Catholic charters a good idea

The holidays are here just in time, because seven of the District's inner-city Catholic schools are in need of a Christmas miracle. Like their peers nationwide, they face a crippling financial crisis that threatens to bring their heralded work to an end.

To its credit, the Catholic schools continued to serve students in the community, even though, by and large, their parents couldn't afford the modest tuition, nor did they share the faith. But as Washington's legendary Archbishop (and Cardinal) James Hickey once said, "We don't educate these children because they are Catholic, but because weare Catholic." And not only did the church open its door to poor children from all walks of life, it succeeded in providing many of them with a top-rate education. Studies consistently show urban Catholic schools outperforming similar public schools — and even other types of private schools — because of their no-nonsense approach to curriculum, firm but loving discipline, dedicated teachers and high expectations for all. The Washington Times