Thursday, June 9, 2005
After 149 years, St. Louis School, Caledonia closing
So reports the May 26, 2005 Catholic Herald.
No wonder it closed; the parish has spent 20 years convincing itself this was inevitable. (We're been working on this "We told us so" approach at my parish, too.) The other important component to closing your parish school (and eventually your parish) is to only ask rhetorical questions.
"People have expected this for years," [the pastor] Fr. [Mark] Danczyk told the Catholic Herald. "It was just a matter of when it was going to happen."
Over the last 25 years, he noted, enrollment had been dropping by about 10 students per year. He added that parishioners had told him "even 20 years ago they were talking about this (closing)."
No wonder it closed; the parish has spent 20 years convincing itself this was inevitable. (We're been working on this "We told us so" approach at my parish, too.) The other important component to closing your parish school (and eventually your parish) is to only ask rhetorical questions.
Asked why an area that is becoming dotted with subdivisions didn't have enough students to sustain a school, Fr. Danczyk replied, "We wish we knew the answer to that."¶ 6/09/2005 06:41:00 AM
Comments:
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About 15 years ago, it was well-known that Abp. Weakland had no use whatsoever for Catholic parochial schools.
He made it very clear to Pastors that they would increase tuitions significantly 'to reflect the costs,' thus making more Parish revenues available for other purposes.
In most cases, Catholic families with children in grade-school are not at the top of their earnings-curve, and may have a number of children in school at the same time. The Archbishop's policy effectively reduced grade-school enrollment...
If you want to see LESS of an activity, tax (or charge) more...
QED.
He made it very clear to Pastors that they would increase tuitions significantly 'to reflect the costs,' thus making more Parish revenues available for other purposes.
In most cases, Catholic families with children in grade-school are not at the top of their earnings-curve, and may have a number of children in school at the same time. The Archbishop's policy effectively reduced grade-school enrollment...
If you want to see LESS of an activity, tax (or charge) more...
QED.
Probably the parish itself isn't doing well because people are fleeing it to go to more doctrinally correct parishes.
Why would I want to pay to put my child in a "Catholic" school if it isn't really Catholic(based on what I have heard)?
I don't live very far from St Louis School--about 10 minutes away-- but would never consider enrolling my chidren in it. But I have a feeling Father wouldn't be interesed in my reasons for not wanting to enroll.
Why would I want to pay to put my child in a "Catholic" school if it isn't really Catholic(based on what I have heard)?
I don't live very far from St Louis School--about 10 minutes away-- but would never consider enrolling my chidren in it. But I have a feeling Father wouldn't be interesed in my reasons for not wanting to enroll.
# posted by 
: 4:26 PM
: 4:26 PM
i went to St. Louis School for all 9 years (k-8th)...It was a very good school for the early years...It had good teachers and a good principal...I didnt really mind that it didnt have any sports like public schools because 1)I was younger and didnt really care. and 2)Because the kids had fun playing them by their own rules at recess.
You may think that Catholic schools are not the best. But many graduates from St. Louis have gone far with their life and would back up their teachings at St. Louis any day!
One of the reasons that i think that it closed (i witnessed the enrollment drop first hand) was we started to get some bad teachers. We had one teacher that didnt even teach out of the books, he would make up things as he went on, and students were complaining that they weren't learning anything. This caused many familys to leave the school. I believe from that one teacher we lost at least 25 families! There are more reasons that I think caused it to close, but I will keep them to my self.
I may have some doubts about my school, but i will back it any day!...So please do not say anything bad against it or any other Catholic School if you have not been in one, or have not had a child in one! oh, and Catholic schools are a lot more "Catholic" than a lot of schools I know, to answer your question, I never had any problem with profanity or bullying my whole time there! (if there was someone getting bullied, it was purly out of fun, and the one getting "bullied" would be the "bully" the next day!, no body ever really got hurt or angry at any one!) well i have said enough...I hope your view on St. Louis or any other Catholic School is cleared up a little better! (sorry this is so long, by the way)
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You may think that Catholic schools are not the best. But many graduates from St. Louis have gone far with their life and would back up their teachings at St. Louis any day!
One of the reasons that i think that it closed (i witnessed the enrollment drop first hand) was we started to get some bad teachers. We had one teacher that didnt even teach out of the books, he would make up things as he went on, and students were complaining that they weren't learning anything. This caused many familys to leave the school. I believe from that one teacher we lost at least 25 families! There are more reasons that I think caused it to close, but I will keep them to my self.
I may have some doubts about my school, but i will back it any day!...So please do not say anything bad against it or any other Catholic School if you have not been in one, or have not had a child in one! oh, and Catholic schools are a lot more "Catholic" than a lot of schools I know, to answer your question, I never had any problem with profanity or bullying my whole time there! (if there was someone getting bullied, it was purly out of fun, and the one getting "bullied" would be the "bully" the next day!, no body ever really got hurt or angry at any one!) well i have said enough...I hope your view on St. Louis or any other Catholic School is cleared up a little better! (sorry this is so long, by the way)
# posted by : 5:47 PM
: 5:47 PM<< Home
