Catholic School Matters
March 15, 2021
Urban Catholic Schools
How are we going to keep urban Catholic schools (defined as Catholic schools located inside urban areas) open? Those schools—especially those in non-school choice states—were hit exceptionally hard by the pandemic. This week and next we’re going to explore different angles, starting with this week when we’ll set the context.
A group of researchers at Boston College and the NCEA join me on the podcast this week to discuss the update of the work of Joseph O’Keefe, SJ from 20 years ago. O’Keefe explored the problems of urban Catholic schools around. His work was fundamental to understanding the changes taking place in Catholic schools and we’re all better for his work. Here is a link to the Commonweal article that O’Keefe wrote about the study (which gives you a quick overview) and here is the link to his book here.
Charles Cownie and Andrew Miller from BC have set out to update O’Keefe’s work and figure out what is happening in the urban Catholic school environments. Annie Smith from NCEA is also joining in the effort. They are starting with surveys (have you seen the email? Have you filled it out?). They are going to follow up these quantitative surveys with interviews so they’ll have both quantitative and qualitative looks at the positive and negative trends.
The researchers are looking at why some urban Catholic schools are succeeding and why others are not. They are focusing on three areas:
1. Students: who is being served by these schools?
2. Staffing: who is working at these schools?
3. Structures: what are the programs and governance at these schools?
Why are we concerned? The issue cuts to the core of mission. If the purpose of Catholic schools is to serve only those who can afford it, then we will become a tuition-driven private school network. But if we aspire to be schools in and for the world, urban schools make up an important (and historic) component.
The study promises to give us real data to discuss the reality of our urban schools, instead of anecdotal evidence that is reshaped by every person’s perspective. It also promises to give us a window to what’s working. Here’s a link to more information about the study.
Listen to the podcast and join the conversation.
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Dr. Tim Uhl
Catholic School Matters
Email: catholicschoolmatters@gmail.com
Website: www.drtimuhl.com
Location: Helena, MT, USA
Twitter: @drtimuhl
Catholic School Links
Catholic Schools Closing & Opening
- St. Bridget of Kildare Elementary School in Parma, Ohio, is closing
- Julie Billiart Schools opening a third campus in Westlake, Ohio in August 2021
- Academy of the Holy Angels in Demarest NJ is opening a middle school
- Two Catholic schools in Buffalo will unify on one campus
- Notre Dame in Wichita Falls, TX to close
Leadership Links
Teaching & Learning
Miscellany
Catholic School Matters podcast
Check out the past episodes from this season:
- Urban Catholic School Research with Dr. Charles Cownie, Dr. Andrew Miller, and Annie Smith
- Catholic Social Teaching with Mark Shea
- Part One, Fratelli Tutti, with Dr. Ann Garrido; Part Two, Fratelli Tutti, with Fr. Joe Corpora; Part Three, Fratelli Tutti, with Dr. Carmen Nanko-Fernández; Part Four, Fratelli Tutti, with Dr. Leonard DeLorenzo;
- Part Five, Fratelli Tutti, With Dr. Katherine Greiner
- 12 Christmas podcasts: Michael Deegan of the Archdiocese of NY, Nicole Garnett of Notre Dame law school on religious charters, Maka Black Elk on truth & healing, Dr. Jeannine Hill Fletcher on The Sin of White Supremacy, Dr Leslie Lipovski from the Diocese of Arlington & St. Isidore Virtual Catholic School, Mary Flock of the Diocese of Orange & St. Polycarp Virtual Catholic School, Bruce Davis of Catholic Virtual, Jeff Hausman of AVLI, Kyle Pietrantonio of DIA Schools, Sr. Angela Ann Zukowski of VLCFF, Frankie Jones of ACE, and Mike Derrick of San Diego Cristo Rey HS.
- Thought Leaders: Dave Stuart, Jr., George Couros, Dr. Christian Dallavis from Partnership Schools; Dr. Debbie Sullivan & FADICA reports;
- Pandemic-focused podcasts: Fr. Eric Ramirez, SJ from Regis Jesuit HS; John Galvan from the Diocese of San Diego; Elizabeth Goettl, CEO, Cristo Rey Network; Dr. Tim McNiff of Engineering Tomorrow.; Dr. Brandi Odom Lucas of Verbum Dei (Cristo Rey) HS; Jenny Oliver, the principal of St. Joe's in Auburn, CA; Br. John Montgomery, FSC, the principal of Cathedral High in Los Angeles; Leanne Geise, president of Dominican High in Wisconsin; August 19, 2020 Bea Kaleva (MT attorney) on COVID-related legal issues;
- August 12, 2020 Dr. Daryl Hagan of the Diocese of Evansville on reopening
What I'm Reading
The Last 5 Books:
- Parable of the Sower (1993) by Octavia Butler
#Rules of Engagement: 8 Christian Habits for Being Good & Doing Good Online (2021) by Ann M. Garrido
Culture Care: Reconnecting with Beauty for Our Common Life (2017) by Makoto Fujimura
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration (2013) by Isabel Wilkerson
I Came as a Shadow: An Autobiography (2020) by John Thompson
Click this link for a full list of my professional reading
Past Issues of Catholic School Matters
Mar 8, 2021 "Catholic Social Teaching"
Mar 1, 2021 "Collective Conscience"
Feb 22, 2021 "Pope Francis & the Politics We Need"
Feb 15, 2021 "Fraternity of All"
Feb 8, 2021 "Mercy"
Feb 1, 2021 "Fratelli Tutti"
For previous newsletters, click this link
Orchestrating Conflict
A couple of years ago I set out to write a book which would explore the challenges of Catholic school leadership. My premise that there are no easy answers and that we have to learn from our (and other's) mistakes in order to form a mindset appropriate for orchestrating conflict proved prescient as we all faced completely new and unexpected challenges in 2020. The book,Orchestrating Conflict: Case Studies in Catholic Leadership is now available on Amazon or on the Barnes & Noble site in print or e-book formats. The book explores issues in Catholic school leadership and the tensions between building community and following Church policies and introduces deliberate practice as a method for leadership formation.