Education choice is topic of annual Bishop’s Luncheon

The diocesan Office of Catholic Education hosted its annual Bishop’s Luncheon Nov. 3 at St. Albert the Great Parish in North Royalton for pastors, principals, business managers and communications directors.

School choice was this year’s topic. More specifically, the conversation explored how educational choice serves as an essential means to uphold the inherent dignity of each child, while also affirming the longstanding Catholic belief that parents are the primary educators of their children.

“Educational choice is fundamentally about supporting families and respecting the responsibility that God has entrusted to parents to choose the best for their children,” said Bishop Edward Malesic during his opening keynote presentation. “Some children thrive in their local public school. Others flourish in a Catholic school. Still others succeeded in different educational settings. Recognizing those differences does not diminish any school or any educator. Rather, it recognizes the reality that parents know their children best and should be able to seek the environment in which their children can flourish,” he added.

The bishop further clarified that educational advocacy isn’t a zero-sum proposition, noting one can “… support strong public schools, while also ensuring that families have meaningful educational options. They're not enemies, these two goals. Both seek the good of our children. But the heart of the discussion is a child sitting in a classroom. It's a parent looking for a better future. It's a family searching for the educational environment where their child can grow, academically, morally, spiritually, and personally.”

Also presenting at the program were Frank O'Linn, diocesan superintendent of schools, Brian Hickey, executive director, and Tom Rhatican, associate director, of the Catholic Conference of Ohio, and Rabbi Eric “Yitz” Frank, president of School Choice Ohio. O'Linn, Hickey, Rhatican and Rabbi Frank discussed positive, proactive advocacy strategies that reinforced the need for timely and factual communication with parents, members of the community, and statewide educational stakeholders.

“When we talk about education, we're talking about children,” said Bishop Malesic in closing. “When we talk about budgets, we're talking about families. When we talk about policy, we're talking about real parents trying to do what they believe is best for their sons and daughters. And that perspective changes everything.”

Click here to learn more about school choice.