I wrote you a big long reply, but somehow, it was consigned to data hell. I'm too lazy to reproduce it.
Oh, well.
In any event - real quick:
“But such parents are in a distinct minority, and you and I both know that.”
I really don't know that. I only know the folks I know.
“That said, have these folks confronted the bishop?”
Two problems - our archbishop is more of a Democrat than a Catholic; it costs a lot to run a school in an area where the median home price is around a half-million bucks. Add in the loss of nuns and priests as teachers for good measure.
“I would think that with nine, they could homeschool efficiently.”
Yup.
“And a wife's income, if it's a third job, is generally mostly eaten up with the additional taxes, the transportation, and the clothing and materials required.”
Not so yup. I know more than a few couples where the wife makes upper five figures. Tough to give up that additional $60,000 - $80,000 per year.
“My point is that families who are really stuck in a situation where they absolutely MUST use the public school system are few and far between.”
Maybe in the suburbs of Atlanta, that's clearer. Not as clear here in the suburbs of Washington, DC.
“And if I were, I would seriously consider MOVING. We got the heck out of the city of Atlanta for precisely that reason.”
That has consequences, too. I know a family who moved to York, PA. Big house at 1/3 the price. Catholic schools - 1/2 the price. Wife doesn't even need to work. Commute - 2 hrs each way to his job in DC area.
Ouch.
sitetest
We are centrally located, and have folks from all over the state stationed here.
The folks from the far corners of GA (and it's the largest state east of the Mississippi - longest commute to Atlanta is about 6 hours) generally rent an efficiency apartment in town (Atlanta rentals are way overbuilt and very cheap), and set up a long-weekend schedule. If you telecommute two days a week, you have Thurs-Sun (or Fri-Mon) at home and Mon-Wed (or Tues-Fri)at work. Most folks work long hours at the office to compensate.
Just an example of thinking outside the box. And before you say "his employer won't allow that!" -- our employer didn't used to allow that. Now it does. A bunch of folks got together and sold the idea to management.
It's my experience that most folks whine without moving heaven and earth to DO something (and sometimes you need to move heaven and earth). The first thing I would explore with 5 or 6 kids is teaching at the parochial school in exchange for reduced or no tuition. A mom with that many kids can manage a classroom on her head. Forget the bennys - have the husband pick those up. School gets a free teacher, the kids get an education. I'd do my best to sell that one to the bishop, democrat or not!