Catholic schools: 'the best program out there'

	S p e c i a l   S e c t i o n: Catholic Schools Week Jan. 28 - Feb. 3, 2007
	Only in the Print Edition ... Articles found only in the special section of the Jan. 26, 2007 Compass print edition: • Catholic school educators learn effective leadership • Educator urges schools to add fourth 'R' • Award program honors top teachers • Events planned to celebrate 'Good News     in Education' • 'Whys Guy' empowers students • Students develop valuable skills in fun environment • New Orleans Catholic schools still need help • Subscribe to print edition

By Mark Salisbury

Everyone likes a good celebration. Recently I participated in my baby sister's wedding. Our family, as well as everyone present, had the honor and joy of witnessing and praying for this new couple as they began their married life together. It seems the depth and beauty of any celebration is an outflow of the truth and goodness of the event which is being celebrated. This certainly explains to me why we celebrate Catholic Schools Week each year.

Across the country this week, Catholic schools are celebrating because of their beautiful witness to truth and goodness in our society. We are the best school system in the country and in the 16-county area served by the Diocese of Green Bay. Using comparative statistics such as graduation rates, percentages of graduates who attend college as well as national test scores, the numbers support we are the best program out there.

More important than the statistics however is the personal formation given in our schools. We respect the human dignity of every student and family member we serve by teaching the truth about what is ultimately important on a day-in, day-out basis.

In our Catholic schools, service to our sisters and brothers is a hallmark we are very proud of. Our commitment to service flows out of our Catholic social teachings. Students who have been with us for many years understand that to say you are a Christian in our culture must be backed up by actions which make our world a little more just, peaceful and full of charity.

We educate more than 12,500 students -- early childhood, three-year-olds through 12th grade -- in our Catholic schools in the Diocese of Green Bay. The atmosphere we are successful at creating in our schools is best described as family-like. This family-like climate flows out of our participation in weekly celebrations of the Eucharist in our schools. We believe an active working partnership between our parents, students, teachers, administrators and parish staffs is quite simply the right way to accomplish our common goals.

Let's not forget some other realities we face. There are many pressures on Catholic Schools today involving finances, enrollment, and an increased secularization in society to name a few. I am confident the Church of Green Bay is courageously moving forward to meet these challenges as our forefathers did in the initial foundation of a Catholic school system many years ago.

So, enjoy the celebration. Catholic schools are the "Good News" in education and our culture.

(Salisbury is the superintendent of schools for the Green Bay Diocese.)