I am extremely grateful to Catholic education not only for providing me with a wonderful education, but then employing me to teach in its schools. However, it has been a source of internal struggle, because private schools tend to be a service accessible only to the wealthy. My parents weren’t wealth, but at the time Catholic schools were somewhat affordable. At my current school the annual tuition is $12, 387, which is an increase of 217% over a ten year period. This is huge.
The school does provide generous financial support. There is almost 3 million dollars annually that goes to tuition assistance. The most in the area. And several students attend the school tuition free due to academic promise and economic hardship. If I were send my children to the school, their tuition would be nearly paid for.
Concerning this assignment, it was fascinating to start looking at the school from the lens of an administrator. The costs and logistics of implementing a high level technology program are great. Yet, as it states in the text, institutions are driven by competition. In order to succeed one must compete. Education technology is driving force in the cost education at the school and it creates many ethical dilemmas in terms of access. Yet, the strength of enrollment is due to the high quality of 21st Century learning that is occurring on the campus. I think that as long as the school continues to provide assistance to families in need they can say they are living up to their call to ethical standards.
Julian A. Elorduy, MET, MA 