catholic schools and tuition

[hopeful1]

ok, i've been in catholic schools from k-12 and in both of the schools i went to (in the dioscese) the tuition was higher for non-catholic students. However, i was wondering if this is decision that is made by individual diosceses or if this is true for all catholic institutions. Is this unfair?

[Guest Aluigi]

not unfair... the Catholic Church is educating her members... she is not required to educate anyone else, but she will allow others in... but she wants to teach her children first, so her children get easier access to it.

[Andrea348]

the way my catholic grade school worked was you only got the lower tuition if you supported the Sunday collection at Mass. if you did not, catholic or noncatholic, you paid more.

[track2004]

My Catholic grade school worked like that, non catholics paid exorbent amounts for tuition. Catholic non member (of which I was) didn't pay more but we're not quite equal with the members, espically in the way of actually getting into the school. Then the members of the parish were prefered and got the cheapest tuition. In high school a Catholic member of any parish in the diocese paid one tuition, non Catholics paid another, and Catholics who were from a neighboring diocese paid non Catholic tuition. I didn't really agree with the last part, but understand why it happened. I think the Catholic schools should be more like the public school and not affiliated with parishes, I also think there should be Catholic middle schools. In my home town there was a big enough Catholic population that this was possible. I also think that no matter who has to pay for it the teachers ought to get paid a lot more for thier work. Just my $.02.

[CatholicforChrist]

Catholic schools are designed to be associated with the parish, and they should be. The Council of Baltimore, Session IV (I believe), determined that each parish must provide a school for educating children. This is why the schools are associated with the parishes. Apparently, this is not longer an obligation, so only some parishes have schools, but this does not mean they should dis-associate from the parishes. It is not only a custom but it was also a requirement in the past for each parish to educate its children in a Catholic school. Sadly, most "Catholic" schools are not that Catholic, anyway (this was certainly the case when I went to one). Either way, it is sensible that Catholics who are supporting the parish should receive the lowest tuition and that Catholics who are not should have a higher one, but if they are choosing to allow non-Catholics (for the purpose of converting them), then this price could be designated however the school, parish, or diocese sees fit.

[hopeful1]

any of our protestant friends care to comment?

[jasJis]

I'll give you the skinny on Catholic schools in Florida as I attende 12 years, my mom was a teacher for 25+, and I sent my kids to catholic grade schools.

Schools are financially supported by the parishes with money and volunteers. Lot's of fund raisers are staffed and run by volunteers from the parishes who don't have kids that go to the school because they believe in making it as affordable as possible for the kids of the parish. What we actually pay in tuition (catholic, in-parish) is actually much less than the real cost.

Schools are also helped out by the Diocese. That's why Catholics from other Diocese and parishes pay more. The volunteers and donors and the sponsor parish are contributing to the school first for the children of the parish.

Non-Catholics pay more because they are being charged what the REAL cost is for the education. Not only the real cost for the building, staff, teachers, books, etc., but consider all the free stuff the school gets. Volunteers for the sports. Volunteers for the fund raisers. Volunteers who do office work, library work, cook lunches, drive for outings, etc., etc. Most people in the parish have only a small glimpse of the efforts of volunteers as they usually like to keep it quiet. (What's the point of being nice if you have to have everybody's attention. Jesus told a parable about that.)

Non-Catholics are allowed for many reasons. One, they help support the full cost (usually). Two, they don't bump out other kids. Assignment goes to parishioners, other catholics, then non-catholics. Basically, it's what "group" of people support the school get first priority. At Tampa Catholic, I attended with many non-Catholics and a few Jewish kids.

Grade schools are supported by parishes because it's easier to support as a community when it's right there at your church. High schools are supported by Diocese as less students go to Catholic high school so parishes contribute to the Diocese who then supports the school.

To my knowledge, no body is turned away from attending Catholic school because of inability to pay. Many are truned away because of unwillingness to sacrifice to pay for it. Just because some people can pay with little or no sacrifice, doesn't mean that others don't have to sacrifice alot to pay the same amount. I know some people who won't pay for Catholic school because they don't want to drive junk cars and skip vacations or ask other family members to help or won't do volunteer work for the school in exchange for discounted tuition. I also know of people who don't send their kids to the school and contribute many thousands of dollars to pay for other's kids anonomously. I personally have benefited from that.

The Catholic School tuition system in Florida (I've lived in a couple of Diocese and have friends in others) is very fair. Some people forget what the real reason for Catholic schools are for and get caught up in the excellent academics and treat it as an exclusive private school or expect excellent academics over good moral teaching.

[Mateo el Feo]

I might be repeating previous comments a bit, but...

With primary schools at parishes, the school's construction/maintenance is often subsidized by parishioners. Usually the school subsidy shows up on yearly financial statements, for all to see. The subsidy, like just about everything else, comes from money collected each Sunday.

At our parish, the students receive a subsidy if the parents are active parishioners. Basically, the church counts the number of weeks they attend mass by recording the collection envelopes. The amount enclosed isn't what's important; it could be empty. What is important is the fact that the family is participating in the most important event in the life of the parish: the Sunday mass.

I think the same principle is used to enforce in-state/out-of-state tuition rates at colleges and universities. The state government typically subsidizes state schools with taxpayer money.

In addition, if a parent wanted to send his/her child to a primary/secondary public school outside their jurisdiction, they would have to pay a significant tuition fee to attend the same classes that are free to those who live within the jurisdiction.

[PedroX]

Its also important to remember that Catholic education in this country was propelled by nasty anti-Catholicism in the public schools. It is ironic that it is now desirable to send your kid to a Catholic school.

peace...

[track2004]

Personally I don't like the way Catholic grade schools are set up because I went to a parish without a school so I went to a school where I didn't really belong. I was Catholic and I was the right age and I paid, but I was still an outsider. Beyond that 8 years is entirely too long to be in the same school with the same 30 -50 kids. Middle school is a good idea. I understand why the Catholic schools are set up as they are, but I think it would work much better for everyone if it was set up differently. I'm really biased though because I really didn't like my grade school.