Op-ed: A Novel Solution To An Old Problem

By Tom Birmingham  | The Boston Pilot  |  December 15, 2017

We are all shaped by our own experiences. When it comes to education, I spent nine years in Chelsea public schools, followed by high school at Austin Prep, an Augustinian Catholic school north of Boston. St. Augustine’s dictum from his Confessions, “Tolle, lege,” “Take up and read,” became Austin’s school motto.

I believe that I benefitted from Catholic education and wish more young people could do the same, but economic trends and constitutional amendments in 38 states that prohibit public money from going to religious schools are among the factors that have staggered many Catholic schools.

Cristo Rey high schools are returning Catholic education to urban areas. Under the network’s unique model, students receive a college-preparatory education and participate in a work-study program that allows them to learn employable skills and earn money to help pay for tuition. Read more in The Pilot…

Related Posts

State-Based Education Reform Needs Tough Common Standards: View

0 Comments

/

February 20, 2012

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-02-21/state-based-education-reform-needs-tough-common-progress-standards-view.html The…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Editorial Staff https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Editorial Staff2012-02-20 15:44:202013-03-15 15:46:29State-Based Education Reform Needs Tough Common Standards: View

MCAS history exam in need of funding, fine-tuning

0 Comments

/

February 11, 2012

http://www.lowellsun.com/editorials/ci_19943615 Although I…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Editorial Staff https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Editorial Staff2012-02-11 13:09:302013-03-20 13:13:16MCAS history exam in need of funding, fine-tuning

Boston Superintendent: Parents shouldn’t worry

0 Comments

/

February 9, 2012

http://www.necn.com/02/09/12/Boston-Superintendent-Parents-shouldnt-w/landing_health.html?blockID=648384&feedID=8368 (NECN:…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Editorial Staff https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Editorial Staff2012-02-09 16:07:282013-03-18 16:11:11Boston Superintendent: Parents shouldn’t worry

Chipping away at charters

1 Comment

/

January 24, 2012

Charter school approvals are granted in February. They shouldn't…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2012-01-24 17:06:262013-04-24 13:27:40Chipping away at charters

Chipping away at charter schools

0 Comments

/

January 24, 2012

http://boston.com/community/blogs/rock_the_schoolhouse/2012/01/chipping_away_at_charter_schoo.html Charter…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Editorial Staff https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Editorial Staff2012-01-24 09:45:562013-03-22 09:52:04Chipping away at charter schools

The wrong strategy to fix Lawrence public schools

0 Comments

/

December 18, 2011

With a wondrous display of British understatement, the state’s…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-12-18 16:30:042013-04-24 13:27:41The wrong strategy to fix Lawrence public schools

Parent Power

0 Comments

/

August 30, 2011

(image from DropOutNation.net) Used to be that Massachusetts…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-08-30 12:00:122013-04-24 13:27:47Parent Power

Do exam schools add value?

0 Comments

/

August 7, 2011

Historically, many of Massachusetts’ political and economic…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-08-07 10:49:062013-04-24 13:27:50Do exam schools add value?

Facilities Guide for New and Expanding Charter Schools

June 28, 2011

New report offers best practices from successful Massachusetts charter schools to help other charter leaders navigate the facilities development process

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Editorial Staff https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Editorial Staff2011-06-28 16:23:332019-07-17 15:57:08Facilities Guide for New and Expanding Charter Schools

Expanding School Choice through METCO

June 16, 2011

Non-partisan Research Groups Urge Lawmakers to Expand Minority Students’ Access to METCO Program

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/schoolgirl-writing1.jpg 1545 1944 Editorial Staff https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Editorial Staff2011-06-16 16:51:272020-06-26 14:24:23Expanding School Choice through METCO

Uncommon and common goals

0 Comments

/

June 10, 2011

The dual mission of Phoenix Charter Academy—giving second…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-06-10 17:23:072013-04-24 13:27:51Uncommon and common goals

Passion and Fellowship

0 Comments

/

June 5, 2011

Massachusetts charter schools have a strong record in serving…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-06-05 17:00:352013-04-24 13:27:51Passion and Fellowship

Mother Courage

0 Comments

/

June 3, 2011

Earlier this week, I shared a couple of videos introducing…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-06-03 12:25:352013-04-24 13:27:52Mother Courage

If walls could speak

0 Comments

/

June 2, 2011

Walk into a building and you can already tell a lot about an…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-06-02 08:30:332013-04-24 13:27:52If walls could speak

Phoenix Charter Academy’s Mission Impossible?

0 Comments

/

May 30, 2011

The month of May opened with the official granting of 16 charters.…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-05-30 18:00:462013-04-24 13:27:53Phoenix Charter Academy’s Mission Impossible?

4 lessons from vocational-technical schools

0 Comments

/

May 17, 2011

Over the past couple of weeks, I've shared a number of videos…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-05-17 09:17:192013-04-24 13:27:534 lessons from vocational-technical schools

Voc-tech schools lowering the dropout rate

0 Comments

/

May 12, 2011

This is the fifth and final leg of my series on the tremendous…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-05-12 07:00:382013-04-24 13:27:53Voc-tech schools lowering the dropout rate

Vocational-technical schools working with business

0 Comments

/

May 7, 2011

The local business community has always been heavily involved…

https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png 0 0 Jim Stergios https://pioneerinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/logo_440x96.png Jim Stergios2011-05-07 10:40:062013-04-24 13:27:54Vocational-technical schools working with business