By: Tyler Yip

CCO BY 1.0 Universal <https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/> via The Lasso

Catholic schools provide their students with more than just academic help, they provide a value based education that helps students learn key life skills and experiences that can shape their future. While the subject of religion may seem boring to most students, it teaches them about their life and moral beliefs. While public schools may touch on the subject matter of religion in general, catholic schools go in depth and teach students what it means to be a child of God. Catholic schools emphasize the use of compassion, courage, and other key virtues that can help students grow in their academics and wellbeing. The moral foundation and other teachings aid and guide students in order to develop their thinking process in and out of school. 

Catholic schools foster a sense of community and belonging for students. The shared beliefs and values amongst students, teachers and staff create a more cohesive and supportive school environment throughout these schools. Religious services and events such as monthly masses provide students with the opportunity to connect with each other at school. This sense of belonging can help students grow life long friendships with other students that they meet. 

Moreover, the teaching methods in catholic schools are more developed compared to public schools. According to the National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) students that attend public schools tend to have a lower standardized test mark compared to catholic schools. This significant gap can be shown through percentile levels where in public schools 31 people are below the EQAO Grade 8 standardized government marking levels being 50%. This is not the same case for catholic schools where only 16 students are below the standardized government marking levels. This shows that catholic schools do not only foster a sense of belonging and aiding in developing moral foundations but they are much more advanced in terms of education as well. 

In conclusion, there are significant benefits for students that attend catholic or religious schools. Students not only grow through academic success but also through learning key moral values and learning how to develop important virtues in order to live as a child of God. Through the development of these key skills and values, students are able to grow as teenagers and adults in the later years. The strong sense of community and belonging in these schools due to common beliefs help students fit in more oftenly and not feel excluded. These catholic schools may seem boring due to the constant learning and reminders of religion however the teaching methods help students prepare for life in high school and after.