If your kids are in Catholic school, how much of the class day is spent on religious instruction?

[losh14]

The short: if you have children in Catholic school, or teach in a Catholic school, how much time do the kids spend on religious instruction or Catholic-specific activities during the week?

The long: We have three children in our parish school this year. All three attend Mass daily.
Our third grader will spend 45 minutes twice a week in religious instruction, which is about the same as the PSR/CCD/Public School Religion classes.

Our sixth grader will spend 5 hours in religious instruction, in addition to 45 minutes a day in “Reflection”. So out of the 36 hours she spends at school … 11 of them are religiously-oriented.

We are choosing Catholic education to help raise our children Catholic and be free to practice their faith. But 11 hours a week seems like too much. I’m worried about burn-out; religious instruction for 5 hours a week versus 3 1/2 hours each in math and science. I’m worried she’s missing opportunities to learn: her Project Lead The Way (STEM curriculum) is only 90 minutes. Our 3rd grader will have 3 hours a week.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

All three attend Mass daily.

Through the school?

how much time do the kids spend on religious instruction

Our school does 2-3 days a week for the lower grades and 5 times a week for Jr. high. Mass once a week. A little extra stuff for Confirmation.

At the Catholic schools that I am familiar with the entire education is usually permeated by Catholic values. Most of the teachers are Catholics and they will talk to kids about various things in each subject. So, it’s a Catholic environment.

 

[losh14]

Yes, they attend Mass during the school day. Half the school attends first thing in the morning, the other half at noon, so our pastor is saying two daily Masses just for the school.

Knowing 5 times a week for jr. high is a good perspective.

 

[Cor_ad_Cor]

Our school does 2-3 days a week for the lower grades and 5 times a week for Jr. high. Mass once a week. A little extra stuff for Confirmation.

At the Catholic schools that I am familiar with the entire education is usually permeated by Catholic values. Most of the teachers are Catholics and they will talk to kids about various things in each subject. So, it’s a Catholic environment.

Same here. My children (one upper elementary and one lower) get anywhere from 0-45 minutes per day, depending upon the day, and weekly Mass. However, Catholic beliefs and teachings are integrated everywhere, and the pastor (and much of the parish staff, too) is frequently in the classrooms teaching, visiting, etc.

 

[losh14]

So far the school has been a bit disorganized, as can be expected, but the reflection hour has been used as work time. Tomorrow I’ll take my kids for a walk, then, if there’s not anything organized. Getting outside to appreciate some fresh air is always good.

The integration is wonderful. We had a seminarian intern who would give lectures on STEM topics (his undergrad was engineering), and he really enjoyed visiting the littler kids in the atrium, which has a room set up for the Catechism of the Good Shepherd. This year’s seminarian had studied sports journalism so he’s sad that we don’t have an active competitive program at the moment but I think he’ll show up for P.E. a few times.