(Nicole Stelle) Garnett on the importance of Catholic schools

Prof. Nicole Stelle Garnett, co-author of "Lost Schools, Lost Community,"  gives an excellent interview here ("Why We Need to Save the Catholic Schools") about, well, the title of the interview.  Here's a bit:

To our elected officials and the education-policy establishment, we offer the following challenge: Our education policy has, at least until quite recently, come to settle on the assumption that “charters are enough choice.” It is time to reconsider that assumption, to embrace true educational pluralism, and to support policies focused on increasing high-quality educational options across all educational sectors — public, private, and charter.

To our fellow Catholics (especially bishops and school superintendents) and all those who wish to ensure a vibrant future for Catholic schools, we offer three challenges: First, focus on leadership. Our research suggests that the support of school pastors is a major factor predicting whether a school will close, and we believe that strong principals are just as critical. We must find and form the next generation of Catholic-school leaders. Second, recruit Latinos. In the United States, nearly 70 percent of practicing Catholics under the age of 35 are Latino, but only 3 percent of Latino families send their kids to Catholic schools. Third, to echo Saint John Paul II: “Be not afraid.” The game is not up. The future of Catholic schools won’t look like the past, but it can be a hopeful future. Our kids, our communities, and our Church need Catholic schools. So let’s steel our resolve, roll up our sleeves, and get to work.