High school curriculum

[Franciscan]

For those high school teachers of Catholicism at a high school…

What is the best way to set up the 4 year curriculum.
Or what are the standards in your diocese?

example: our current curriculum is as follows:

9th grade- 1st semester: Intro to Catholicism
2nd semester: Sacraments

10th grade -1st semester: World Religions
2nd semester: Old Testament

11 grade - 1st semester: New Testament
2nd semester: Morality

12 grade - 1st semester: Christian Lifestyles
2nd semester: Social Justice

 

[Jim_Baur]

Are you teaching the history of theology (Church history)?

 

[ribozyme]

Where’s learning about evolution so one wouldn’t be hoodwinked by the arguments of creationists. Where is a segment about instilling these children with curiosity.

 

[Franciscan]

Jim,
Im not in position to make changes. But I might be someday.
So I wish we did have church hist. instaed of comparative religions.

 

[johnnykins]

For those high school teachers of Catholicism at a high school…

What is the best way to set up the 4 year curriculum.
Or what are the standards in your diocese?

example: our current curriculum is as follows:

9th grade- 1st semester: Intro to Catholicism
2nd semester: Sacraments

10th grade -1st semester: World Religions
2nd semester: Old Testament

11 grade - 1st semester: New Testament
2nd semester: Morality

12 grade - 1st semester: Christian Lifestyles
2nd semester: Social Justice

I would much prefer something organized more like this:

7th/8th - Catechism - for a general underlying understanding of the faith

9th Ist:Selected OT readings
9th 2nd: Selected NT Readings

10th 1st: Selected Council documents: Trent/VI/VII; must include Gasser’s Relatio
10th 2nd: Selected Encyclicals: including Humanae Vitae

11th 1st: Selected readings of the Fathers
11th 2nd: Selected readings of the Doctors

12th 1st: Special issues including the Crusades; Inquisition; Mary/Saints/sacramental economy/Reformation/Sack of Constantinople
12th 2nd Apologetics re: Protestantism/Orthodoxy/Other religions

Issues such as social justice would be covered by reading the actual documents of the Church. Of course, great care will be needed for the selections.

IMHO comparative religions must be at the very end - when the student has the proper background in his/her own religion.

 

[Karin]

For those high school teachers of Catholicism at a high school…

What is the best way to set up the 4 year curriculum.
Or what are the standards in your diocese?

example: our current curriculum is as follows:

9th grade- 1st semester: Intro to Catholicism
2nd semester: Sacraments

10th grade -1st semester: World Religions
2nd semester: Old Testament

11 grade - 1st semester: New Testament
2nd semester: Morality

12 grade - 1st semester: Christian Lifestyles
2nd semester: Social Justice

This is how my sons school does it…I really like the progression etc.
stpetersprep.org/2006-07CourseofStudies.pdf
religion is on the second page

 

[ribozyme]

Jim,
Im not in position to make changes. But I might be someday.
So I wish we did have church hist. instaed of comparative religions.

Ribozyme,
I have never responded to you but I have read your posts. Since you mentioned it there is a great video that I show. Its called Unlocking the Mystery of Life: The case for intelligent design.
I think you would love it!
Among other things it shows one celled creatures with complex parts/structure that natural selection could not account for since its such a “first stage” life form.
Don’t even respond until you watch this video. It’s put out by Illustra Media.
I dont want you to distract the focus of this thread.

I read more than my fair share of origin of life literature for a 17 year old. Some of it consists of popular articles, most of it is derived from peer-reviewed journals. I will say this though: I don’t know how life began, and I am skeptical regarding the plausibility of many proposals, but I think that scientific investigation will yield a plausible solution to this problem.

If you want to discuss the origin of life from a scientific perspective, I am the best person on this message board to do it. So what do you want to discuss (well, presumably in a new thread though).

I must add that I am quite competent in biochemistry (I only claim this because I understand most of the content from an on-line biochemistry textbook: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/bv.fcgi?call=bv.View…ShowTOC&rid=stryer.TOC&depth=2)). I know a lot more than most people my age (and a vast majority of educated adults) In other areas though, I do not possess that level of competence such as cosmology as it is somewhat difficult for me to understand areas like cosmology where I have to rely on popular science accounts for clear information.

 

[Franciscan]

Good suggestions. Alot of that could be incorporated into a history of the Church course or a Catholic foundations course.

Any One Else?

 

[Franciscan]

I read more than my fair share of origin of life literature for a 17 year old. Some of it consists of popular articles, most of it is derived from peer-reviewed journals. I will say this though: I don’t know how life began, and I am skeptical regarding the plausibility of many proposals, but I think that scientific investigations will yield a plausible solution to this problem.

If you want to discuss the origin of life from a scientific perspective, I am the best person on this message board to do it. So what do you want to discuss (well, presumably in a new thread though).

You’re looking for a pat on the back for being so smart for a 17 year old. Well, you should not expect it or fish for it. You should thank God for it (your gifts) and repay him by putting them to good use.

By the way its amazing how fast you aquired and watched the video. Your’re so smart and efficient! You’re living proof that we can’t be descendants of pond scum.

 

[ribozyme]

You’re looking for a pat on the back for being so smart for a 17 year old. Well, you should not expect it or fish for it. You should thank God for it (your gifts) and repay him by putting them to good use.

By the way its amazing how fast you aquired and watched the video. Your’re so smart and efficient! You’re living proof that we can’t be descendants of pond scum.

Oh, stop the sarcasm. I didn’t watch the video, I implied that in my initial response. I said I read other resources, mainly from academic journals, not from a laymen’s intelligent design resource.

Actually, I am looking for a discussion about the origin of life. I am curious though, what is your evidence that such a scenario is improbable. I know what I am talking about, I am curious if you know what you are talking about regarding the origin of life.

So, how (in your own words) why a naturalistic origin of life is improbable? I am willing to back up my own statements though. I want to see if you can invoke academic resources (for textbooks, journals, books) that support the notion abiogenesis is impossible. If you can, then great. It sounds belligerent, but you have to support your assertions with facts though.

But, if you think that I am misrepresenting that actual literature, I am willing to have my claims analyzed by an origin of life researcher.

Remember, learn how to think, not what to think. I have learned with some considerable pain that a few things in some of my textbooks are incorrect. Only these errors can be rectified by assiduous investigation. Are you willing to investigate the origin of life field beyond the claims made in a certain video?

 

[ribozyme]

You’re looking for a pat on the back for being so smart for a 17 year old. Well, you should not expect it or fish for it. You should thank God for it (your gifts) and repay him by putting them to good use.

By the way its amazing how fast you aquired and watched the video. Your’re so smart and efficient! You’re living proof that we can’t be descendants of pond scum.

On another note, I could acquire the video through google video or Youtube although I did not perform the search. If I did it through those mediums, thank the “intelligent designer” for broadband.

 

[Jim_Baur]

Franciscan

Do you use a book other than the Bible for Scripture classes?

Do you have one for the New Testament?

 

[Franciscan]

Franciscan

Do you use a book other than the Bible for Scripture classes?

Do you have one for the New Testament?

Yes, I dont taech those classes but they have textbooks that go with it. Im embarrased to say that they are St. Mary’s press. Like I said Im not in control…yet.

 

[Ferdinand_Mary]

NOTICE: Several posts have been deleted/edited because they were not on topic. Please stay on topic or this thread will be closed and conduct action will be taken.

Mane Nobiscum Domine,
Ferdinand Mary

 

[Franciscan]

NOTICE: Several posts have been deleted/edited because they were not on topic. Please stay on topic or this thread will be closed and conduct action will be taken.

Mane Nobiscum Domine,
Ferdinand Mary

This is on topic! Its about the classes and curriculum

 

[Ferdinand_Mary]

This is on topic! Its about the classes and curriculum

As a general informational matter, the posts I deleted regarded the virtues/vices of creationism / intelligent design / Darwinian evolution and the alleged inability of a 17 year old poster to conduct himself in a manner which was not pompous and self-congratulatory. Those were off-topic.

Please feel free to continue the discussion, and if anyone has a problem with the way the forum is moderated you may PM me at any time; I will be happy to discuss the subject with you.

If you have generalized (non-thread specific) feedback regarding moderation as a whole, please feel free to visit the new Staff Chat forum where you may interact with the staff at large.

Mane Nobiscum Domine,
Ferdinand Mary

 

[puzzleannie]

first I work in the CCD realm as of now a Catholic high school in our part of the valley is only a dream, but the land has been aquired. I think the curriculum for Jr-Sr high should be coordinated, and you should consider a textbook series that covers what you think is essential and go by their suggested syllabus. We use the 6th, 7th & 8th books from Loyola Press, 6th is OT Salvation History, 7th is NT, life and mission of Christ, 8th is Acts, Early Church, Church history, Catholic identity. For high school we use the Didache series but the 9th grade book, Introduction to Catholicism takes two years to cover in CCD so it is our foundational Confirmation text (Creed, Morality, Sacraments and Prayer). For the Catholic High school, which these books were written for, there is a Moral Theology Book, Sacred Scripture, and Church History. They are the gold standard in my opinion. Midwest Theological Forum, you can find link to the distributer-Emmaus Road-- at cuf.org, the site for Catholics United for the Faith.

Depending on your location what you will probably find is that you actually have two different student populations: those who have a good background in the faith from Catholic elementary school or solid CCD and good background in practice from strong families, but a solid minority (majority in our case) who have had essentially no faith formation since First Communion, are essentially uncatechized, and probably have not been to Mass or the sacraments since 2nd grade, and whose families are cultural Catholics but don’t really practice the faith. Good luck with the 2nd group they are the ones that really need evangelization, and if we don’t do it, our Protestant brothers and sisters will.

 

[Franciscan]

As a general informational matter, the posts I deleted regarded the virtues/vices of creationism / intelligent design / Darwinian evolution and the alleged inability of a 17 year old poster to conduct himself in a manner which was not pompous and self-congratulatory. Those were off-topic.

Please feel free to continue the discussion, and if anyone has a problem with the way the forum is moderated you may PM me at any time; I will be happy to discuss the subject with you.

If you have generalized (non-thread specific) feedback regarding moderation as a whole, please feel free to visit the new Staff Chat forum where you may interact with the staff at large.

Mane Nobiscum Domine,
Ferdinand Mary

Understood. Thankyou.

 

[Jim_Baur]

Franciscan

What New Testament books do you (in the plural) use?

We use Journey Through the New Testament.

It is from Harcourt Religion Publishers.

The author is Janie Gustafson, Ph. D.

I am asking because the list is rather short, that is, the approved list from the bishops.

Thanks!!!

 

[Franciscan]

first I work in the CCD realm as of now a Catholic high school in our part of the valley is only a dream, but the land has been aquired. I think the curriculum for Jr-Sr high should be coordinated, and you should consider a textbook series that covers what you think is essential and go by their suggested syllabus. We use the 6th, 7th & 8th books from Loyola Press, 6th is OT Salvation History, 7th is NT, life and mission of Christ, 8th is Acts, Early Church, Church history, Catholic identity. For high school we use the Didache series but the 9th grade book, Introduction to Catholicism takes two years to cover in CCD so it is our foundational Confirmation text (Creed, Morality, Sacraments and Prayer). For the Catholic High school, which these books were written for, there is a Moral Theology Book, Sacred Scripture, and Church History. They are the gold standard in my opinion. Midwest Theological Forum, you can find link to the distributer-Emmaus Road-- at cuf.org, the site for Catholics United for the Faith.

Depending on your location what you will probably find is that you actually have two different student populations: those who have a good background in the faith from Catholic elementary school or solid CCD and good background in practice from strong families, but a solid minority (majority in our case) who have had essentially no faith formation since First Communion, are essentially uncatechized, and probably have not been to Mass or the sacraments since 2nd grade, and whose families are cultural Catholics but don’t really practice the faith. Good luck with the 2nd group they are the ones that really need evangelization, and if we don’t do it, our Protestant brothers and sisters will.

Puzzleannie,
That sounds like an awesome program. There needs to be that linkage from at least 5th grade up through highschool. As of now we dont have any communication with our local feeder schools on the topic of religion.
The didache series, is that the one by Scott Hahn?Ive seen that and it is very good but I could see where if you have non-Catholics or non-catechized high schoolers starting with that series might be too much. There’s such a lack of good textbooks.
But good points thanks.