Changes

Since the 1960s the number of Catholic schools in the [[United States]] and students attending them has been declining rapidly; many have closed as a result.

Since the 1960s the number of Catholic schools in the [[United States]] and students attending them has been declining rapidly; many have closed as a result.

According to the National Catholic Education Association, in the 1960's there were 12,893 Catholic schools with 5.25 million students attending.  But at last official count there were only 7,378 Catholic schools with 2.27 million students attending.  Since 2000 about 1,267 Catholic schools have closed and enrollment nationwide has dropped by 382,125 students, or 14 percent.<ref>http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CATHOLIC_SCHOOL_CLOSURES?SITE=NCAGW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT</ref>

According to the National Catholic Education Association, in the 1960s there were 12,893 Catholic schools with 5.25 million students attending.  But at last official count there were only 7,378 Catholic schools with 2.27 million students attending.  Since 2000 about 1,267 Catholic schools have closed and enrollment nationwide has dropped by 382,125 students, or 14 percent.<ref>http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CATHOLIC_SCHOOL_CLOSURES?SITE=NCAGW&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT</ref>

Catholic nuns ("sisters") traditionally filled many of teaching positions at parochial schools, which typically were controlled by the parish and supervised by the diocese.  In 1965, 104,000 teaching sisters educated students in parochial schools in the United States.  By 2007, that number had declined by 94%, such that there are only 8,200 teaching sisters.<ref>Hilary White, "Vatican Cardinal Criticizes U.S. for not Funding Catholic Schools," The Wanderer, pp. 1 and 7, Vol. 140, No. 49 (Dec. 6, 2007).</ref>  With the exception of religious studies, often classes are taught by persons with secular teaching degrees or private sector experience.<ref>It is generally a requirement that the person must agree to teach in accordance with the viewpoints of the school administration.  In some Christian schools agreement to the viewpoints themselves is usually required, even to the point that the teacher must be a member of the school's sponsoring church.</ref>

Catholic nuns ("sisters") traditionally filled many of teaching positions at parochial schools, which typically were controlled by the parish and supervised by the diocese.  In 1965, 104,000 teaching sisters educated students in parochial schools in the United States.  By 2007, that number had declined by 94%, such that there are only 8,200 teaching sisters.<ref>Hilary White, "Vatican Cardinal Criticizes U.S. for not Funding Catholic Schools," The Wanderer, pp. 1 and 7, Vol. 140, No. 49 (Dec. 6, 2007).</ref>  With the exception of religious studies, often classes are taught by persons with secular teaching degrees or private sector experience.<ref>It is generally a requirement that the person must agree to teach in accordance with the viewpoints of the school administration.  In some Christian schools agreement to the viewpoints themselves is usually required, even to the point that the teacher must be a member of the school's sponsoring church.</ref>