The Holy See's Teaching on Catholic Schools

by Archbishop J. Michael Miller

This book clearly explains what our Catholic schools should be -- and offers you practical advice on how to judge whether they are! At a conference at Catholic University in the Fall of 2005, Archbishop J. Michael Miller, the man responsible for Catholic education around the world, distilled for his audience the Church's teachings on Catholic education. So well received were his remarks -- and so important -- that Solidarity Association, which sponsored the conference, asked Archbishop Miller to expand his themes into this small book. Here, after a preliminary statistical look at the state of Catholic education in America, Archbishop Miller explains the Church's position on parental and governmental rights and obligations in education. Then he lists and explains the five marks of all good Catholic schools -- marks which serve as standards by which to judge a school's Catholic identity and as goals for schools that seek to educate their students as the Church wants them to be educated. This book is essential reading for all Catholics concerned about Catholic education.

Genres: Education, Teaching, Theology, Catholic, Religion, Nonfiction

79 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Kade Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent synthesis of most of the Church’s major documents regarding Catholic education. Archbishop Miller took a systematic approach to outlining the necessity of education as a branch of catechesis by diving into the five major tenets of Catholic education in America

[Jodi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Someone put this book in my mailbox during Teacher Appreciation Week and I never found out who gave it to me. The book focuses on what parochial schools need to do to deliver Catholic education as directed by the church. For the church to survive, we need to help raise the next generation in the church in our schools. It also pointed out how important parents are in their children's education and I found this so refreshing. Today, everyone wants to blame the teacher for failing schools and nobody wants to hold the parents or the student accountable. This book states, ".......education is then, 'an extension of parental education; it is extended and cooperative home-schooling.' In a true sense schools are extensions of the home. Parents - and not schools, either of the state or the Church - have the primary moral responsibility of educating children to adulthood." Too many parents are checked out today and want schools to do the work parents should be doing! I disagree with the statement that the book said the government should be providing money to support religious schools though. If private schools start accepting money from the government, they will then have to start doing so many of the crazy thing that public schools have to do today. Separation of church and state!!!

[Kevin Fulton · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short, rich read. The Catholic Church has put thought into education that the Protestant church, as a whole, simply hasn’t. There is a lot in here that Protestants should think about.

[Ben Daghir · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fabulous read and one that has helped me see the framework in which Catholic Schools should be understood. The five pillars help in interpreting any dimension of education and the underlying purpose of every decision.

[Matt Lewis · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little too short, but excellent. What Archbishop Miller says about Catholic education he says well. This would best be read in tandem with more in-depth books on Catholic education.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this at least once a year. A necessary read for a Catholic educator.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this short work meets its goal in offering a basic overview of Catholic Education and a somewhat detailed explanation of the Five Essential Marks of Catholic Schools, it falls short of addressing the major concerns in modern Catholic Education as explained in the beginning of the text, namely the decline in enrollment. While it addresses the idea of shared responsibility between the government and Catholic schools, it seems to suggest a lack of willingness to find other means for creating an affordable education system that meets with the aforementioned Marks. It also does not address the other major issue for Catholic Schools as a result of the low enrollment, our ministry to non-Catholic youths who are now attending Catholic Schools. How, if at all, should our ministry change in order to meet these students where they are? This is certainly an area that the Holy See must explore in order to provide a better evaluation of how to properly form students as a part of the New Evangelization.

[Fr. Jeffrey Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was nothing paradigm-altering in this book and I did not find it to be particularly compelling. However, I am also accustomed to reading dense theological texts, so I understand my own bias here. I think it is an excellent starting place to develop a shared vision amongst parents, staff, and administrators at our Catholic schools.