Traditionally, the end of August is marked by getting ready to go back to school. Parents who have school-age children know exactly what it means. The end of the summer is a time of intensive shopping and school preparation, which result in expenses that notably burden the home budget.
For Poles, as an ethnic group, children's education is a priority. We keep hearing about young Poles' outstanding achievements in American schools. Organizations such as the East Coast Polish Supplementary School Council and the Polish Students Organization serve well Polonia's younger generation. To ensure a higher education for our kids – and we do make sure our children receive advanced degrees – we get support from the Polish-Slavic Federal Credit Union, which sponsors scholarships for the best students from our community. In Greenpoint there is a Polish Consular School where, for years now, children from Polish families have been taught the curriculum devised for schools in Poland and where teenagers can take the Matura exam (the comprehensive test taken at the end of high school).
The choice of a good school has its consequences, often placing a financial a strain on the home budgets of immigrant families. When searching for a new house, Polish immigrants in America do a survey of local schools so that they make sure they move to good school districts. It often results in them getting a house at a higher price.
When finding a good public school is not possible, parents often decide to send their children to private institutions, especially to Catholic ones. They offer good and relatively inexpensive education not only in academic matters but also in values that are important for the Polish community. A good education level, smaller classes, teaching kids responsibility for others – these are the common advantages and values inspiring parents to send their children to Catholic schools.
Unfortunately, many parochial institutions currently face being closed down. The crisis touches Catholic schools across the country, but is especially visible in the New York metro area. Both in the city, its suburbs and in New Jersey, dozens of schools have been eliminated in recent years, including institutions that operated at Polish parishes. Catholic schools cannot count on subsidies from the federal government – it would put in jeopardy the rule of separation of Church and state – thus, tuition payments usually come out of the parents' pockets.
Without parochial schools – the only serious alternative to public schools – it would be hard to imagine a full education system in the United States. Poles in America should also fight for Catholic schools because the Saturday Polish Supplementary Language Schools are often affiliated with them. Closing down Catholic schools and renting out the buildings – a popular practice – poses serious problems for these language schools, which have strong support from the parents, and which allow the kids to stay connected to the language and culture of their ancestors' mother land.
