H
hwriggles4
Guest
All:
One thing I am concerned about:
I remember in high school I liked going to Youth Group on Sunday night, and having a social friendship with those present. I even went to the senior prom with a girl that I met in the group. However, one thing that always bugged me is that when we went to school the next day, by third period many of the Youth Group members were back into their “cliques”, forgot about any presentations the night before, and quite a few pretended at school “oh, I don’t know him or her”. This was one reason I got disgusted with high school retreats, because you felt you formed a bond with a group over the weekend, and then by Monday afternoon it was dissolved.
This is not just a Catholic problem. My Protestant friends would also share with me at their churches this is also a common situation. I also recall in high school that quite a few of us in Scouting were reluctant to discuss Scouts at school, unless we were having lunch together, mostly because at that time (1980s) Scouting wasn’t seen as “cool in high school”, and the only way you knew who was in Scouts were the guys in your troop, or the guys in Order of the Arrow, or the guys who wore their Philmont belts (I was one of them).
Seriously, I do think within the past 10-15 years the “cliquish” attitude is not as prevalent as it once was (I did Youth Ministry as a volunteer and our Youth Minister would sometimes get permission to visit the public high schools where quite a few parishioners attended, and the Youth today tend to get more of the “meat and potatoes”, and not the “happy clappy” or “let’s talk about feelings”), but it is still there. Our Catholic youth need to be encouraged, and “cliquish” attitudes tend to be a deterrent.
I’m also a CCD teacher, but most of the CCD kids that I’ve had are from such a cross section and go to other schools that many do not socialize out of class, primarily because they don’t see each other regularly outside of CCD class. I can see where this CCD scenario would be different in a smaller town, where most kids would know each other, particularly if there is only one or two schools.
On a personal note, my nephew did his confirmation preparation at another parish, in part because of “cliques” at the parish his family normally attends, and he felt much more comfortable with the youth at a parish about ten miles in the opposite direction (he does live in a large city), and my brother was open to doing this for him…I’m glad he did.
I’m looking for suggestions to see how to help break up “cliques”. This can be for any group, including schools, parishes, civic, etc. , but I’m looking primarily for ways to help our Youth.
Productive comments will be appreciated. Thank you.
One thing I am concerned about:
I remember in high school I liked going to Youth Group on Sunday night, and having a social friendship with those present. I even went to the senior prom with a girl that I met in the group. However, one thing that always bugged me is that when we went to school the next day, by third period many of the Youth Group members were back into their “cliques”, forgot about any presentations the night before, and quite a few pretended at school “oh, I don’t know him or her”. This was one reason I got disgusted with high school retreats, because you felt you formed a bond with a group over the weekend, and then by Monday afternoon it was dissolved.
This is not just a Catholic problem. My Protestant friends would also share with me at their churches this is also a common situation. I also recall in high school that quite a few of us in Scouting were reluctant to discuss Scouts at school, unless we were having lunch together, mostly because at that time (1980s) Scouting wasn’t seen as “cool in high school”, and the only way you knew who was in Scouts were the guys in your troop, or the guys in Order of the Arrow, or the guys who wore their Philmont belts (I was one of them).
Seriously, I do think within the past 10-15 years the “cliquish” attitude is not as prevalent as it once was (I did Youth Ministry as a volunteer and our Youth Minister would sometimes get permission to visit the public high schools where quite a few parishioners attended, and the Youth today tend to get more of the “meat and potatoes”, and not the “happy clappy” or “let’s talk about feelings”), but it is still there. Our Catholic youth need to be encouraged, and “cliquish” attitudes tend to be a deterrent.
I’m also a CCD teacher, but most of the CCD kids that I’ve had are from such a cross section and go to other schools that many do not socialize out of class, primarily because they don’t see each other regularly outside of CCD class. I can see where this CCD scenario would be different in a smaller town, where most kids would know each other, particularly if there is only one or two schools.
On a personal note, my nephew did his confirmation preparation at another parish, in part because of “cliques” at the parish his family normally attends, and he felt much more comfortable with the youth at a parish about ten miles in the opposite direction (he does live in a large city), and my brother was open to doing this for him…I’m glad he did.
I’m looking for suggestions to see how to help break up “cliques”. This can be for any group, including schools, parishes, civic, etc. , but I’m looking primarily for ways to help our Youth.
Productive comments will be appreciated. Thank you.