The public school monopoly didn't put Catholic schools out of business! The lack of sisters and brothers who were willing to work for peanuts is what drove Catholic schools out of business. Now, tuition rates have to factor in decent salaries for teachers, and there goes the middle class to public school!
Yes, that's very true, Texas_shutterbug, that the lack of sisters and brothers is a big part of the reason for the closing of Catholic schools. These days there are not as many people willing to dedicate their entire lives to the Church.
But, the public school monopoly has a lot to do with it, too. I have a large, extended Catholic family, and many of my relatives put their children in Catholic school. They tell me the public schools are putting the Catholic schools out of business because other parents don't want to pay tuition when they're already paying school taxes.
Now, tuition rates have to factor in decent salaries for teachers, and there goes the middle class to public school!
That's part of the monopoly. Teachers can command higher salaries at the government-run schools, and parochial schools cannot compete.