[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 7 (Wednesday, February 2, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: February 2, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK

 Mr. DURENBERGER. Mr. President, we are in the midst of 
Catholic Schools Week, making this an appropriate time for all of us to 
recognize and salute the contributions being made in the hallways and 
classrooms of Catholic elementary and secondary schools all over 
America.
  Several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit one of Minnesota's 
highly regarded Catholic schools, St. Matthew, which is located on St. 
Paul's West Side.
  St. Matthew School is a wonderful example of the kind of loving and 
nurturing educational environment that every American child deserves. 
Its enrollment reflects the racial, cultural, and even religious 
diversity of the neighborhood it serves. And, its relationship with the 
West Side community extends well-beyond the student body and school 
day--with day and evening child care, for example, and other programs 
that serve neighborhood children and their families.
  Mr. President, many of the assets and contributions of Catholic 
schools are summarized in an article by St. Matthew's parish priest, 
Father Stephen Adrian, that ran in last week's ``Twin Cities Catholic 
Bulletin''. Because this article so concisely captured the spirit and 
value of Catholic schools during this year's Catholic Education Week, I 
would ask that it be reprinted at this point in the Record.
  The article follows:

           Seven Reasons Behind My Bias for Catholic Schools

                       (By Father Stephen Adrian)

       Catholic Schools have had rough sledding during the past 
     generation--closings, consolidations, lower enrollments, 
     higher tuitions.
       Few schools have been built during the past 20 years. 
     Catholic schools generally are concentrated in city centers 
     or first-ring suburbs--places that more affluent Catholics 
     have abandoned.
       The mission of Catholic education also has shifted. Many of 
     our schools are now ``mission schools.'' In many places, we 
     are the last best hope for high-quality, safe, value-centered 
     education as the public education system crumbles in city 
     centers.
       I have a bias. I have regular experience with students, 
     teachers, administrators, parents. I teach. I celebrate 
     liturgy with students. I meet with a host of parent 
     committees and boards. I raise money, I am committed to 
     Catholic schools. Why?
       First, Catholic schools are centers of evangelization in 
     the city's center. In these schools, future Catholic men and 
     women learn their faith, see the lives of faith of staff and 
     teachers, develop a sense of ``belonging'' to a parish or a 
     community.
       These schools draw parents more deeply into the life of 
     their parishes. Through children, parents are drawn into a 
     deeper sense of what it means to be Catholic and what it 
     means to act on their values as Catholics.
       Second, Catholic schools are small and intimate. Teachers 
     know students, teachers and administrators know parents, 
     pastors get to know families.
       Our schools are true extensions of family life and family 
     values.
       Third, Catholic schools are responsive to parents' and 
     family needs.
       Administration is local. Parents serve on decision making 
     and policy setting boards. The PTA and the school board have 
     a close and direct link with each other.
       The ability to respond, the ability to change, the ability 
     to innovate, the ability to create, is immediate--the result 
     of local management.
       Fourth, our schools are by and large very safe 
     institutions--police officers do not walk our halls. There is 
     a clear code of conduct and clear expectations about 
     performance.
       The clarity is possible because staff and parents and 
     students are all involved in the decision-making process. 
     Teachers are held accountable, students are held accountable, 
     parents are held accountable.
       Fifth, the success of Catholic schools is a joint venture--
     parents, staff, students, pastor, board, parish members--all 
     see it as their corporate responsibility to insure that 
     continued growth and prosperity of the school.
       It is everyone's self interest to see these schools 
     succeed.
       Sixth, Catholic schools in the city's center have been able 
     to respond to emerging education needs--child care, extended 
     day programs, latch key, summer school, summer and vacation 
     programs. At St. Matthew, we have been able to provide the 
     opportunity for day and evening child care. We are the only 
     such center in the city.
       Seventh, Catholic schools are ``Catholic'' not because all 
     our students are Catholic or because all our teachers are 
     Catholic. Catholic schools are Catholic because the 
     foundation and spirit that imbues the education is Catholic, 
     the tradition upon which we build today is Catholic, the 
     commitment--yesterday and today--is Catholic.
       These buildings were and are made possible because of 
     Catholic commitment, Catholic money, Catholic values.
       We are coming up on Catholic Schools Week. This is a good 
     time for all of us to reflect on what is perhaps the single 
     most important and unique aspect of the American Catholic 
     experience--the system of Catholic education that has been 
     the backbone of Catholic evangelization in the United States 
     for more than 200 years.

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