Posted on 01/07/2014 11:43:40 AM PST by Welchie25
One of the hot topics during our family’s Christmas gathering was Catholic education. My niece is a senior in high school, and as with everyone her age, she is consumed with selecting a college. Her parents are allowing her some freedom, but prefer that she attends a college with a good, Catholic environment.
They were all impressed with Catholic University of America. For my sister and brother-in-law, it was local and had a good religious atmosphere, and for my niece, it had solid academic programs and quick access to the city.
I spent many years at CUA, earning my doctorate, and my sister asked my opinion of the school. I enjoyed my time there, and heartily approved. Then, I heard the price - $52,852. (I had my tuition covered through a teaching assistantship).
Indebting a young adult with $211,000 in loans is not Catholic, and borders on being immoral.
After recovering from the shock, I reviewed a lot of other Catholic colleges. While many are cheaper than CUA, it pains me that all the schools were over six figures for four years of education. In good conscience, I could not recommend these schools to my niece unless she received a substantial scholarship.
My own family is at the opposite end of the spectrum, with my son entering kindergarten in the fall. I desperately want to send him to our parish school, and if we made some sacrifices, we could afford to send him there. Cutting out money budgeted for cable TV, going out to eat, and vacations would get us halfway there, and teaching extra classes would cover the other half. Here’s the problem. We have another son, and we would like to have more children. Since our parish has no family discount, what will we do in the future?
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicreview.org ...
With the expenses going up, the best thing to do would likely periodically remove one kid from Catholic school and make your older kids pay their own way, working to earn their way. AS for the young kids, move them into a kindergarten class in a public school and save, then send them to private Catholic school as they get older.
Don’t foot the bill for the older kids, make the older kids work their way through school, instilling a work ethic.
Sounds like home-schooling is the way to go.
If a PHD can’t afford to send his children to a catholic school, something does not add up.
I worked to keep them in an atmosphere conducive to virtue.
PFL
Indoctrination is amazing when you consider you are worried about children that aren’t even born yet. Have you even looked at Catholicism on the internet to see what it actually entails? I was raised a Lutheran and have since become a Christian by reading my bible and find the truth in Christ. I urge you to do the same unless you are afraid of the truth. The history of the Catholic church is one of murder and deceit as well as immoral atrocities. I base those statements on facts and not just rumors.
As for college....well....Catholics along with most Christian denominations are failing to properly educate their children. Honestly, isn't a denomination's **most** important mission field that of their own children first? I would think so. Educating the children in the Faith of their Fathers should be the very highest priority for the use of any donation.
As for my own experience with Catholic university, it was disappointing. It was more about the faith of Marxist Liberation Theology than it was about reading and studying the works of the Church fathers and philosophers.
I agree; it was just a suggestion and I myself am beginning to wonder if Catholic schools are as good as they are hyped.
The cost is high for the same reason the costs are healthcare are high.
The system (in this case colleges) are responding to an environment where someone else pays the bills (in this cash government in the form of loans and or grants) This distorts the marketplace and causes prices to soar.
If you want the cost of healthcare and college to go down, simply outlaw health insurance and loans and grants and the price of both will drop 80-90% overnight.
A+ for you!
Not only is the cost excessive but an objective person could question just how truly Catholic these ostensibly Catholic colleges and universities are. If Georgetown covers its Catholic symbols during a speech by Obama and Notre Dame gives the leading proponent of abortion an honorary degree, those questions are legitimate.
Just this last weekend, I heard of 2 parishes (OK-KS)that require tithing so that there is NO tuition payment required to attend the parish school. Makes me wonder what are these parishes doing RIGHT to achieve this.
But, then, you reach high school - my own Catholic HS in Dallas is more for one year than my son’s tuition at UNT.
Don’t know how tithing would work for that.
Something to think about.
This is completely off the topic of the cost of Catholic schools, but I found this a curious statement, considering that I became a Lutheran decades after becoming a Christian--and I am still a Christian :-) I became a Lutheran, in part because I found Luther's teachings to be as close to the truth found in Scripture as anyone's, and much closer than most. What do you find in Lutheran teaching that diverges from the truth of Christ, and the truths found in His Word? It is not my intention to try to revert you--I am happy when anyone finds Christ, regardless of the Christian church--I am just wondering...
She's planning ahead, and you object to indoctrination? Rubbish! If the Roman Catholic religion induces people to think about their future and plan ahead ... Good for the Roman Catholic religion!
>> Have you even looked at Catholicism on the internet to see what it actually entails?
Yes, I have. Religions and systems of faith are interesting, even the ones I don't believe.
>> The history of the Catholic church is one of murder and deceit as well as immoral atrocities. I base those statements on facts and not just rumors.
That statement is worse than merely false; it represents half truth, distortion, and outright fabrication. Shame on you.
Bingo ... College tuition (at least, published “sticker price”) has increased since the 1970s at about twice the consumer price index “inflation rate”. The problem is hardly unique to Catholic colleges; Protestant and secular private colleges, as well as State colleges have shown the same phenomenon. Christian parents may want to consider that with churches and ministries operating on or near campus, your local Enormous State University might not be a bad choice ... and certainly less expensive than a private college. If your kid is studying science or engineering the godless mess of the arts and humanities studies in the State college will have minimal influence on them.
My 4 children all attend catholic school in a midwestern state and tuition is under 12,000/yr. for ALL four children to attend ( including 2 in high school) And yes the education is better ( ACT scores blow public out of the water and public schools here are considered good)
The secret is thriving parishes that have dedicated funds that go toward supporting diocesan schools. Masses at all 6 or 7 parishes in our small city are always full..
By the way to the OP.. The University of Mary is a good catholic college( Bismark, ND) and my understanding is that room and board is free for graduates from catholic high schools regardless of financial status… worth checking out!
What I have said is fact. The shame is on the church and those that let it continue to indoctrinate and harm the people in this world. I put my trust in Christ and not an institution.
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