Reclaiming our Schools...Vision of Hope made a reality
A report from the NBCC Commission on Catholic Education
 The NBCC commission on Catholic Education
focuses on insuring opportunities for a Catholic education and
improving the experience of the Black student on the levels of
elementary, secondary and higher education. We are inclusive
of all Catholic Institutions. The question that guides our
research is; what is to become of Catholic Schools in our
Black communities? This is an urgent question that we must
keep before us. Clearly the state of Catholic education in the
Black community has no easy solution; however, it is our responsibility
to make sure these institutions are here for years to come.
The vision that shaped our
organizational structure is Black Education at the heart
of the church evangelizing a socially just Church. By
applying the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) model to our agenda
we identified five ideal states. Ideal state one focus is
on financially stable Catholic schools. It is our hope to
introduce a workable proposal for the establishment of the
Black Catholic United Education fund. Ideal state two is the
implementation of educational models that sustain the future
of Catholic schools and education for the Black Community.
Ideal state three addresses ways in which we can produce
academically competent socially responsive Christ-centered
teachers, administrators and staff that are prepared for a
global and diverse world. Ideal state four centers on the
student being academically competent, socially responsible
Christ centered learner that is prepared for a global and
local diverse world. To complete the inclusiveness of all
involved in education, ideal state five provides support and
direction for parents, the community and Church personnel.
Currently the commission is gathering
data and other resources to be made available through different
channels of communication including presentations at NBCC Congress X.
Models such as the Jubilee Schools in Memphis, Tennessee and the
Nativity Schools are two of the many best practices that we will
introduce in a publication titled, Reclaiming our schools...Vision
of Hope made a reality. The Jubilee Schools project involved the
reopening of many of Memphis' Catholic schools inner city communities
that were closed. The success of this project gives us hope.
Bishop Stieb was successful in making his vision of hope a reality.
Other endeavors of the commission include the development of a document
that will provide resources for insuring that our Catholic educational
institutions are authentically Catholic and academically challenging.
The Appreciative Inquiry process
allowed the members of the commission to focus positive attention
on the subject of Catholic Education. This new learning helps us
to grow in better understanding of how the "baggage" that Blacks
often carry interferes with problem solving skills. By focusing on
the positive we are able to bring forth the best in our vision for
sustaining Catholic Education in Black communities and the larger
society. The question then becomes for educators; how do we teach
Appreciative Inquiry to our youth? This is the next agenda item for
the commission on Catholic Education to develop for introduction at
Congress X in Buffalo, NY.
The members of the Commission represent
various dioceses in the United States. The talents of educators,
psychotherapist and religious men and women provide a great balance
for sharing. We are open to listening to any concerns from the larger
Village and encourage you to send us your models of best practices in
Catholic Education.
Please click to download
FORM for
best practices.
Members of the Catholic Education Commission are:
Ms. Kathleen Merritt,
Dr. Veronica Morgan-Lee, Mrs. Lois Carson, Sr.
Roberta Fulton, SSMN, Dr. Dorothy Gupton, Ms. Frieda McCray,
Dr. Mary McDonald, Dcn. Marvin Threat, Ph.D., Br. Gary Sawyer,
ECSA, Sr. Jamie Phelps, OP, Ph.D.
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