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Students rally for continued support of Catholic education
By Ambria Hammel, The Catholic Sun
February 7, 2008
Politicians mill about government offices, but hundreds of much younger faces filled the state Capitol lawn for a couple of hours Jan. 30.
More than 900 students from 45 Catholic elementary and high schools throughout the state gathered for the Wednesday afternoon rally at the Capitol to mark National Appreciation Day for Catholic Schools. They celebrated the 10th anniversary of the tuition tax credit by delivering thank you posters to the legislators.
Students thanked them for making Catholic schools affordable through the Tuition Tax Credit Act. It offers a tax credit on state income tax for donating to a group — such as the Catholic Tuition Organization of the Diocese of Phoenix — that provides scholarships to private schools.
A couple of legislators briefly addressed the students, complimenting them on their quality education. The students represented their 25,000 peers who attend Catholic schools in Arizona.
Rep. Jim Weiers, Speaker of the House, said that the end result is always better when people are given choices.
In his address to the students, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted said the tax credit resulted in making school choice an affordable decision for poorer families seeking a quality education.
“This means that our parents — who are our first teachers of our children and the first ones to make a choice about what’s best for their children — can make a choice for Catholic education,” the bishop said.
He noted that Catholic education “helps the whole person to develop to full maturity.”
Harry Miller, executive director of the Tuition Organization for Private Schools, agreed that students receiving a Catholic education have great potential.
“All of you are potential energy in a sense that you are going to be our future teachers, lawyers, politicians, priests,” Miller said.
Students from the dioceses of Phoenix, Tucson and Gallup, N.M., took turns showcasing their artistic potential throughout the rally.
Students, teachers and administrators watched in wonder as four artists from St. Mary’s High School finger-painted a portrait of characters from the movie “Shrek.”
The St. Mary’s band provided pre- and post-program music while the Bourgade High School choral ensemble and Notre Dame Preparatory jazz band performed during the rally.
“It was fun to see the Catholic schools showcase their talents,” said Andrea Ficco, senior at Xavier College Preparatory.
Some of the Xavier cheer squad showed off several stunts. Later, drama students from Seton Catholic High School enacted a scene from “Bye, Bye Birdie” while a Brophy College Preparatory student gave an impromptu monologue.
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