From the NY Times:Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio of the Diocese of Brooklyn unveiled a proposal on Saturday to convert four Roman Catholic schools singled out for closing into public charter schools, an 11th-hour lifeline meant to preserve the education provided in the buildings and stave off potential overcrowding in city schools.
It would be the first time such a plan was undertaken in New York and could serve as a model for converting other Catholic and private schools. Mr. Bloomberg framed the plan as an unlikely alliance, the product of creative thinking in a time of economic distress. He said it would “bring stability and much-needed predictability back” to families with children at some of the 14 schools in Brooklyn and Queens that the diocese has marked for closing at the end of the academic year because of declining enrollment and rising operating costs.
At the same time, it would ameliorate what could be an overwhelming influx of students from closed Catholic schools into crowded neighborhood public schools. The four new schools would have room for 1,000 students; students currently enrolled in the parochial schools would be guaranteed seats.
The city would lease the buildings from the diocese, but religious instruction would be banned and religious symbols in the buildings would be covered.
13 comments:
Symbols banned unless its bloomberg's religion of course then he would scream and kick having Marty Markowitz come talk about tolerance.
This plan stinks of closed door deals.
Dear Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio,
You have raised the white flag and surrended. This is and was the goal of those who wanted to see the closing of all schools that teach the Gospels of Christ. They have now won we have lost. In just a few more years, the justification to turn all the Catholic schools over to the city to "Charter" will be verified by the "success" of these schools. For hundreds of years through much worse times than these our Catholic schools stood strong and prevailed. History will remember you as the Bishop whom succumbed to the temptation of the easy way out and lost the Gospel to those who want to see it abandoned. This is a battle between those who know the answers are in the proclamation of the Gospels and those who know they should be silenced. You are aiding the silencing of the Gospels. You are failing the whole reason for our existence. I am sorry for you and for us.
They have the cash to save these schools, but the bishop is cheap. No pay for teachers and no cash for retired nuns.
Maspeth Moms says...
Sarah you are a typical Catholic, seeing every thing as a battle (your words "white flag-surreneded-won-lost") and resisting change. Your are a prime example of why people start and are killed in religious wars.
Do you really think the Bishop cares about your school? Eye opener for you... HE DOESNT.. he cares about sending money to Rome. That is his job, not educating children. Dont be such a fool.
Dear Maspeth Mom,
You may call me a fool,this is your proagative, but I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and Catholic schools are needed to proclaim his word through the Gospels. If you believe this is foolish I will also include you in my prayers.
Dear Maspeth Mom,
You may call me a fool, this is your prerogative, but I believe that Jesus Christ is the son of God and Catholic schools are needed to proclaim his word through the Gospels. If you believe this is foolish I will also include you in my prayers.
"Anonymous Sarah said...
Dear Bishop Nicholas A. DiMarzio,
You have raised the white flag and surrended. This is and was the goal of those who wanted to see the closing of all schools that teach the Gospels of Christ. They have now won we have lost."
The Catholic church has deemed these schools nonviable -not anyone else. There is no "cabal" here, unless you feel that laws preventing the state from giving these schools my tax dollars are somehow a conspiracy to destroy your church etc.
Maybe if the church hadn't had to pay so much hush money to squelch lawsuits over pederast Priests.....
It comes down to this: They become -public- schools minus the superstition.
Or...here come the condos.
Take it or leave it.
sarah save your prayers for the catholic schools.
Lino, you may wish to call my beliefs in Christ a superstition, that is your prerogative. I believe the "cabal" to prevent the message of the Gospel has been an active one for two thousand years. I am sorry that some Catholic priest have done wrong to innocent people but far many more have done right. My choice is not "take it or leave it" my choice is to express my view and work hard to prevent the closing of any future school that teaches the Gospels. I will also pray for you.
maybe catholic schools are just not worth saving. if they were so great they wouldnt be in so much trouble. they cared more about covering up for their pedophile priests than protecting their students. very nice.
Priests generally don't teach in grammar school and rarely in high school. It's mostly altar boys who are molested.
Maspeth moms says.
The crapper is correct - priests done ususally teach in school. Alta boys were usually the victims of the pedophile priests, But sometimes priests come into the classroom to teach a religion class or discuss one of the sacraments the kids are going to make. It is then that they peruse, select and pursue,
their young victim.
Catholic schools dont receive money form the church. The church receives mney from the school. In order to attend Catholic School you must either be in-parish and donate, this years "donation" was $600.00 to the church, or be out- of-parish, and then your tuition is that much higher.
Either way its a win-win situation for the church.
As is said before - Catholic schools is a way of raising mroe money for ROME, they dont really care about teaching children. If they did Rome would be sending money to the schools, not the other way around.
Not understanding the anti-Catholic vibe here.
While I think it's odd (and pretty hubristic) when someone makes a big show of praying for you only if you viscerally disagree with them, 'Maspeth Moms' doesn't sound like someone polite people would want to talk to for very long. Most of the implied things she thinks she knows about Catholics sounds...misdirected.
Public schools more uniformly succeeded when they were subsidized by the talent of women who had fewer career opportunities then than now. The loss of both the nuns and an inexpensive pool of talented, secular teachers were a double-whammy for the catholic schools.
You can blame the pederast priests or the cabal or the fluoride, but that doesn't get us anywhere.
Given the facts on the ground, it seems that leasing (not selling) the buildings to the city is the least-worst thing to do.
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