An anonymous donor is fronting millions to help open Pope John Paul II Family Academy at the former site of St. Barbara’s Church school — the first new elementary school in Brooklyn in 47 years. Only children from families below the federal poverty line are eligible. As “payment,” parents must promise to go to church on Sunday, be involved in the school, and eat dinner as a family.
Diana Reyna may blame gentrification for the withering of the Catholic school system in Bushwick — though large swathes of Queens are also affected — and one of her aides may have recently said “the market will eventually crush us,” but it seems a businessman has saved the day. Yes, for about 100 kids, shame and education can once again go hand-in-hand.
Jimmy Legs February 27th, 2009 at 9:47 am
that’s just what i was saying on the forum, but I’m surprised some rich do-gooder actually did something. I suppose it’s really impossible to find a philanthropist interested in this area who does not walk hand in hand with some religious organization.