Values for a Lifetime

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit two Catholic high schools in the Dayton area. Both were great visits; as with most of my visits to Catholic schools this year, I was impressed by the overall quality of education and the commitment of the teachers, administrators, and stakeholders. However, I was particularly struck by the excellence of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) in the schools. These programs truly seem to be priorities; from robotics and engineering courses to microbiology and organic chemistry, the depth and content of STEM courses were staggering. In one class, students learned the fundamentals of anatomy from a medical doctor-turned teacher. In another class, the students were engaged in building models of energy efficient homes.

In an era when American schools are lagging in the STEM subjects, it is relieving to see these schools possess such strengths in these areas. It is no wonder that, on standardized tests, our schools consistently score among the highest in the country. I continue to be amazed by the quality of our Catholic schools!