One of the things that has really bugged me over the years, is the
lack of gratitude by public officials (and even many everyday citizens)
to those who send their children to Catholic Schools. (This, of
course, also applies to those who send their children to schools of
other faiths, as well as, secular schools.) We are ignored and at
times even derided by public officials and some citizens, who view us
and our children, as second class students.
According to the State of Maryland, it costs apx. $13,453 to educated a student in FY2011.* This will of course, be slightly higher in some localities, while lower in others but as a baseline, we will round it up to $13,500 per student.
There are apx. 11,000 students in Catholic elementary and high schools in Montgomery County.** This number may be a bit higher or lower but we will use this as the baseline. (Note that there is always one segment which is always ignored and that is the apx. 38,000 home schoolers in the State of Maryland.)
Because of this, Catholic schools (located in MoCo) in the Archdiocese of Washington save the State of Maryland and MoCo over $148 million each year. That is not pocket change. This is a staggering amount.
Now, why do I say this?
For many years, the Archdiocese of Washington and many private schools have lobbied hard for not only for textbook funding but also for a tuition tax credit. Constantly, Catholic and private school parents have been rebuffed. The usual arguments are: (1) It is your choice to do so, so don't blame me; and/or (2) we don't want to subsidize someone's faith.
But what would happen if every Catholic school in MoCo closed because parents could not afford the tuition and fees? How about all private schools?
Do you think that the State of MD and/or MoCo could handle the influx of these students? Do you think that they could come up with the funds to cover the added cost without taking it out of your wallet? If they are "crying" now about the fact that they do not have enough funds, what would happen in this scenario?
So, the next time you meet a parent who sends their children to a Catholic or private school, don't simply say thank you. Support their efforts for textbook funding and a tuition tax credit. It will save you money in the long run.
According to the State of Maryland, it costs apx. $13,453 to educated a student in FY2011.* This will of course, be slightly higher in some localities, while lower in others but as a baseline, we will round it up to $13,500 per student.
There are apx. 11,000 students in Catholic elementary and high schools in Montgomery County.** This number may be a bit higher or lower but we will use this as the baseline. (Note that there is always one segment which is always ignored and that is the apx. 38,000 home schoolers in the State of Maryland.)
Because of this, Catholic schools (located in MoCo) in the Archdiocese of Washington save the State of Maryland and MoCo over $148 million each year. That is not pocket change. This is a staggering amount.
Now, why do I say this?
For many years, the Archdiocese of Washington and many private schools have lobbied hard for not only for textbook funding but also for a tuition tax credit. Constantly, Catholic and private school parents have been rebuffed. The usual arguments are: (1) It is your choice to do so, so don't blame me; and/or (2) we don't want to subsidize someone's faith.
But what would happen if every Catholic school in MoCo closed because parents could not afford the tuition and fees? How about all private schools?
Do you think that the State of MD and/or MoCo could handle the influx of these students? Do you think that they could come up with the funds to cover the added cost without taking it out of your wallet? If they are "crying" now about the fact that they do not have enough funds, what would happen in this scenario?
So, the next time you meet a parent who sends their children to a Catholic or private school, don't simply say thank you. Support their efforts for textbook funding and a tuition tax credit. It will save you money in the long run.
*Maryland At A Glance Website. Site updated on Feb. 20, 2013.
** Private School Guide website
7 comments:
He who pays the piper calls the tune. If you can't afford private school, homeschool them. Government money will only corrupt and balloon the expenses of private schools anyway.
If the state subsidizes private school text books does that mean the text books have to teach gay marriage, contraception, and abortion? I support vouchers.
Not necessarily. It will depend upon the subjects chosen.
A tax credit is one thing, but vouchers are their own kind of "snake in the grass". We have got to stop putting our hands out for governmental money, no matter how "fair" we think it is. Those vouchers will come with the strings necessary to strangle us. It's not worth it.
Be careful about the use of vouchers. In the city, The Archdiocese has used the voucher program to fill the consortium schools with students whose parents are not seeking a religious education, but just a free one. What has happened is we have taken in a lot of people who will never support us. The church has ignored the middle class and stacked the schools with kids from poor families. There is no future in this strategy.
Tax credit - but what if you are poor family/single parent who pays no tax and has to work to support family? Do you have to send your kid to public school where they are taught gay is okay, given contraception and maybe taken for abortion? Many parents are sending kid to Catholic school because they believe there is a high moral standard there - I believe it is the church (perverse religious & priests) w/not a little help from the "lay" teachers who are not following Catholic teaching themselves and who find it embarrassing to teach Catholicism who are using the excuse of non-Catholics to not teach Catholicism. There was a school about 2 years ago run by missionary religious (from Africa) in DC who made 19 converts in their voucher school in one year.
I know the Archdiocese of Baltimore has promoted similar efforts through BOAST in the past.
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