Double post

[dennis99ss]

I guess I don't understand. In a catholic school, the students will be taught a catholic education. They will learn the sacraments, they will say prayers every day, they will learn the rosary, they will go to mass. During school they will learn about and prepare for First communion and penance. They will learn of the saints, there will be pictures of the pope around (and maybe even JFK, in some older places) There will be crosses. The children will get religious items, etc. If you are going to a catholic school, surely you cannot expect a non-catholic atmosphere. If you have a problem with your kids going to mass, they won't be going to the catholic school, as, they will either be required to go, or, you would be asked to leave the school.

 

[chrissyk]

I guess I don't understand. In a catholic school, the students will be taught a catholic education. They will learn the sacraments, they will say prayers every day, they will learn the rosary, they will go to mass. During school they will learn about and prepare for First communion and penance. They will learn of the saints, there will be pictures of the pope around (and maybe even JFK, in some older places) There will be crosses. The children will get religious items, etc. If you are going to a catholic school, surely you cannot expect a non-catholic atmosphere. If you have a problem with your kids going to mass, they won't be going to the catholic school, as, they will either be required to go, or, you would be asked to leave the school.

Really? Even in my dad's Catholic school in the 1950's, the non-Catholic kids just sat out the religious teachings. I think that I need to find out how much this varies from school to school. If my kids are going to prepare for First Communion, Reconciliaton, Confirmation, etc. even though we're not Catholic, then this would certainly not be OK with me on any level. I just want the best education for my kids, but I that is too high a price to pay for me. I really thought that with so many non-Catholic kids now attending Catholic school, there would be some way to deal with the kids who aren't practicing the religion. I guess that I really might have been wrong

 

[golfgal]

We have a few non-Catholics at our school and yes, they are required to participate in the weekly all school Mass, although they don't receive Communion. They will learn about the Catholic faith in religion class. They will say prayers at the beginning of school, before lunch, after lunch and before they leave for the day. Part of sending your kids to a Catholic school is accepting this fact. The school is not going to alter it's beliefs or teachings because some non-Catholics attend and don't like the religion aspect, we have had some parent try. If you feel that strongly about not subjecting your children to the Catholic faith, I wouldn't consider sending them there.

 

[Christine]

I send both of my non-Catholic kids to a Catholic school because it is the best private school around.

My kids participate in ALL of the Catholic "activities" with the exception of communion. Since I'm not really "against" the Catholic teachings, I don't have a problem with this. We are not real religious in our family, but are basically Episcopalian, so it is pretty closed to what we are familiar with. I can see that if you were very 'strong' in another religion, this could be a problem.

But basically, I really don't mind my kids learning about other faiths--I think it's important to keep an open mind about everything. If the kids learn something in school that I don't really believe in (and they ask questions), I'll explain that some people believe this particular way but I will give reasons for why I don't.

 

[babar]

We have a few non-Catholics at our school and yes, they are required to participate in the weekly all school Mass, although they don't receive Communion. They will learn about the Catholic faith in religion class. They will say prayers at the beginning of school, before lunch, after lunch and before they leave for the day. Part of sending your kids to a Catholic school is accepting this fact. The school is not going to alter it's beliefs or teachings because some non-Catholics attend and don't like the religion aspect, we have had some parent try. If you feel that strongly about not subjecting your children to the Catholic faith, I wouldn't consider sending them there.

We said prayers in the mornig. That's it!

 

[chrissyk]

We have a few non-Catholics at our school and yes, they are required to participate in the weekly all school Mass, although they don't receive Communion. They will learn about the Catholic faith in religion class. They will say prayers at the beginning of school, before lunch, after lunch and before they leave for the day. Part of sending your kids to a Catholic school is accepting this fact. The school is not going to alter it's beliefs or teachings because some non-Catholics attend and don't like the religion aspect, we have had some parent try. If you feel that strongly about not subjecting your children to the Catholic faith, I wouldn't consider sending them there.

You are reinforcing my DH's point, LOL! I guess that I was misinformed in my thinking that non-Catholic kids could opt out of these things. Blah, now I have to tell my DH that he was right Thanks to everyone for some very good information. I DO feel strongly about not exposing my future children to the Catholic faith, and it sounds like it would be difficult to avoid if I sent them to Catholic elementary school. Catholic high school doesn't sound like an impossibility, though. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, though...that's quite a long way off.

 

[Deb in IA]

We are Episcopalian, and our kids have attended Catholic school from kindergarten. Our daughter has just started high school (!) and our son is in 5th grade.

Our school is about 90% Roman Catholic. The rest are a mix of other Christian denominations, and some non-Christians.

All students take religion class. In fact, our daughter's text this year is titled "Catholic Christianity" . . . or something like that (I just did the BOOK COVER for this, so I know!). They all participate in Prayer Services and Masses, but they do not receive Communion.

We chose this school because of it's emphasis on Christian values and service to the community, as well as it's rigorous academic curriculum. And it's closer to where we work than the public school.

 

[Traveliz]

You are reinforcing my DH's point, LOL! I guess that I was misinformed in my thinking that non-Catholic kids could opt out of these things. Blah, now I have to tell my DH that he was right Thanks to everyone for some very good information. I DO feel strongly about not exposing my future children to the Catholic faith, and it sounds like it would be difficult to avoid if I sent them to Catholic elementary school. Catholic high school doesn't sound like an impossibility, though. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, though...that's quite a long way off.

I am not Catholic but live right near the Catholic school and church in our town -- at any rate if you DO feel strongly about not exposing your children to the Catholic faith then frankly they don't belong at a Catholic school. Most of their friends and their families will be Catholic and EVEN IF they were allowed to sit out the Catholic activities (although I highly doubt that possible) they will still hear/learn about it from their friends at lunch, outside etc. They will way be exposed to the Catholic faith.

Liz

 

[Toby'sFriend]

We are in a similar situation with our children, but we send them to Lutheran school. The closest secular Private school to us is about a 50 minute drive in good traffic and people are right - the tuition is over twice as much. Our Public school just isn't much of an option right now. I read an article the other day that said on average, Religious based school enrollment is up about 11% over the past 3 years --- much higher in some areas. I know that the school my kids attend have a waiting list at nearly every class at the Grade School. DS told me the other day that the High school is down to one empty locker. The Principal told the Freshman this week that if they get more students, they will start having to double up.

Anyway, my experiences are very similar. My 6th grader takes Catechism and Religion with everybody else. He also attends their Chapel service every Friday morning. When he is in the 8th grade, he will take their Confirmation test and have the choice to join their church if he wishes. I had to sign a paper agreeing that the decision will be his to make. My oldest son went through that process but then chose to join our Methodist church. His teachers were fine with that decision. In High School he takes religion and has certain Church services at the Lutheran Church he is required to attend with his classmates. Those mostly occur during Lent. He doesn't take Communion at the Church, but otherwise they are perfectly welcoming. He often participates in their Youth Group activities.

I'm not one to get overly upset about the religion however. Faith is a personal matter and I don't think kids can make that descision without learning about the different options.

 

[golfgal]

You are reinforcing my DH's point, LOL! I guess that I was misinformed in my thinking that non-Catholic kids could opt out of these things. Blah, now I have to tell my DH that he was right Thanks to everyone for some very good information. I DO feel strongly about not exposing my future children to the Catholic faith, and it sounds like it would be difficult to avoid if I sent them to Catholic elementary school. Catholic high school doesn't sound like an impossibility, though. I guess we'll cross that bridge when we come to it, though...that's quite a long way off.

Just curious, what about the Catholic faith don't you like or don't you want your kids exposed to?

 

[stars75238]

My kids attend Catholic elementary school and everyone attends Mass twice a week. I would think a non-Catholic would feel funny at that age, when everyone gets up for the Communion line, waiting in their seat. I'm sure they'd get used to it, as soon as their classmates understood.

But since all schools have different Mass schedules, check with some parents at that particular school.

Also, usually Parish members get preference for the seats in the classroom, so if you want your kids to go there, it would be a good idea to get on the waiting list as soon as possible and get in as soon as possible (preschool?)

Good luck in your decision - I think the choice of school for one's childrens is one of the most important, and difficult decision!

 

[O2BNWDW]

chrissyK
I attended both a catholic elementary and high school. There were a lot of non-catholics that attended both.

I would think as far as the fear of religious doctrine being shoved down their throats, I think you would do some curriculum research regarding the school.

Religion classes consisted of teaching about all religions. And we were taught about tolerance of others faith. We DID not attend mass weekly, nor monthly. Just a few times a year.

But if you are afraid your children will 'catch' something then best not send them.

 

[stars75238]

children to the Catholic faith.... You would be very uncomfortable in a Catholic school then. I'm sure you'd have a difficult time fitting in with the parents etc....

Also, since in most cases, the most people who go to School are parish members and regularly attend Mass it tends to very a very tight (but wonderful) community!

 

[Tuffcookie]

Hi Chrissy!

I am a Baptist but sent my youngest DS to Catholic Kindergarten. Being a working mom, I had to have all day kindergarten and at the time the public school only had 1/2 day kindergarten.

It was WONDERFUL! I really loved his teachers. The only draw back was I was charged double the tuition because I wasn't Catholic.

The church/school was only 4 doors down from my house, so I could walk him to school in the morning, walk to my office (which was about 3 blocks away! )
I really saved gas that year! The school also had an after-school latch-key program so, in my opinion, it was really worth the peace of mind, knowing he was in one place all day.

I just thought of another draw back...Sometimes I would walk home for lunch and once DS saw me while he was on the playground for recess. He was having a bad day and wanted to come home with me!!!

The following year, the public schools went to all-day kindergarten (FIGURES!)

TC

 

[MrsKreamer]

Ok so you want to send your future kids to a good school but don't want the icky Catholics? Well then I would look at other options b/c I can't imagine a school changing their ways for non-catholic students. I went to Catholic schools for 12 years. In grammar school we did have one girl in my class who sat out of Communion in mass but it wasn't a big deal. However when we were going through Confirmation, she decided she wanted to participate and join the Church. So we got to attend her baptism, her first communion and then she was confirmed with the rest of us. So unless you would be prepared to allow your children make those choices then I would opt out completely.

 

[welovewdw]

My children were in catholic schools until this year from Pre-K through high school. About 30% in the elementary school were not catholic, in the all girls high school my daughter went to, about 50% were not catholic. Most were going because while they are not catholic, they did have similar philosophies and morals, and wanted a top notch education for their children (and the catholic schools are less expensive than other private schools here)

I think you may have a hard time fitting in with how adamantly you don't want them taught religion. I would not enroll my child where I objected to the core beliefs in a school - it doesn't mean you have to agree that you believe the exact same thing, but you can't actually be against it and think you'll be happy there. Believe me, there are enough non-religious issues that can irritate you at any school.

At both schools, all children were required to take religion classes and go to mass, as other posters said, they did not take communion. The kids don't really care- my kids have never thought twice about who got communion and who didn't - it's not something most kids worry about (what religion their friends are)

My children are not in catholic schools this year - first year in 12 years we haven't been there!! 2 are in public high school and the youngest is in an independent private school (at 4x the cost. LOL) I can see both sides - I can definitely see a strong moral fiber in our 2 oldest children and hoping our youngest turns out the same. I'm sure part of that is due to hearing consistent values at both home and school. I do think other schools offer that, too though - not just catholic schools.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

My mom send my brother and sis' to parochial school when we lived in New Orleans. It really wasn't a big deal. My sister was baptized Catholic but my mom (divorced from her dad) was Methodist and my brother wasn't even baptized.

As far as Holy Trinity--that is a pricy pricey school. I had a friend who pulled her kids out and it was not b/c of the money. She's a very honest woman and came across something she felt blatantly dishonest and yet condoned by the school.

There are some Christian academies around--but they are needles in haystacks. A lot less cheaper than Holy Trinity and supposedly with good messages and such.

Based on your previous posts regarding your departure from the Catholic Faith--I would be skeptical about saying go ahead and send the kids--b/c they will still be required to learn and study the faith as the parochial schools do not exempt kids from that. I do have the pamphlet with me for down the street and this is stated explicitly. I do believe it is going to be the Diocese that dictates this and not each individual parish.

I will tell you that the school down the street--is great for "average" students...but if you have a gifted student or even one who has a serious LD--they are better off in another environment. (I hope that makes sense---good school...but a good school for the middle of the road students).

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Is this the norm? In schools with a larger non-Catholic clientele, do the schools generally allow for a more secular education of those non-Catholic students?

I have a feeling that I'm going to have to tell my DH that he was right about this subject and I was wrong when he gets home tonight, LOL!

No they do not and you will find this in any Christian school in the area I believe. They will have something "religous based" that is going to be mandatory.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Everyone in all Catholic schools go to Mass. You just don't get communion if you aren't Catholic. But don't get too worried, Mass usually consisted of getting in trouble and giggling in grade school, and talking to your friends in high school!!

Our local grade school--not a peep from anyone. Parents are invited to attend and the prinicipal is right there up front--so that may have something to do with it.

I was shocked and amazed at the decorum of pre-school thru 8th grade students.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I think that Catholic high school is different from Catholic elementary school, though. By high school, beliefs are pretty solid a lot of the time, and kids aren't as easily swayed (hopefully!). I would have no issues whatsoever with a Catholic high school. The age range that I'm more concerned about would be preK-grade 8. No matter what, I want the best education for my future kids. The way I see it, we chose to move to an area with public schools that we're not confident in, and this may be the price that we pay. I'm having a hard time convincing DH that this would even be an option, though.

The elementary school is actually better (from what I hear) than the parochial school....middle school is where it gets sketchy b/c of the environment--and you can always homeschool for that as you previously mentioned on another thread.