The Catholic High School that I attended in Michigan did NOT require that non-Catholics go to Mass,
recite Catholic prayers, or take religion class  --- and they still do NOT require any of those things of
non-Catholics.  

The choice to send a child to a private school - Catholic or otherwise - is a private decision.  I am glad that
my mother made the sacrifices to provide all of her children with good Catholic educations.   When I was in
Catholic high school in Michigan, I worked in the school library and doing custodial work to help pay for my
tuition.  It was worth it.

Catholic schools do NOT take taxpayer dollars the way that charter schools do.   If charter schools were cut off
from public school tax dollars -- the charter schools would have to charge higher tuitions.

Funny thing, St. Mary's has Theology classes in all grade levels as mandatory classes.

Tuition there is mighty steep these days too - $10k - $22k, depending on if you're a "boarder" in their 7 day program (boarding school program).

Plus, wicked fees:
Graduation Fee (SENIORS ONLY): $150.00
Computer Application Fee (ALL FRESHMEN): $85.00
Computer Programming Fee (ALL FRESHMEN):$85.00
Parking Fee (where applicable):$85.00
School Tie and Crest (All 9-12):$30.00
Network Connection Fee (All 9-12):$25.00

In addition to tuition and fees, all students will need to purchase books and some supplies from the bookstore.  Estimated cost for books is between $400.00 and $600.00 per Academic Year.

All families must also purchase $225.00 in raffle tickets at the start of the year for the Country Fair.  Those tickets may be sold or bought by the family.  Additional fees and costs may be incurred throughout the year.

Oh, and in their requirements:

Quoted Text

All School Mass   Twice Weekly

Just sayin.

Quoted from 147

Funny thing, St. Mary's has Theology classes in all grade levels as mandatory classes.

Tuition there is mighty steep these days too - $10k - $22k, depending on if you're a "boarder" in their 7 day program (boarding school program).

Plus, wicked fees:
Graduation Fee (SENIORS ONLY): $150.00
Computer Application Fee (ALL FRESHMEN): $85.00
Computer Programming Fee (ALL FRESHMEN):$85.00
Parking Fee (where applicable):$85.00
School Tie and Crest (All 9-12):$30.00
Network Connection Fee (All 9-12):$25.00

In addition to tuition and fees, all students will need to purchase books and some supplies from the bookstore.  Estimated cost for books is between $400.00 and $600.00 per Academic Year.

All families must also purchase $225.00 in raffle tickets at the start of the year for the Country Fair.  Those tickets may be sold or bought by the family.  Additional fees and costs may be incurred throughout the year.

I don't think you are talking about the same St. Mary's school

We know someone who went to St. Adalberts decades ago. They were left handed. If they were seen writing with their left hand, their hand was hit with a ruler until it was red. Their reasoning.......the left hand is the hand of the devil!! They were brutal.TRUE STORY!!!

I went to catholic school and non-catholics were not only discouraged from attending, they were shunned! TRUE STORY!! And if they still wanted to attend, they were most definitely required to participate in ALL functions including religious classes and prayer. To their credit.....it wasn't called a CATHOLIC school for nothing!

I went to catholic school, and even though their scholastics were good, I am not a catholic today. Too much man made rhetoric, bureaucracy and ceremonies. IMHO

Quoted from mikechristine1

I don't think you are talking about the same St. Mary's school

I'm talking about a very specific St. Mary's.  

Quoted from bumblethru

We know someone who went to St. Adalberts decades ago. They were left handed. If they were seen writing with their left hand, their hand was hit with a ruler until it was red. Their reasoning.......the left hand is the hand of the devil!! They were brutal.TRUE STORY!!!

I went to catholic school and non-catholics were not only discouraged from attending, they were shunned! TRUE STORY!! And if they still wanted to attend, they were most definitely required to participate in ALL functions including religious classes and prayer. To their credit.....it wasn't called a CATHOLIC school for nothing!

I went to catholic school, and even though their scholastics were good, I am not a catholic today. Too much man made rhetoric, bureaucracy and ceremonies. IMHO

That must have been a LONG time ago .. that never happened when I was in school.  And I know that there
were some non-Catholic students during my time there.

Besides going to Mass would NOT scar any child psychologically or do any harm to them.   The same
goes for taking a religion class.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

To the moron who is worried that non-Catholic children might attend Catholic schools ..it has NEVER been
a problem.    Non-Catholic students are NEVER forced to take religion classes or to recite Catholic prayers.
And  MANY non-Catholic parents send their children to Catholic schools because of the QUALITY of the
education, the loving and disciplined environment, and the moral values that are taught.
BTW - there are a number of great private schools that are not Catholic.

   Saint Adalbert's was - when it was established in 1903 - a boarding school .. Kindergarten to 12th Grade.   Students from as far away as Texas and Nebraska came to attend.   It was the first school in the city to offer Kindergarten.   The first to offer "modern math" - Geometry, Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus.   The first to offer "modern science" - biology, chemistry and physics.   Its students learned the  Classic languages - Latin and Greek .. and also German, Polish, and English.  The physical education program was ahead of its time .. the school even had a bowling alley on the ground floor .. and its high school basketball teams made it to the national championships for Catholic High Schools.
Students were taught "cutting edge" classes like civics and public speaking ... all of which were NOT normally
taught in the public schools of that era.
That is why my grandparents' generation (my grandmother born here but my grandfather was born in
Poland)  .. but there generation moved up rapidly in America.    The education that my grandfather received
enabled him to become a lab assistant to Charles Steinmetz when he graduated from the 12th grade .. and
later he went into the insurance business.   Many in that generation became business owners and
professionals  ... a few even went to college.

I beg to differ.  My child is not Catholic and was not accepted at a Catholic school in Schenectady because of that.  In order for her to attend, she would have to take the religion classes and all that.  And the tuition was unreal.  I couldnt afford it when they got through with telling me what all the details were.  My child does attend a Schenectady Elementary school.  I personally cant afford a private school for her even WITH a scholarship.  The costs are unbelievable.  Unless you have a lot of money, no other expenses and a city rep in your pocket, the average person CANNOT afford it.  Especially when you are living on thin ice in that city.  And I know for a fact that when the charter school closed, a lot of the kids were sent to the neighborhood schools in Schenectady.  Im not sure how many went or are being bused to Albany but there are A LOT of them that are within the Schenectady schools.  

Quoted from Gemini

Especially when you are living on thin ice in that city.  And I know for a fact that when the charter school closed, a lot of the kids were sent to the neighborhood schools in Schenectady.  I'm not sure how many went or are being bused to Albany but there are A LOT of them that are within the Schenectady schools.  

Everyone's on thin ice-incomes are stagnant while taxes explode. One of the mandatory State reform options is establishment of a Charter School in the City. This has been immediately rejected by the district and Gazetto editors. Too drastic? They refuse to understand that hundreds of kids/parents need an educational option.

     The SCSD is wasting over $2 million busing Schenectady kids to Albany Charter schools. For different reasons they want to keep the failed monopoly in charge. Not everyone wants a Catholic school, not everyone can afford a Catholic school. They continue to pretend that things aren't so horrible and that minor changes will remedy the decline. We need educational competition and that competition will save taxpayers money because charter schools educate at half the cost.

Quoted from Gemini

I beg to differ.  My child is not Catholic and was not accepted at a Catholic school in Schenectady because of that.  In order for her to attend, she would have to take the religion classes and all that.  And the tuition was unreal.  I couldnt afford it when they got through with telling me what all the details were.  My child does attend a Schenectady Elementary school.  I personally cant afford a private school for her even WITH a scholarship.  The costs are unbelievable.  Unless you have a lot of money, no other expenses and a city rep in your pocket, the average person CANNOT afford it.  Especially when you are living on thin ice in that city.  And I know for a fact that when the charter school closed, a lot of the kids were sent to the neighborhood schools in Schenectady.  Im not sure how many went or are being bused to Albany but there are A LOT of them that are within the Schenectady schools.  

All i can say is -- In the past 30 years,  NO Catholic school in the Diocese of Albany has turned away a child
just because they were not Catholic.  
I never said that everyone can afford a Catholic education.  I said that it is a good choice AND that unlike
charter schools .. Catholic schools do NOT drain tax dollars away from our public schools.

The fact that charter schools HARM our public school system is the issue.

Maybe what DV is referring to is that Charter Schools are taking away those monies from the Catholic Schools. Charters are non-profits, have to show academic stability for their students, have uniforms and strict disciplinary codes - very similar to the Catholic Schools. But, Charters are free for the students and even the very poor can attend.

All school districts are required to allot money for Charter Schools. I personally would like to see our tax dollars go to a Charter School in Schenectady rather than one in Albany (where the district pays an additional million for transportation).

Instead of thinking about the welfare of the catholic schools, maybe concerning oneself about the students we pay taxes for every year should be the issue.  

BTW School Districts have to give tax money to homeschool families and catholic schools as well. Talk about taxation without representation!

Quoted from rachel72

Maybe what DV is referring to is that Charter Schools are taking away those monies from the Catholic Schools. Charters are non-profits, have to show academic stability for their students, have uniforms and strict disciplinary codes - very similar to the Catholic Schools. But, Charters are free for the students and even the very poor can attend.

All school districts are required to allot money for Charter Schools. I personally would like to see our tax dollars go to a Charter School in Schenectady rather than one in Albany (where the district pays an additional million for transportation).

Instead of thinking about the welfare of the catholic schools, maybe concerning oneself about the students we pay taxes for every year should be the issue.  

BTW School Districts have to give tax money to homeschool families and catholic schools as well. Talk about taxation without representation!

Charter schools are free only because they drain OUR taxpayer dollars --- public school districts are
REQUIRED to give services and financial resources to the charter schools.
If you are opposed to high taxes --- you are a fool to be opposing Catholic schools which don't take
a dime of taxpayer dollars  and support charter schools that TAKE  your taxpayer dollars.

I will continue to support Catholic schools  AND work to lower public school taxes  .. both are worthy causes.
First item on my agenda --- ONE unified school district for ALL of Schenectady County.

You're wrong DV, Catholic Schools take millions from the taxpayers as well. School Districts are required to give money to the Catholic Schools for their books and lunch programs (as the public schools are required to give money to home schooled families and Charter Schools). You can check with the Albany Diosese, they do receive money from the public school taxpayer.

Your argument against the Charter Schools is also an argument against the Catholic Schools. Catholic Schools absolutely do not contribute to the tax base, yet they are supported in the public school funds.

Both Catholic and charter schools cost less because they don't have the bloated bureaucracy and union issues. Nobody is arguing that Catholic schools aren't better and that giving to the scholarship fund isn't a worthy cause.

     Obama and State Education mandate charter schools as part of reform. Touting Catholic schools is not a solution for every student. It's past time for the Gazetto and SCSD to wake up, drop the anti-Charter rhetoric and admit that many students need another option.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

.  I am glad that
my mother made the sacrifices to provide all of her children with good Catholic educations.  

When tuition was couple hundred dollars a year, it wasn't much of a sacrifice.

Typical family in Schenenectadyt has an income of $30,000 a year.  They are probably paying $5,000 in property and school taxes for their own houses as well as covering the tax bills of the millionaires downtown.

In order to send two children to Catholic school, which would cost more than $12,000 a year, would you care to suggest what the parents sacrifice?   Figure they are paying a mortgage of maybe $800 a month, add to it $400 a month toward escrow for property taxes for themselves and the millioniares.  Then let's figure $250 a month average for utility bill.  If someone is lucky enough to be a state worker, a family health insurance plan would be about $220 per month---but most families are probably not state workers and would be paying much more for health insurance.   Food is probably $400 a month for a family of four.  Get some basic no frills phone service probably $40 a month.  

Using the above example DV, what has you Catholic school education taught you in math.  Add up the above costs and it's just about $2,100 per month.  Since the normal family in Schenectady has an income of $30,000 that works out to a monthly income of $2,500.

Notice, DV, I have not put in any money for clothing, home maintenance and repairs, no money for cable TV, no money for buying a computer and paying for internet (most kids need internet by the time they are in high school---the public library is NOT going to let students hog a computer for the whole evening, and schools are not open til 9 p,m).  I have not factored in cost of gas for a car nor car insurance.  No savings for college, no savings for retirement.  I have not factored in the cost of co-insurances and deductibles for medical expenses over and above the insurance premium.

Now, would you care to explain what this typical Schenectady family should sacrifice in order to pay $12,000 tuition (that is $1,000 per month) for their two children.  Do they not eat?   Do they go without heat?   Do they lose their house and live on the street (because if they lost the house they would still have to pay rent).

YOu keep failing to admit that the people in Schenectady are on the lower income end and you totally refuse to speak about these lower income people paying the property taxes of your millionaire buddies.  THus you refuse to admit that without charter schools, the vast majority of families in Schenectady have no choice at all in education of their children---their children are stuck with going to a failing school where violence is often present.

What do you