First time Catechist (6th Grade)

[InLight247]

Each week, I ask the kids to submit a couple of lines based on the Sunday homily. I am getting what I consider to be extremely weak excuses for not attending Mass from two-thirds of my class:

We did the walk for diabetes. I was at my Aunt’s and she doesn’t go to Church. There was nobody to take me.

Any suggestions on what positive steps I can take to encourage parents to take this obligation seriously?

That’s the same problem I run into every week.
The 7th graders I teach can not drive yet. It is up to their parents to take them, and I don’t see their parents at all except last week when my class started to do group presentation toward the end of the class, one parent opened the class room door and yelled: “Class is over, all other classes were dismissed!” It was 1 minute past the class due time. That parent came to dismiss my class!!! The youth minister will come to my class room this week and on purposedly delay the dismiss for 5 minutes to catch that parent. ha ha!

The only thing I can think of is to motivate the kids to ask their parents to take them. And I can use some ideas here. Looking forward to hearing.

 

[decn2b]

Locking the doors to the classrooms sounds strange but that is what we do. We have done it for years. Our reason is safety. There are lots of Kooks in this world and it is not unheard of for some religous/atheist church hater to have serious enough grumblings to barge in off the street into a class full of children. Remember what has happened in the Amish schoolhouse?

It is also another way of keeping parents from sticking their heads in and shouting class OVER.

 

[InLight247]

I think due to the “protect our children”, to avoid any potential abuse, our classroom door does not have lock. The entire church building is locked during class except the main entrance, and we have people monitor in the hall way.

The problem I see here is the parents’ attitude.
Obviously they dare not to do such a thing in their children’s school. Who dare to barge in school classroom and tell the teacher “class is over”? They do so to the religious class because they don’t think it is important. They just want their kids to be confirmed, get the confirmation out of the way. They don’t attend Mass, they have no respect to the volunteer CCD teacher.

However, such rude parent is rare. Most of them are polite at least. And I can see some of my students are really serious about learning of their faith.

Never be discouraged, always expect the best in the Lord.

 

[decn2b]

I think you are right about the parents. Most are polite. In our parish though most are disinterested in their childrens faith. or their own for that matter.

How often has anyone here heard one of these very parents who know nothing of their faith, not show up on Sundays, but be the expert “Catholic” in thier workplace

 

[InLight247]

The non-practicing Catholics are the largest congregation. That is such a sad fact.

That’s why the faith formation education is so important. I feel called to be a volunteer to do whatever I can to help our young people’s faith.

Even parents don’t care about their own faith and that makes the faith formation hard, I still believe to do my best to help. Even the children are lack of good faith role model at home, at least they are exposed to a good faith role model once a week for 90 minutes.

What else can you do except do your best?
Oh, one thing we can do, pray. I pray for my CCD students and their family.

 

[Maria3m]

As a parent who is very interested in what my son is learning, I would like to know do you mind if a parent asks what will be taught the following week? I’d like to go over what my sons learns in class to reinforce it.

 

[InLight247]

As a parent who is very interested in what my son is learning, I would like to know do you mind if a parent asks what will be taught the following week? I’d like to go over what my sons learns in class to reinforce it.

By all means, ask.
Each teacher has his or her own style. I personally typed out each week’s lesson plan. 7th grader is part of the confirmation class and our church policy is if a student missed 3 class within the year, the confirmation has to be delayed one more year.
One student has some schedule conflict and has to miss more than 3. The Youth Minister gives permission to take the lesson home and learn in private. I gave him the detailed typed out lesson plan and he is following well so far.

But most teacher probably won’t type the lesson plan out.
Yet, still they will know what they plan to cover.
So, yes, ask and you will receive.
God bless!

 

[mercygate]

As a parent who is very interested in what my son is learning, I would like to know do you mind if a parent asks what will be taught the following week? I’d like to go over what my sons learns in class to reinforce it.

Well, if your son were in my class, this would not be an issue because I handed out the syllabus for the whole year at the first class. I have a sign-up sheet and have asked that one parent come to class each week. I WANT my parents involved!

 

[mercygate]

I have evidence that only about a third of my sixth grade CCD kids are attending Mass on Sunday.

Some of the excuses are pretty lame: “Nobody could take me.” None of my kids (I checked on Mapquest) lives more than one mile from church. Would it be too priggish of me to suggest that they could (be careful, I am about to use a four-letter word) walk to church in order to fulfill their obligation? I checked with the police department who affirm that this would not be risky in our town.

What d’y’all say? How many of you parents would allow your 11-year-old to walk one mile in a safe town on a Sunday morning to attend Mass? Am I being too much of a drill sergeant?

 

[mercygate]

I have evidence that only about a third of my sixth grade CCD kids are attending Mass on Sunday.

Some of the excuses are pretty lame: “Nobody could take me.” None of my kids (I checked on Mapquest) lives more than one mile from church. Would it be too priggish of me to suggest that they could (be careful, I am about to use a four-letter word) walk to church in order to fulfill their obligation? I checked with the police department who affirm that this would not be risky in our town.

What d’y’all say? How many of you parents would allow your 11-year-old to walk one mile in a safe town on a Sunday morning to attend Mass? Am I being too much of a drill sergeant?

Don’t trip over yourselves trying to answer all at once!

 

[hilde_the_dog]

Mercygate I understand your feelings. I co teach 6th grade boys CCD. I have no way of knowing how many go to mass regularly and I have no intention of taking a poll. I did add to my weekly note home to the parents a reminder that November 1 is a holy day of obligation adn to check the bulletin. I consider this a parents responsibility of a very grave degree (if they choose to miss mass fine but don’t bring others down with you). Last week I missed teaching the precepts of the church and will hit it next week—so the subject may come up then. We got sidetracked with a discussion of why priest are only men, why most are not married and why did our bishop allow girls to become alterboys this year. I have not done a mapquest search of my class but almost nobody will be within a mile.

 

[mercygate]

Mercygate I understand your feelings. I co teach 6th grade boys CCD. I have no way of knowing how many go to mass regularly and I have no intention of taking a poll. I did add to my weekly note home to the parents a reminder that November 1 is a holy day of obligation adn to check the bulletin. I consider this a parents responsibility of a very grave degree (if they choose to miss mass fine but don’t bring others down with you). Last week I missed teaching the precepts of the church and will hit it next week—so the subject may come up then. We got sidetracked with a discussion of why priest are only men, why most are not married and why did our bishop allow girls to become alterboys this year. I have not done a mapquest search of my class but almost nobody will be within a mile.

Thanks, HD. I know who’s going to Mass because their homework each week includes a two-sentence summary of the homily (heh, heh, heh).

 

[Maria3m]

What d’y’all say? How many of you parents would allow your 11-year-old to walk one mile in a safe town on a Sunday morning to attend Mass? Am I being too much of a drill sergeant?

You’re not being a drill sergeant. You’re trying to find a solution to a problem that exists.

My son’s 5th grade class started off with 25 children. It’s only been about 7 weeks and the class is down to four children. This was the same pattern last year, but the numbers didn’t drop off until February or March.

Now, I admit, last year I was one of those problem parents. Not because my son didn’t want to be there, but when I took him there would be a note on the door that class had been cancelled.
In that case, the teacher didn’t seem to care & it rubbed off on the parents (well, on me). He would ask to go & I just didn’t see the point.

Back to the main question. We live a 2-3 minute drive to church …would I let my son walk or ride his bike?
Honestly, I don’t know…leaning more towards NO. We live in a VERY safe community, however in the last two months there have been two attempts to snatch some boys while they are out & about on their own. Even if that hadn’t happened…I have always been very protective of my children…so I think it would be no. HOWEVER, I wouldn’t sign my children up for classes knowing we aren’t coming. Maybe the parents need some sort of accountability.

Thankfully, I can say we don’t miss Mass. We attend 9am Mass, go to the church breakfast at 10-11, and my children run off to 11 am classes. There isn’t an extra trip back…we are there until about 12:30 each Sunday.

You seem more involved than most. I could only WISH my children would have a teacher like you. Handouts explaining what will happen at each class, notes on the Homily, ect. That’s not the feeling I’m getting from looking at the various grade levels.

(I attend a second mass while waiting for my children, sometimes roam around or sit in the library…I’ve asked to assist in the classes that have 20-30 children (not teach – I know I can’t do that), but told I can’t help in my parish until I’m in full communion)

Most parents don’t seem to even attend mass, but drop their children off at the door…then drive off until pick up time.
Like I said, I attend the two masses on Sunday & I had no idea we had so many children in our parish. LOL
A newsletter said there are 55 children enrolled in CCD from K-6. I don’t see most of these kids during mass.

Wow, that got long! LOL
It comes down to the fact that if the parents don’t care enough to attend mass, then I doubt they care enough to get their child to CCD. It’s definitely the examples the parents set.

 

[jmcrae]

Don’t trip over yourselves trying to answer all at once!

Tell them it’s part of the Religion class. (Remind the kids that all good Catholics go to Mass every Sunday - it’s part of our “warrior training” to do battle with the Devil.)

I do that - in my letter that I send to the parents every September, I write, “In addition to attendance at class on day at time, this place, students are expected to attend Sunday Mass, and either read the Scriptures for 20 minutes or pray 5 decades of the Rosary each day (student’s choice).”

If you want to get drastic (and if you can afford it), hire a school bus and pick them all up for Mass every Sunday, and go as a class.

 

[mercygate]

Tell them it’s part of the Religion class. (Remind the kids that all good Catholics go to Mass every Sunday - it’s part of our “warrior training” to do battle with the Devil.)

I do that - in my letter that I send to the parents every September, I write, “In addition to attendance at class on day at time, this place, students are expected to attend Sunday Mass, and either read the Scriptures for 20 minutes or pray 5 decades of the Rosary each day (student’s choice).”

If you want to get drastic (and if you can afford it), hire a school bus and pick them all up for Mass every Sunday, and go as a class.

I have only 13 students. I am thinking of offering to pick up any child who cannot otherwise get to Mass (even though I think the walk would do them good – excepting the asthmatics in the winter).

I will certainly offer to drive any child home who comes to 7:45 Mass on his own.

I’m having a problem reconciling the Catholic custom of admitting children to the Eucharist at the “age of reason and accountability” while not acting as if they are really accountable for things they actually can do.

I like your warfare image. Most of my kids are boys, and this is a metaphor that should work well for them. It works for me, and I am a woman. (But I have a painting of a Spitfire bursting through the clouds over my desk.)

 

[matthew1624]

Don’t trip over yourselves trying to answer all at once!

Sorry, I’ve been MIA. As far as your question of walking to church, I wouldn’t allow my 11 year old to walk to church. I’m not sure what the solution is as far as getting these kids to mass if their parents/guardians are not stepping up. Offering to pick them up may be a good option.

Will post more later…(i.e. update on class progress)

God Bless…

 

[mercygate]

Sorry, I’ve been MIA. As far as your question of walking to church, I wouldn’t allow my 11 year old to walk to church. I’m not sure what the solution is as far as getting these kids to mass if their parents/guardians are not stepping up. Offering to pick them up may be a good option.

Will post more later…(i.e. update on class progress)

God Bless…

I have asked several parents of 11-year-olds whether they would allow their children to walk one mile in our safe town. Not one of them has said that they would.

They also don’t expect their kids to make their own beds or wash the dishes. We do not live in East Harlem. I am stupefied by what I consider over-protectiveness. 'Nother thread.

BTW: I have offered to pick up any kid who needs a ride to 7:45 Mass. No takers. Moreover, I would probably have to get a chauffeur’s license and written permission from the DRE as well as from the parents. We live in a paranoid age.

 

[puzzleannie]

I
BTW: I have offered to pick up any kid who needs a ride to 7:45 Mass. No takers. Moreover, I would probably have to get a chauffeur’s license and written permission from the DRE as well as from the parents. We live in a paranoid age.

you cannot do this at all. yes, we are paranoid, yes to drive a student in your car will get you fired from your ministry (or from your job in a public school in this state).

amazing how middle school kids can get to sports games and tournaments, every new movie that comes out, the mall, the video game store, and everyplace else they want to go, but they cannot get to Mass.

just checked in to see how Matt is doing after a few months of experience.

 

[Maria3m]

I am stupefied by what I consider over-protectiveness. 'Nother thread.

If you start another one on over-protectiveness or our paranoid age, link it so I can read along…maybe even participate.

Moreover, I would probably have to get a chauffeur’s license and written permission from the DRE as well as from the parents. We live in a paranoid age.

That’s interesting. There are many nonCC that have buses & drive around our neighborhood to pick up children. Especially children who don’t even go to church. If the driver sees a child playing in their yard…the bus stops and they ask if the child would like to go to church. (I’d have a MAJOR problem with my child jumping on a bus…last second…without really knowing where or if they are going to the church whose name is on the side of the bus.)

 

[mercygate]

If you start another one on over-protectiveness or our paranoid age, link it so I can read along…maybe even participate.

That’s interesting. There are many nonCC that have buses & drive around our neighborhood to pick up children. Especially children who don’t even go to church. If the driver sees a child playing in their yard…the bus stops and they ask if the child would like to go to church. (I’d have a MAJOR problem with my child jumping on a bus…last second…without really knowing where or if they are going to the church whose name is on the side of the bus.)

HOLY COW!! Now, THAT’S what I call CHUTZPAH! Isn’t that known as kidnapping?

Yeah: I’d have a MAJOR problem with that, too!