highschool. The teachers are excellent and the standards for every Catholic school is very high. I also love how small and close each class is!!
ReplyDeleteZach- I think that catholic educaion is very good compared to some other public schools. The theology they add, helps as well. Parents who are thinking about sending their kids to St. Joes should know this, i just hoe the don't mind uniforms.
ReplyDeleteBrooke~ I feel very privleged to have a Catholic education. We get to learn religion unlike public schools and learn other cool things. I would tell someone who was sending their kids to St. Joe's that it is a great choice and your child will get an awesome education and have great teachers and classmates. We're also lucky to go to mass every tuesday.
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