Disclaimer

This is the personal blog of Edward Lamb, the writer of the National Aristocrat (NA) novels. The other purpose of this blog is to report on events occurring within Catholic Education in the United States.

However, other material from other websites can be found within some of this blog's posts. These posts are marked by a link to the actual article and website, and the original section of the article will be italicized and in quotation marks.

Of course, any and all materials not written by Edward lamb are fair use, and belong to their original owners.


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

"Why Top Catholic Education Organization Says Common Core Could Threaten Religious Liberty"

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2014/08/21/why-top-catholic-education-organization-says-common-core-could-threaten-religious-liberty/


"A leading Catholic education organization is warning that Common Core could pose a threat to religious freedom for Catholic schools that adopt the controversial education standards.


The Cardinal Newman Society’s summer newsletter named among the 10 things Catholics should know about Common Core is that it “could lead to religious liberty violations.” That’s in part because of the Department of Health and Human Services mandate to cover contraception coverage for employees.


“Catholic schools’ protection from threats like the HHS mandate depends on showing consistent Catholic identity, because First Amendment protections often depend on demonstrating a bona fide religious character,” the newsletter warned. “The Common Core may diminish a school’s Catholic identity by ‘crowding out’ important elements of authentic Catholic formation, emphasizing skills and practicality over vocation, and failing to teach reasoning from a foundation of truth.”


Further, as more Catholic schools adopt Common Core-certified textbooks and have to comply with Common Core exams, that could in turn lead to schools’ accepting more federal and state funding, which often has strings attached, said Denise Donohue, deputy director of the K-12 Catholic Education Program for the Cardinal Newman Society."

"Can Blended Learning Save Catholic Schools?"

https://www.edsurge.com/n/2014-09-09-can-blended-learning-save-catholic-schools


"Catholic schools in the United States are at a crossroads.
The challenges facing many Catholic schools--low enrollment and threats to financial sustainability--put them in a position where they must close their doors unless something dramatic changes. And many have.


There are 500,000 fewer students enrolled in Catholic schools in the U.S. than there were 10 years ago. Over the last fifty years, closures have shrunk the system by more than half, from 5 million to less than 2 million students. Recent research suggests there are dire consequences for entire communities when a Catholic school closes, and there are very few signs that these trends are abating.


Some have suggested that Catholic schools need to reinvent themselves for a new era if they are to survive. This need to adapt may make Catholic schools increasingly open to becoming early adopters of blended learning in an effort to ensure their future vitality. However, Catholic schools will need to overcome significant hurdles if blended learning is to become a key driver of their renewal."

"Allow families to budget shop for Catholic school uniforms"


http://catholicherald.com/stories/Allow-families-to-budget-shop-for-Catholic-school-uniforms,27158


"The children have returned to school with bright smiles, backpacks and uniforms — celebrating God’s love in all that they do. As a grandparent, I’m delighted to have the pleasure in sharing in the everyday life of my grandchildren. They truly are a gift from God. It is wonderful that they have the opportunity to attend an elementary school supported by the Catholic faith. This comes at high financial costs to the parents and the parish."

"Charlotte Catholic School to build parking deck"

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/23/5185585/charlotte-catholic-school-to-build.html#.VCLaUzd0wdU

"Charlotte Catholic High School is preparing to break ground on a new parking garage as early as December, a move some parents say will improve safety at the school."

Read more here: http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/09/23/5185585/charlotte-catholic-school-to-build.html#storylink=cpy"

Monday, September 15, 2014

"Fallout in the neighborhood when a Catholic school closes"

http://www.uscatholic.org/news/201408/fallout-neighborhood-when-catholic-school-closes-29276#sthash.LxlefFlQ.dpuf


"(RNS) What happens to a community when a Roman Catholic school closes its doors?"

"Cathedral Catholic High School mourns loss of student"

http://www.10news.com/news/cathedral-catholic-high-school-mourns-loss-of-student-09132014




"SAN DIEGO - At Cathedral Catholic High School Friday night, the stands were full for football as they took on Torrey Pines. Cathedral would win the game 8-7, but it is what happened before players took the field that students were talking about."

"Catholic school closings mean a big adjustment for hundreds of children"

http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/schools/catholic-school-closings-mean-a-big-adjustment-for-hundreds-of-children-20140914


"Sophia Fuller had a happy outing last week, meeting up at the playground with a couple of friends from her old school. The little girls played, laughed, hugged.


For an hour that evening, things were the way they used to be – almost.


But for 8-year-old Sophia – as for hundreds of other children across the region – life is very different now.


These children are starting over in new classrooms, following the closing of 10 Catholic elementary schools across the diocese in June.


That means this can be a challenging, even difficult, time for many students who loved their former schools."

Monday, September 8, 2014

"Professor lectures on Catholic education"

http://ndsmcobserver.com/2014/09/professor-lectures-on-catholic-education/


"University of Pennsylvania professor of political science John DiIulio gave a lecture Friday afternoon titled “The ‘Silent Epidemic’ Revisited: Can Catholic Educators Reignite the Fight to Improve Urban Schools?” in which he argued Catholic schools can help solve the pressing education issues in the United States, but only if Catholic leaders wholly dedicate themselves to the cause.


The lecture was the first in the Father Tim Scully, CSC Lectures on Education in the Service of Citizenship, named in honor of the founder of the Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE). DiIulio said more people must approach educational shortcomings with the same intensity as Scully.


“If we had more Catholic leaders and educators at all levels like our own [Fr. Tim Scully] … if we had more Catholic leaders who practiced, as Fr. Tim does everyday, what Pope Francis has preached about combatting the sinful inequalities in education and other domains,” DiIulio said. “Then I submit to you we would not still be coping with the species of problems [we have in American education].”"

"Gay teacher says Catholic school fired her for getting pregnant"

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/09/08/gay-teacher-says-catholic-school-fired-her-for-getting-pregnant/


"For nine years, Barbara Webb, 33, taught honors chemistry and coached sports at Marian High School, a private Roman Catholic girls’ school in Bloomfield Hills, a Detroit suburb.


When she told her employer she was pregnant, she says she was given two options: resign or be fired.


Why? Because she got pregnant “outside the Catholic way,” as she put it in a Facebook post in late August announcing her pregnancy with Kristen Lasecki, her partner of more than five years. In same post, she announced the news of her dismissal."

"Local Catholic schools face challenges"

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Local-Catholic-schools-face-challenges-5740160.php


"Hundreds of students at two area Catholic high schools will notice an even greater emphasis on technology and innovation to enhance their education this academic year."