Catholic school teachers model love of Christ

The National Catholic Educational Association, which represents Catholic schools across the country, came to New Orleans during Easter week to hold its first in-person convention in the last two years because of the pandemic. How happy were you to see the NCEA return?

We were very excited to serve as hosts. The NCEA convention used to be one of the most-attended Catholic events every year. I can remember when it drew upwards of 10,000 people. This year, 2,000 teachers and administrators from across the country attended, but that’s a step in the right direction. We’re very grateful that we could provide the planning and the hospitality on the local level to make it happen. In particular, we had wonderful leadership from Dr. RaeNell Houston, Martha Mundine and Deacon Michael Whitehouse and the staff of the Department of Catholic Education and Faith Formation, as well as Father Nile Gross and Betty-Ann Hickey of the Office of Worship. There were also many volunteers from the Council of Catholic School Cooperative Clubs who helped with registration and other logistics. It was a team effort.

You’ve spoken often about the value and importance of Catholic schools, and one of the common challenges across the country is affordability and making Catholic education available to anyone who wants it.

We say in theory that every child should have a right to Catholic education, but there are obvious financial challenges in making that happen. Unfortunately, we know that there are some who cannot afford Catholic education. At the diocesan level, we provide  as much scholarship help as we can to families, and our individual schools provide a lot of scholarship funding as well. But we also know that there are people who cannot afford Catholic education, and I personally regret that. The reality is we have to pay for salaries for those who are involved in the ministry of Catholic education as well as maintain our buildings. We are not immune from having to pay our bills.

You used your homily at the opening Mass to reflect on the theme of “teaching as Jesus did.” What does that actually mean?

In his own time, Jesus was an extraordinary teacher by what he said, by what he did and by his attitude. We are to be teachers like him, reflecting what he said. We try to live out that teaching example ourselves and have an attitude of loving concern for others. Teachers have always been vital in Catholic education. More and more, they are seen not only as teachers but also as mentors who assist parents in forming their children in faith. It’s very important that we appreciate them and their vocation. One of the things that I’m very proud of in the Archdiocese of New Orleans is that our teachers see their work not as a job, but as a vocation, a call from God. We’re also very proud of the spirit that we have in the family of schools throughout the archdiocese. We don’t have 70-something individual schools; we have a family of schools, a community.
 

With all the dangers and challenges that kids face growing up today – the internet and the violence in the world – are Catholic school values more important than ever?

Yes, they are. The number of moral decisions that kids make today has increased, and children have to make these decisions even before they have enough knowledge or experience to do so. It is up to our Catholic teachers to prepare them, not only by giving them the knowledge they need but also by helping them form their moral conscience in order to know right from wrong. Very often, I hear kids saying there are times when they really don't know what's right and wrong because they are bombarded with so many decisions. That's where we in Catholic education can help them live a quality of life. I remember listening to a principal who was opening up a new school and was answering questions from prospective parents about whether or not the school was going to offer this or that co-curricular program. And the principal told the parent, “We will have all those things eventually, but our goal is to help you, as parents, get your child to heaven.” We can't lose focus on that.

Questions for Archbishop Aymond may be sent to clarionherald@clarionherald.org.