Catechist issues

[blackforest]

Too late. I got sucked into the vortex . . .

 

[Joe_5859]

Should I bring up any of these difficulties and disagreements to the RE director?
Should we stay or leave? Any value in staying somewhere where we put in two years, and our kids have been? I don’t think I know even one other dad/man by first name…I could look at the parent list for my class but you know what I mean.
Are we terrible teachers/communicators? Should we be giving more info to them? This is the only capacity in which either of us have taught young kids.
Other thoughts?

I think you could certainly bring these concerns up to the DRE. I know if one of my catechists felt this way, I would want to know.

As for whether to stay or go, you will have to discern that. Being a catechist is a commitment. And it’s often a thankless task. But it is very much needed. We need people to step up and teach, even when that is difficult.

If I recall correctly, Pope Francis has spoke of different kinds of tiredness. There is a difference between the exhaustion that comes from working hard at a challenging task, and the exhaustion that comes from being burned out. You have to discern which category your fatigue falls under.

I would encourage you, though, to try to get to know some other men in your parish—whether they be parents of your students or not. The Catholic faith is not meant to be lived out alone. We need other people for support and prayers. And other people in your parish need your support and prayers, too.

I would also encourage you at this time of year with the holidays approaching to take time for rest and to be intentional about gratitude. I’m not trying to imply that you are not doing such things already (and I say this more as a reminder to myself than anything), but I always find it helpful to take a moment and count my blessings whenever I am discouraged.

God bless you. Thank you for the work you are doing for the children of your parish.

 

[1ke]

But seasoned teachers will tell you that things really, really have changed. When I was growing up, we never heard about autistic children getting locked into rooms, tackled by teachers, or dragged away by police. Granted, that’s rare in an RE setting. On the other hand, classrooms would have “that hyper kid” but nothing like the ADHD we see today.

Well I am a seasoned teacher both of the public school variety, where I taught classrooms of adaptive behavior kids (the kind that throw desks at you), and many other education plans.

And I’m also a seasoned RE teacher who has done modifications and worked with parents for autism spectrum and ADHD students.

It’s just that you don’t know which of those children are “worthy” of having “distractors.”

Maybe you are under the false impression that what I am saying is that any kid who is coloring or whatever should be judged, they and their parents. Not at all what I’m saying.

What I am saying is that average 8 year olds are capable and the OP hasn’t indicated that their children have any disabilities.

In my own parish I know the kids in my RE classes since I’m the CRE and in the 14 years I’ve been in this parish there have been 2 severely ADHD kids that were total pills and very challenging in class. Even those two could successfully be attentive in mass and also act as altar servers starting after FHC. Were they always perfect? No. But capable.

In my old parish i had an ADHD kid one year in my class with a co teacher who was unable to manage 75 minute RE followed by 60 minutes of mass. We worked with the pastor and his parents on a plan for home RE and only going to mass on Sunday— he was a 4th grader. And when he had meltdowns his parents took him out of mass and went home. Very reasonable.

One of my best friends has two autistic boys who homeschooled RE and also have gone to RE with other kids. Those two were and are able to go to mass and be attentive. are they always perfect? No. Their parents set up a reward system for behavior in mass.

No one is talking about judging anyone. The only thing I said is that average 8 year olds are capable of participating in mass and the RE teacher isn’t out of bounds to expect that of kids preparing for FHC.

If the specific child cannot be attentive and participate in mass that pastor might want to delay FHC until they are developmentally ready.

 

[1ke]

Let me also mention that the parish should be taking advantage of the diocesan office of catechesis, which should have a ministry for persons with special needs. Autism, developmental and cognitive disabilities, ADHD, and other types of disabilities can be assisted through that office. There is adapted curriculum available for cognitive and development disabilities, and help for teachers with students who have behavioral challenges or mental health disorders.

They provide teach in-service for catechists, adapted curriculum, resources, home and classroom teaching options,