Bob Schaffer: “I urge the House to adopt H. Res. 28 commending the contributions of Catholic schools. As a Roman Catholic having…”

“I urge the House to adopt H. Res. 28 commending the contributions of Catholic schools. As a Roman Catholic having attended and graduated from Catholic Schools and a Catholic university, I am proud to be the original sponsor of this resolution. Mr. Speaker, today the House voices its strong support for the goals of Catholic Schools Week and recognizes the vital contributions of America's thousands of Catholic elementary and secondary schools. The House also congratulates Catholic schools, students, parents, and teachers across our great nation for their ongoing contributions to education and for the key role they play in promoting and ensuring a brighter, stronger future for America. As the first clause of the resolution states, 'America's Catholic schools are internationally acclaimed for their academic excellence, but provide students more than a superior scholastic education.' Mr. Speaker, this is the essence of the resolution. Catholic schools ensure a broad values-added education, emphasizing the life-long development of moral, intellectual, fiscal and social values in America's young people. Americans have responded positively to Catholic schools. The total Catholic school student enrollment for 1999 and 2000 was 2,653,038, which is an increase over the 1998 and 1999 school year. The total number of Catholic schools is 8,144. The student/teacher ratio in those institutions is less than 17 to 1.”