The Difference
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."
Dr. Steve Cheeseman, President of the National Catholic Educators Association (NCEA), visited the Diocese of Cleveland last week as a part of his Bright Lights Tour, starting his day as the keynote speaker at St. Ambrose Catholic School's Community Appreciation Breakfast.
His main point: Catholic schools make THE difference.
He doubled down on acknowledging that Catholic schools don't just make A difference, as if the impact our schools have compares to factors like nutrition, sleep, socio-economic status, or parental education levels.
Instead, Dr. Cheeseman reinforced the claim that Catholic schools make THE difference.
He noted that research validates this argument. Catholic school students scored higher than public and other private school peers on the NAEP, STAR, and iReady assessments, regardless of demographics.
Catholic school students were 27% less likely to report depression while also displaying fewer signs of depression than their peers from other educational institutions. Dr. Cheeseman acknowledged that part of the reason for this stemmed from Catholic school students reporting a higher number of caring adults in their lives than non-Catholic school peer groups.
As one more indicator of THE difference made by Catholic schools, Dr. Cheeseman noted that students who attended a Catholic elementary school were 29% more likely to attend Mass as adults than peers who did not go to a Catholic elementary school. Students who attend Catholic elementary and high school have a 34% higher likelihood of attending Mass regularly as adults than those who did not have the blessing of attending K-12 Catholic schools.
Furthermore, students from Catholic schools demonstrate higher percentages of considering and entering the priesthood or religious life.
In the end, Dr. Cheeseman, in describing the charism of Catholic schools, recognized that Jesus Christ stands as the common Core across all Catholic schools, where we believe - like Jesus does - that every student is made in the image and likeness of God. Using our Catholic faith as the marinade for the Catholic education offered at our schools, Catholic schools make THE difference in our world not replicated by any other group, program, or approach.
The light of our Catholic schools is bright. In the words of Lance Izumi, "While the education landscape in America is darkened with so much bad news, there is a bright spot when it comes to student achievement—the nation’s Catholic schools."
Don't hide this under a bushel basket. Set this truth high upon the hills of our schools so that the bright lights of our Catholic schools will shine before others, giving glory to God.
Catholic schools, let your lights shine.
Let it shine.
Let it shine.
Let it shine!
