(Tom Jirik wrote columns in several newspapers in Iowa from the late 1980’s to the mid 1990’s.  This column originally appeared in the The Boone Today)

We’ve all heard those stories about Catholic Schools.  From the way some folks talk, you’d think Catholic schools were a scourge to the community.

“Nuns really don’t have hair under those things.”

“You don’t get recesses, you have to pray.”

“You can always tell a Catholic kid by his uniform.”

“All the nuns are Sister Mary Somebody.”

It’s Catholic Schools and I’m here to say it ain’t so.  I spent grades one through six in St. Michael’s Catholic School in Mahnomen.  I knew Sister Sheila, Sister Ricada, Sister Ruth, Sister Mary Charlotte, Sister Eleanor, Sister Baptist, Sister Lucille, Sister Regina and a couple of other nuns along the way.

All of them were thoughtful, religious, devoted teachers.  I was the first of five children in my family to go through St. Michael’s.  If there were five more, I’m sure those five would be going through the school too.  Both of my parents served maximum terms on the School Board at St. Michael’s.

Catholic schools are disappearing across the country.  St. Michael’s is one of the only Catholic grade schools left in Minnesota’s Crookston Diocese.  Sacred Heart in Boone is a survivor as the number of Catholic schools in Iowa dwindles.

Catholic Schools often provided the first form of education in America’s pioneer times.  Catholic immigrants brought their traditions, their religion and their devotion to Catholic education with them to new communities in America.  It was all a part of the Church’s missionary function.

As new, bigger tax supported schools were established by local governments.  Swindling rural populations have taken their toll.   Since Vatican II, changes have swept the church.  More emphasis has been placed on outreach to all of the Church’s people, not just children.  Today, as Catholic schools lock their doors in America, Catholic schools in developing nations are filled to capacity.

But there’s still a place for religious education in communities like Boone.  Sacred Heart School and Trinity Lutheran School give parents a choice.  In many places, if a parent wants his child to have a religious education, that education is confined to home, release-time classes or Sunday School.  For some parents and children, that may be enough.  Others prefer the religious emphasis given during day-by-day instruction by schools like Trinity and Sacred heart.

It’s a worthy goal.  I’ve seen how the public and private school systems here work together to provide the best care and education for children.  Facilities, time and talent are shared among the schools.  The three schools foster an ecumenical spirit of cooperation that is evident beyond the school walls.  It’s a spirit that might not exist without the three separate schools.  Many people are like my parents, giving unselfishly of their time, talent and money to support an ideal they hold dear-religious education.  That kind of devotion and commitment is bound to carry over into the community beyond.

We are lucky to have religious education available in Boone.  It’s something that makes Boone the closely-knit, vibrant community that it is.

Catholic students do get recesses.

Not all schools require uniforms and more often than not, the teacher is not a sister, brother or priest at all, but a dedicated lay teacher.

And yes, nuns have hair under those things.  In fact, those things are called habits and most nuns don’t even have to wear them anymore.