Opinion

Catholic schools’ plight: Successful and endangered

The Issue: Assemblyman Karim Camara’s opposition to shutting down successful Catholic schools.

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Thank you, Assemblyman Karim Camara (“Closing Good Schools,” PostOpinion, Dec. 4).

Finally, someone in government has recognized the insanity of complaining about the shortcomings of many city schools and yet condoning, by total silence, the closure of some of the best-performing schools for the lack of a little help.

With regard to Catholic schools, the old bugaboos of “elitism” and “separation of Church and State” do not apply, as Camara so clearly documents.

Those still influenced by those fantasies need only read the article to face the facts.

Don’t say vouchers are unconstitutional. They have been implemented elsewhere in the country despite the opposition of secularists.

William Fisher

Suffern

As a product of Roman Catholic schools in Queens and Manhattan for my whole education, I agree with everything that Camara said about the quality of these schools.

I read his whole column waiting to see what concrete proposals he was going to introduce in the state Assembly to help keep these schools open.

Sadly, he never said anything that even resembles a solution to this issue.Bernard Kilkelly

Lynbrook

Camara correctly points out that Catholic schools are dying out due to a lack of funding but only nebulously suggests that we “act holistically” to find a way to save these schools.

A more important question would be: Why are good schools closing but bad and mediocre schools getting more funding?

Camara must know that the bloated teachers unions and their Democratic political toadies are to blame.

The answer isn’t more involvement from the people who wrecked education; it’s less intervention.

If he is serious about saving good schools, the answer is staring him in the face: education vouchers. They would put parents in control of how public funding is spent and would allow any good school to secure more funding.

But because this would take power away from public-sector unions, most Democrats treat vouchers as a political third rail. C.J. Calo

Eastchester