Dan Lipinski Leads Congress Insult To Public Schools
Everything you need to know about H.Res. 39 is in its first line: “Whereas America’s Catholic schools are internationally acclaimed for their academic excellence, but provide students more than a superior scholastic education”.
H.Res 39 is a resolution passed by the House of Representatives this week giving special honors to Catholic schools. There was no resolution giving any recognition to public schools, and all the good work they do. Nor was there any congressional resolution giving any recognition to any other private schools, other than Catholic schools.
Why?
On what grounds did the members of the House of Representatives conclude that Catholic schools are “superior” – or even more than superior? How on earth can something be more than superior? Are Catholic schools supersuperior? Whoever put that phrase in the legislation certainly didn’t get a superior education.
Besides, what exactly is Congress declaring Catholic schools to be superior to? Public schools? Protestant private schools? Non-religious private schools? Why is Congress calling these other schools inferior?
This resolution is a slap in the face to public schools and non-Catholic private schools. It’s divisive, and parochial, in the worst sense of the word.
The fact is that Catholic schools don’t have a superior record to that of public schools. There’s some research that indicates that they actually do a worse job at educating their students.
I can’t tell you who in the House of Representatives actually voted for this rotten resolution, as it was approved on a voice vote. I can tell you who introduced the legislation, though – Illinois Democrat Dan Lipinski.
For goodness sakes, in these difficult times, doesn’t Congressman Lipinski have more important work to do than to pass pandering resolutions like this? He ought to be ashamed of himself.
I for one applaud Dan Lipinski. For years the catholic school system has been educating students at a fraction of the cost per student that the public schools spend. Parents who send their children to catholic schools receive no tax breaks, no assistance, and very little recognition for their efforts. The teachers who CHOOSE to work in the catholic school system make far less money than their colleagues in the public school system even though they receive the same training and have the same credentials.
I for one do not feel like I have received an inadequate education. On the contrary, I feel like I was challenged throughout my school years, and given a strong work ethic. My teachers never gave up on me along the way. Least you think that I lived some sort of elite lifestyle, I would like to assure you of otherwise. I grew up in a low income neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, and my mother worked two jobs to give her children a Catholic education.
In the Chicago Archdiocese alone, half of the children served come form low income neighborhoods, have title one services, and qualify for free or reduced lunch. The schools are not elitist in any way shape or form, and 9 out of 10 children are accepted and given an opportunity to succeed weather they are Catholic or not.
Right now our Catholic schools are in a serious crisis, and we need support. Lipinski is not showing hatred toward public schools, he is not bashing other institutes of learning, and he is not asking for any money. He is simply extending his gratitude toward an institution that obviously did its job well. He is acknowledging the sacrifice and sense of stewardship that Catholic schools instill in the students who attend. He is making a public proclamation that catholic schools are fine places of learning. He is giving catholic schools their dues. It is about time somebody in congress did recognize them. Thank you Dan Lipinski and you have made catholic schools everywhere quite proud.