Should a Catholic Teach at a Catholic School?

[emergingfaith]

Hello-

Our gifts and desires come from God–what thoughts do you have about teachers? Should those with the gift and desire to be a teacher strongly consider serving God within a Catholic School setting? When at a public school, it seems one has to be a little limited in the truth one can convey…e.g., praying with students, giving the Church’s perspective on issues that may arise, etc. However, I know we need strong Catholics in public schools. I’d be interested in your thoughts…especially considering not only k-12 education but also teaching/writing within higher education.

Thanks.

 

[puzzleannie]

I would think a Catholic who is a teacher could witness equally well in either a parochial or public school, and that witness might be even more important in public school. I suppose it comes down to where you can get a job with salary and benefits that meet your needs.

we are very fortunate here that many if not most public school teachers are professed Catholics and are not shy about living their faith in all aspects of life. the annual Mass with the bishop for educators gets a huge attendance, and it is comforting to know such a cadre of good teachers is available to our children. Even if you can’t get a job in a Catholic school, do consider serving your parish as a catechists, where your teaching skills and experience will be invaluable. About half our catechists are also public school teachers. (most of the Catholic school teachers send their kids to public school as well, and CCD, because they cant’ afford the tuition).

 

[daughterofmary]

I think, with the state of our “Catholic” schools today we need all the truly Catholic teachers we can get in there. I think it is wonderful that a Catholic woman/man would teach in a public school in hopes of being able to better witness to others that are not of our Catholic faith. But, many of our Catholic schools are leading innocent young already Catholic souls astray from the truth because many teachers do not know their faith or are either heretics. We need good Catholic teachers to go into our Catholic schools and actually teach Catholicism.

I do not know, but I would estimate that the same amount of young people walk away from a public school experience having lost faith or never had it then the amount of those that now walk out of our “Catholic” schools. It is so very sad. If your a teacher, we need you!

God bless you! Wherever God guides you, whether it be public or private Catholic, may he use you in wonderful ways!

In Jesus and Mary,
Marie