Question need suggestions

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Rogerteder

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I just signed a contract šŸ˜ƒ today to be a teacher at a Catholic High school. I am goin to be teaching theology. I have a degree in Catholic theology and ten years teaching experience. This is a ā€œregular Catholic diocesanā€ High school it is not a traditional high school per se. Keeping that in mind (and the realization that one has to be prudent and truthful) can you give me suggestions on what you would like to see communicated to the high school students. Any suggestions will helpful. Also, any examples of specific classroom activities would also be helpful This is a chance for you to really make a difference. If your suggestions are good I will implement them.šŸ‘
 
Is there not a syllabus youā€™re to follow about what topics are brought up in what grades?
 
bpbasilphx said:
Is there not a syllabus youā€™re to follow about what topics are brought up in what grades?
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Yes there is. I was just asking in general what some of you (traditionalists) were concerned with. I am very much, in general, interested in your ideas. (of course I have my own ideas, but I WANNA HEAR YOU)šŸ˜ƒ
 
Iā€™m most concerned about the lack of reverence shown by the run of the mill Catholics today.

Best of luck to you and may God bless you!

Iā€™ll pray for you.
 
Iā€™d like more Catholic youth to know that the Sacrament of Confirmation is more than just a reason to get dressed up and please your parents; there really is a huge spiritual covenant that comes with it.
 
Give them the Churchā€™s teachings on sexuality, marriage, and contraception.
 
Please forgivemy intrusion ā€¦ I might not meet your definition of a Traditionalist šŸ˜‰

I am not sure about the high school you are going to teach ā€¦

many diocesan high schools are like many catholic colleges - where approximately 50% ofthe students are non-catholic [funny that non catholics will value the catholic school system nore than catholics:shrug: but that is another topic] ā€¦

As such, the theology you teach will probably not be geared to [as one poster wanted] the Sacrament of Confirmation ā€¦ though it could cover the theology behind the Sacrament ā€¦

I would want catholic teachers [especially of theology but all teachers] in a catholic school to act and reflect an authentically and un-apologetically catholic world view point ā€¦ prayers and spiritual exercizes should be catholic and not be made something less ā€¦ [like it is okay to make the sign of the cross without fearing that you will make another person feel ncomfortable]. There should be crucifixes on the wall and the Liturgy of the Hours is a admirable practice - it is not too catholic for others. Study of saints is not a taboo, many saints have much to add in theological discussions. The role of Christianity in World History [how the message - theology- of Jesus impacts our civil laws, etc] is a good topic to learn about

Catholic Scriptures should be used along with the writings of the early church fathers and church documents ā€¦ The interpretation of the scriptures should be in line with the teachings of the church, the catechism, etc ā€¦

While non catholic students [and their parents] deserve to have their faith respected they enrolled in a catholic school, they should expect a Christian environment that is in every way catholic ā€¦ not just its nameā€¦

There you have my $0.02 šŸ˜›
 
Nice Job!!! Thank you. Please keep going!!! If you think of more things please post!!! If any of you reading this hasnt posted please do.šŸ‘
 
The most important thing is for you (the teacher) to be a witness to the students of what it means to be Catholic. As Pope Paul VI wisely said, ā€œModern man listens more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if he does listen to teachers, it is because they are witnessesā€ ( 41Evangelii Nuntiandi). The greatest gift you can give your students is to be a good Catholic who is passionately in love with Jesus and the Church.

What textbook series are you using? The Didache series is a great series for Catholic High Schools. As a new teacher, you probably donā€™t yet have influence over the texts used, but they make a great resource for High School religion teachers, even if thatā€™s not the series youā€™re using. Of course, the texts should at least be on the Bishopā€™s Conformity listing of Catechetical texts and series.

Of course, you want to take a look at whatever the Curriculum guidelines are for your diocese, as well as the USCCBā€™s Doctrinal Elements of a Curriculum Framework For the Development of Catechetical Materials For Young People of High School Age (though this framework is primarily for the publishers, I think it is still useful for teachers to look through). I am sure that, given your experience, you already realize all this, but I thought Iā€™d throw it out there for all the lurkers. šŸ˜‰

One of the Catholic high schools near me has done several things that have worked quite well. One is that they pick a day (usually a holy Day like the Feast of the Immaculate Conception) and they cancel regular classes for the day. Instead, the whole day is organized almost like a conference with the students choosing which sessions they want to go to. Every teacher, no matter what their subject) teaches on some topic related to the faith. For example, the biology teacher may talk on pro-life issues, the art teacher will talk about Catholic art, etc. This has worked well for them and the students very much look forward to it.
 
Rogerteder said:
Yes there is. I was just asking in general what some of you (traditionalists) were concerned with. I am very much, in general, interested in your ideas. (of course I have my own ideas, but I WANNA HEAR YOU)šŸ˜ƒ
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Iā€™m not a full-bore Traditionalist, although I do attend the TLM about once a month, value Latin, push for Palestrina . . .

Three words my daughter never heard in 4 years of education at an elite Catholic prep school: 1) Humanae 2) vitae and 3) Transubstantiation.

Chances are, your students do not have a CLUE about any of the sacraments.

I would want my kid to learn the fundamentals of natural law and how this relates to all systematic moral thinking (actually, DD DID get some teaching on natural law in high school).

Whatā€™s that book by Charles E. Rice? Where Did I Come From? Where Am I Going? How Do I Get There?
 
mercygate said:
Iā€™m not a full-bore Traditionalist, although I do attend the TLM about once a month, value Latin, push for Palestrina . . .

Three words my daughter never heard in 4 years of education at an elite Catholic prep school: 1) Humanae 2) vitae and 3) Transubstantiation.

Chances are, your students do not have a CLUE about any of the sacraments.

I would want my kid to learn the fundamentals of natural law and how this relates to all systematic moral thinking (actually, DD DID get some teaching on natural law in high school).

Whatā€™s that book by Charles E. Rice? Where Did I Come From? Where Am I Going? How Do I Get There?
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Nice suggestion, I do plan on teaching both of them.(as well as natural law)
 
Explain that outside the Church there is no salvation, that Catholicism is the Bride of Christ, etc. I remember when I was in a Catholic high school these topics were always watered down.
 
Remind them that the 10 Commandments are commandments, not suggestions.

Also the greatest of these, is to Love God with your whole heart, mind and soul and your neighbor as yourself.

Also practice what you preach, because your students can ferret out any phony.
 
Tell them that it matters which Church you go to. That Protestant and Catholic are not multiple paths to the same destination.

Teach them WHY we do things we do, not just to do them.
 
Rawb said:
Tell them that it matters which Church you go to. That Protestant and Catholic are not multiple paths to the same destination.

Teach them WHY we do things we do, not just to do them.
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I agree . I plan on saying just that. Keep going people!!! Your suggestions are excellent. Pray about it, and if you think of more things please post.šŸ‘
 
I was a youth minister for about a year in California, and it seemed to be that the high schoolers need a deeper understanding of the truth in two main areas. 1. Confession - They are tortured by their sinsā€¦even if they pretend they are no big deal. They want to know what is right and what is wrong, and theyā€™re tired of people saying that a mortal sin is kind of a gray area. Teach them the truth about mortal sin and donā€™t hesitate to explain that people really go to Hell. Then, and only then, teach them about Godā€™s beautiful mercy in the sacrament of Confession, and show them intellectually (not emotionally) through Scripture and Tradition that it is the absolute truth.

If they tell you that if someone is a really good person and makes one mistake (even if it fulfills all three conditions for a mortal sin) that surely they will not go to hell, then it might be good to use the following analogy I learned from Scott Hahn.
Code: 
 There was once a person who was in incredible shape.  Every day he ran the stairs of the Eiffel Tower at least 50 times.  He ate right, exercised, got enough sleep, had friends, kept his mind in good condition - he was just in really good health.  One day, though, he ran to the top of the Eiffel Tower and was still doing everything he could to stay healthy, but he jumped off the building.  What do you think happened?  He died.  Are you sure he died, though?  He only made one mistake... Ah...but some mistakes are grave.  This was a physical example, but the same thing applies to the spiritual life.
So once again - teach them about confession. They will never be able to truly understand Godā€™s mercy if they do not understand His justice.
  1. Theology of the Body (For obvious reasons. This might be taught more in a morality class, though, so maybe another teacher is covering it, but itā€™s still fun and very good to add in.)
Iā€™m sorry this was so longā€¦I hope it helps!

May God bless you for your beautiful work, and may Mary keep you close in her heart.
 
PatriciaGabriel said:
I was a youth minister for about a year in California, and it seemed to be that the high schoolers need a deeper understanding of the truth in two main areas. 1. Confession - They are tortured by their sinsā€¦even if they pretend they are no big deal. They want to know what is right and what is wrong, and theyā€™re tired of people saying that a mortal sin is kind of a gray area. Teach them the truth about mortal sin and donā€™t hesitate to explain that people really go to Hell. Then, and only then, teach them about Godā€™s beautiful mercy in the sacrament of Confession, and show them intellectually (not emotionally) through Scripture and Tradition that it is the absolute truth.

If they tell you that if someone is a really good person and makes one mistake (even if it fulfills all three conditions for a mortal sin) that surely they will not go to hell, then it might be good to use the following analogy I learned from Scott Hahn.
Code: 
 There was once a person who was in incredible shape.  Every day he ran the stairs of the Eiffel Tower at least 50 times.  He ate right, exercised, got enough sleep, had friends, kept his mind in good condition - he was just in really good health.  One day, though, he ran to the top of the Eiffel Tower and was still doing everything he could to stay healthy, but he jumped off the building.  What do you think happened?  He died.  Are you sure he died, though?  He only made one mistake... Ah...but some mistakes are grave.  This was a physical example, but the same thing applies to the spiritual life.
So once again - teach them about confession. They will never be able to truly understand Godā€™s mercy if they do not understand His justice.
  1. Theology of the Body (For obvious reasons. This might be taught more in a morality class, though, so maybe another teacher is covering it, but itā€™s still fun and very good to add in.)
Iā€™m sorry this was so longā€¦I hope it helps!

May God bless you for your beautiful work, and may Mary keep you close in her heart.
Click to expand...
GREAT STUFF!!! THANK YOU!!!
 
Theology of the Body and Humanae Vitae are a much needed area of catechesis for young people. But itā€™s important to do it the right way. Remember, the starting point is Jesus and our relationship with Him, not sex. There is a reason that the third pillar of the Catechism (the section on morality) starts out with the dignity of the human person rather than with a list of sins to avoid. We start with the affirmation of the good rather than the pointing out of the bad (else we donā€™t know why itā€™s bad).

The reason that fornication, masturbation, pornography, etc. are sins is because of our great dignity as human beings made in the image and likeness of God. It is extremely important to get across the truth of our human dignity and its relationship with morality, else all of Catholic sexual morality will not make sense. It will only seem like arbitrary rules meant to keep us from having fun.

Just something to keep in mind.

Edit: Even Scripture begins with the good and the dignity of the human person (the whole ā€œcreated good and created in Godā€™s image and likenessā€ comes from Genesis 1). The Fall comes soon after, but it is not the very first thing. And even with the Fall, there is immediately a promise of redemption (Genesis 3:15).
 
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