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School's out forever: Philly loses two Catholic high schools to budget woes
Hawk Staff
Issue date: 10/14/09 Section: Opinion
On Friday, Oct. 9, the Archdiocese of Philadelphia announced the closing of two Catholic high schools. In June 2010, Cardinal Dougherty High School and Northeast Catholic High School for Boys will close their doors after decades of declining student populations. Local students and their parents are upset, particularly because the same Archdiocese that has decided to close Cardinal Dougherty and Northeast Catholic is also planning to open a new, $65 million state-of-the-art high school in Royersford this fall.
Apparently the value of "men and women with and for others" doesn't hold its own against budget concerns and socioeconomic status.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has defended its decisions against a rising outcry of criticism from local parents who believe that money, rather than Catholic values, lie at the heart of the high schools' closings. In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, who oversees Catholic education, said, "Our hope is that Catholic secondary education will be available in every area of the diocese and will be accessible."
Accessibility is a multifaceted concept, however, and one that the Archdiocese must examine carefully as it attempts to move forward from its heyday of the 1950s and 1960s. McFadden has claimed that students from Cardinal Dougherty and Northeast Catholic will be placed in nearby Catholic high schools. Transferring to another high school might look fine on paper, but the extra time and cost it takes to transport students will be an increased challenge for already burdened parents.
While the Archdiocese has addressed one facet of the issue of accessibility regarding a Catholic secondary education, it remains to be seen whether Church leaders will help ease the financial burden of ever-increasing tuition. Catholic students in Philadelphia will pay $5,100 this year in tuition costs-that's a steep price for a city whose median household income is roughly $35,000 per year.
Apparently the value of "men and women with and for others" doesn't hold its own against budget concerns and socioeconomic status.
The Archdiocese of Philadelphia has defended its decisions against a rising outcry of criticism from local parents who believe that money, rather than Catholic values, lie at the heart of the high schools' closings. In an interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, who oversees Catholic education, said, "Our hope is that Catholic secondary education will be available in every area of the diocese and will be accessible."
Accessibility is a multifaceted concept, however, and one that the Archdiocese must examine carefully as it attempts to move forward from its heyday of the 1950s and 1960s. McFadden has claimed that students from Cardinal Dougherty and Northeast Catholic will be placed in nearby Catholic high schools. Transferring to another high school might look fine on paper, but the extra time and cost it takes to transport students will be an increased challenge for already burdened parents.
While the Archdiocese has addressed one facet of the issue of accessibility regarding a Catholic secondary education, it remains to be seen whether Church leaders will help ease the financial burden of ever-increasing tuition. Catholic students in Philadelphia will pay $5,100 this year in tuition costs-that's a steep price for a city whose median household income is roughly $35,000 per year.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 5
Bill Cooney
posted 10/13/09 @ 1:38 PM EST
As a 1959 graduate of Cardinal Dougherty, who is still a resident of Philadelphia, I very much appreciate your article that questions the wisdom of the diocese's decision to close CD and Northeast Catholic. (Continued…)
NC
posted 10/13/09 @ 3:00 PM EST
The Archdiocese's decision to close Northeast Catholic Cardinal Dougherty is just another blow to the Catholic community in Philadelphia. Over the last few years, the diocese has continued to close Catholic grade schools in the surrounding neighborhoods - forcing families that have a long history with these institutions to send their children to schools in surrounding neighborhoods. (Continued…)
Greg Danielewicz
posted 10/14/09 @ 11:25 AM EST
Thank you for a wonderful article on this dire situation. Many parents sacrifice to send their kids to these fine institutions. My parents did (NC '84) as well as I do now with a son in an Archdiocesan high school. (Continued…)
Archdiocese of Phila
Bishop Joseph P. McFadden
posted 10/16/09 @ 11:07 AM EST
October 16, 2009
Ms. Karrin Randle
Editor
The Hawk
Re: ?Schools Out Forever: Philly Loses Two Catholic High Schools to Budget Woes?
I am compelled to respond in an effort to correct the inaccuracies in The Hawk editorial ?Schools out Forever? (October 14). (Continued…)
Hawk Alum
posted 10/16/09 @ 1:44 PM EST
If you want to blame someone for the closing of North and Dougherty, blame the state of PA. They fought the issuance of school vouchers , so that parents could use their tax money to fund private educations. (Continued…)
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