Sunday, January 25, 2009
By Dr. MICHAEL SKUBE
This year’s National Catholic Schools Week theme, “Celebrate Service,” underscores one of our finest traditions — a commitment to benefit the area in which we live. As part of our effort to educate the whole child, Catholic schools instill in students a lifelong dedication to serving others.
We believe by teaching students about civic engagement and providing them with opportunities to serve, we are equipping our students with the tools they need to fulfill their future roles as good citizens, productive employees and compassionate leaders.
This year, our more than 9,000 students from 35 elementary and six high schools will have the opportunity to demonstrate these traits as they perform service projects throughout the Diocese of Youngstown.
This commitment to service is one of the many characteristics that distinguish our schools.
First and foremost, we are unique. Our schools are not public, nor are they just private – they’re Catholic. Like other educational institutions, our schools prepare students for the future. But, unlike the other institutions, we are committed to shaping the world’s future by helping students understand fully, accept freely, and live faithfully the Gospel message found in the teachings of Jesus and the Catholic Church.
Next, our schools are based on a framework of partnership. Students, parents and teachers form a bond with the Church and become “partners in learning.” Parents find assistance in fulfilling that responsibility in their partnership with a Catholic school. As primary educators of their children, parents are encouraged to be involved in preparing and implementing school direction and activities.
High expectations
Also, to further the development of the whole child, we set high expectations. Our teachers expect their students to learn and to succeed. We establish guidelines because we believe a structured, disciplined environment leads to a self-disciplined individual. Students must see school as an academic center of learning. Yet, our classroom communities are characterized by trust, care, and openness.
We also believe a critical role of the school is the moral education and formation of values of its students. The atmosphere of a school is affected by everything that happens within its four walls. All of it has a powerful impact on the moral compass of a student. That is why our teachers constantly call this into use when students work, play and worship together. Through this a student is helped to develop a sense of their human dignity, freedom, and hopefulness.
Lastly, and maybe most importantly, our principals, teachers and staff look upon their work with students as ministry. They continually strive for improvement of their schools in order to better serve the students of today and tomorrow. Through the lives of students, they touch the future — and eternity.
During Catholic Schools Week, we celebrate Catholic schools and the investment of time, talent and effort by hundreds of teachers and staff with the support of pastors, parents and parishioners.
X Dr. Skube is superintendent of schools, Diocese of Youngstown.