Catholic Teacher Vent

[Kielbasi]

A couple of points here for your consideration.

Here in Pittsburgh, it seems as if the majority of students in Catholic schools aren’t Catholic at all. Their parents aren’t apostate, lapsed or nominal catholics, but instead Methodist, Baptist or Jewish. This is actually almost by design. In fact, Cardinal Arinze was in town a couple of years ago, visited Catholic schools with large non-catholic majorities and spoke with the children. Arinze saluted the program which offers reduced tuition to encourage enrollment in schools in lower income areas.

Its a different paradigm than it was years ago, the mission of the schools is a lot different.

I don’t see any particular problem with public school officials sending their children to Catholic (or other private) schools, I know a Pittsburgh school director does this. Traditionally most school directors had already grown offspring, I don’t think thats a downside to it either. What is important in a school director is to do the best for the pupils and the taxpayers who fund the system, it isn’t compromised by not having children in the system.

 

[Mini_gerbel]

I went to catholic school. I was in public. at 5th grade I realized makeing fun of people was a sin. then in 6th grade I started realizing pornography was a sin. but i went to denial. then after soooo long at public school. i went to catholic for 7th grade. I thought it was great!
People were so nice. no one tried to make fun of you every time you spoke. and teachers wouldnt kill you if you accidentaly asked a question without raising your ahand. I actually cried the first week. people were so nice. But they werent catholic. I had a holy teacher though. But about one kid in my two years there was really heavely catholic but not so religious. as in didnt look like she tried that hard to even be nice But she believed and was reading the catechism. But it didnt say you had to be nice in there i suppose

I am catholic by the way

But every one else truly didnt care. they believed but they were like me in the 4th grade.

I believed in God but i didnt do anything and didnt like mass. well they liked mass actually. ( just the girls ) but every one at my school was like that.

actually what they needed was a “fire and brimstone preacher”
Im not saying im perfect though. or they are worse of course. or that im saying im better.

I am a true catholic though. I really liked mass and the preacher. he was giuded by the holy spirit. He would say things that would be from God in his homily. I believe God sometimes puts thoughts into preachers. God really helped me through the man to decide that the Catholic church was the best. Formally i was a heretic brought up in catholic home. parents didnt know i was heretic though. haha

Im not so sure what we can do. it is from the home and the childs heart to change.

                    **What made me become Catholic**

When i was very young my parrents taught me to pray.
and i believed it. and that was that. Gods real. I pray I do what ever said. I didnt fear him. I just thought thats the way things were.
Oh and finally watching cartoons about God helped much to.
I believed everything in the cartoons about God
That can be bad and good i suppose at the same time.

 

[Mini_gerbel]

Franciscan,
I could send home written information but I figure that if the children aren’t sent to church weekly who is going to go over the info with them.
In Christ, Deborah

hey just saying here. it still could make a difference. we open up doors i think when we try to talk to people about God and stuff.
who knows

 

[dundas]

Two weeks ago the Archbishop visited our church and during his homily spoke about catholic education. He said that parents have a moral obligation to raise their children in the catholic faith, preferably in a catholic school. The following week our own priest again addressed the issue of catholic education during his homily. He said that it is, in fact, a SIN to not send your children to a catholic school, unless one has a good reason.

We send our children to a public school. We attend mass every Sunday, we practice our religion at home, I volunteer to teach at PREP, my son altar serves. I attend Adult Education courses to enrich my faith. We feel so blessed, and are so thankful to have the love of God in our lives.

My son, who is in grade 1, brought home the following valentine, which he made at his public school…

Happy Valentine Jesus
I love you more than cats
I love you more than dogs
I even love you more than mom and dad…

As a catholic mom, I want my children to learn to love God above all else. For me, this valentine was one small step on our journey of catholic faith.

Yet, according to my priest, I am living in a state of sin, because I have chosen to not send my kids to the catholic school. I am experiencing a bit of a spiritual crisis. Please help.

 

[buffalo]

Soemone has to teach the parents.

One way is through materials sent home with the children as well as homework excercises that a parent has to help with. Focus on only three or four top catechetical issues that will arouse a parents interest. Always provide a - for more information link of some sort.

 

[CatholicCajun]

In our area the wealthy send the kids and everybody else goes into debt so them and their kids can run with the rich and famous. It’s sad, but that is a good part of the reasoning, that is why there are so many non-catholics going to the local catholic schools, because there are no up-scale protestant schools.

 

[BOBKAT]

Two weeks ago the Archbishop visited our church and during his homily spoke about catholic education. He said that parents have a moral obligation to raise their children in the catholic faith, preferably in a catholic school. The following week our own priest again addressed the issue of catholic education during his homily. He said that it is, in fact, a SIN to not send your children to a catholic school, unless one has a good reason.

We send our children to a public school. We attend mass every Sunday, we practice our religion at home, I volunteer to teach at PREP, my son altar serves. I attend Adult Education courses to enrich my faith. We feel so blessed, and are so thankful to have the love of God in our lives.

My son, who is in grade 1, brought home the following valentine, which he made at his public school…

Happy Valentine Jesus
I love you more than cats
I love you more than dogs
I even love you more than mom and dad…

As a catholic mom, I want my children to learn to love God above all else. For me, this valentine was one small step on our journey of catholic faith.

Yet, according to my priest, I am living in a state of sin, because I have chosen to not send my kids to the catholic school. I am experiencing a bit of a spiritual crisis. Please help.

That’s funny you say that I just told my 10 year old that Jesus is first and foremost in our lives and that he needs to love Him more than us. I am truly blessed with my faith and work hard at teaching all that I can to all that will hear.

God Bless
Kathleen

BTW I really think you are doing a wonderful job and you are doing better than alot of parents who send their kids to public school. I am a firm believer that religion is first taught at home.

 

[lak611]

A couple of points here for your consideration.

Here in Pittsburgh, it seems as if the majority of students in Catholic schools aren’t Catholic at all. Their parents aren’t apostate, lapsed or nominal catholics, but instead Methodist, Baptist or Jewish. This is actually almost by design. In fact, Cardinal Arinze was in town a couple of years ago, visited Catholic schools with large non-catholic majorities and spoke with the children. Arinze saluted the program which offers reduced tuition to encourage enrollment in schools in lower income areas.

Its a different paradigm than it was years ago, the mission of the schools is a lot different.

I don’t see any particular problem with public school officials sending their children to Catholic (or other private) schools, I know a Pittsburgh school director does this. Traditionally most school directors had already grown offspring, I don’t think thats a downside to it either. What is important in a school director is to do the best for the pupils and the taxpayers who fund the system, it isn’t compromised by not having children in the system.

Here in Cleveland, the public schools are so bad that low-income families are given vouchers that allow them to send their children to Catholic or other private schools instead of the public schools. Most of these children are not even Catholic. The Catholic schools accept these children because they are getting the money from state. Many Catholic schools in the city would probably close if not for the voucher students, since the schools are located in neighbourhoods where not many Catholics live any more due to changing demographics.

 

[HouseArrest]

Here in Cleveland, the public schools are so bad that low-income families are given vouchers that allow them to send their children to Catholic or other private schools instead of the public schools. Most of these children are not even Catholic. The Catholic schools accept these children because they are getting the money from state. Many Catholic schools in the city would probably close if not for the voucher students, since the schools are located in neighbourhoods where not many Catholics live any more due to changing demographics.

Is it a problem that the students are not Catholic? As long as the teaching is Catholic, why does it matter? Here we have some non Catholics, probably 6 - 10%. Actually, three entire families converted to Catholicism since their children have attended our school.

We have a little joke - you don’t have to be Catholic to come to our school, but you’ll be Catholic when you leave!

 

[GeorgiaPeach]

All of my children attend Catholic school. While my children are learning a lot about their faith, I think it is important to supplement it at home. Sending them to religion class daily or CCD isn’t the answer - it all starts in the home. The reason we send our children to Catholic school two fold; for the education and because of the kind and caring atmosphere. I also love the ‘Catholicness’ of it all - being able to go to daily Mass with my children during Lent, first Friday Mass, all the students doing the sign of the cross when an ambulance drives by, writing JMJ at the top of their papers etc. The students are amazing. We are blessed to have such a great school.

While I believe Catholic schools should be open to other Christian faiths, I can see the downside. Our family is relocating this summer and my children are all the waiting lists for their appropriate grades at the Catholic school in our new location. In our new location the non-Catholic schools are insanely expensive and the public schools are horrible so many of the Catholic school slots are being filled with non-Catholics. I keep reminding myself life isn’t always fair. We at least get a tuition break.

 

[HouseArrest]

All of my children attend Catholic school. While my children are learning a lot about their faith, I think it is important to supplement it at home. Sending them to religion class daily or CCD isn’t the answer - it all starts in the home. The reason we send our children to Catholic school two fold; for the education and because of the kind and caring atmosphere. I also love the ‘Catholicness’ of it all - being able to go to daily Mass with my children during Lent, first Friday Mass, all the students doing the sign of the cross when an ambulance drives by, writing JMJ at the top of their papers etc. The students are amazing. We are blessed to have such a great school.

While I believe Catholic schools should be open to other Christian faiths, I can see the downside. Our family is relocating this summer and my children are all the waiting lists for their appropriate grades at the Catholic school in our new location. In our new location the non-Catholic schools are insanely expensive and the public schools are horrible so many of the Catholic school slots are being filled with non-Catholics. I keep reminding myself life isn’t always fair. We at least get a tuition break.

I can see we’re coming at this from very different places. We don’t have a waiting list. If I were moving to a new town and wound up on one, I would not be so happy to have the non Catholics have a spot. Makes sense.