School Related - Would You Do Anything?

[daisax]

I can see your point, but why set up a debate for the children to choose sides? By doing that you're setting out to target children for individual humiliation.

There's no reason why the teacher couldn't have said "here are the candidates, but we can't endorse Obama because he's in favor of legalized abortion and the Church teaches us..."

Instead it was a kind of "gotcha" thing. With 13 year olds.

The teacher could also have pointed out that McCain is pro death penalty, which is also against the Catholic Church's teachings, and in favor of the war in Iraq, which the Church has criticized.

Funny how that didn't happen, though.

 

[amyhughes]

I can see your point, but why set up a debate for the children to choose sides? By doing that you're setting out to target children for individual humiliation.

There's no reason why the teacher couldn't have said "here are the candidates, but we can't endorse Obama because he's in favor of legalized abortion and the Church teaches us..."

Instead it was a kind of "gotcha" thing. With 13 year olds.

The teacher could also have pointed out that McCain is pro death penalty, which is also against the Catholic Church's teachings, and in favor of the war in Iraq, which the Church has criticized.

Funny how that didn't happen, though.

According to Pope Benedict, the issue of abortion is the trump card, so to speak. This issue is above all others as far as importance come election time to the Catholic Church. Not wanting to stir , just wanted to let you know that in the Catholic faith this issue does go above and beyond any other misgivings.

 

[ChrizJen]

I can see the Breaking News story Now! Catholic School teaches Catholic Doctrine and points out to child that Obama supports abortion!! This will indeed be a news flash! I am shocked! Just shocked. It reminds me of the scene from Casablanca; "You mean there is gambling going on here??
If her son doesn't want his opinion commented upon, he needs to learn to keep it to himself. He is attending a Catholic school. One can't go for the education and think that they won't get the entire package.

His teacher was ASKING him for his opinion. He's a child. When asked, he's going to answer. If the teacher wanted to make a point about the church's teachings on the issues, then the teacher should have just had a lesson on it. But DON'T sit in front of a class of children, ask them for their opinion, and then chastise them for it. The teacher set them up. It's cruel and uncalled for.

 

[Christine]

CHristine-I don't mean to be rude, but you've had other issues with this school before, correct (with evolution and The Golden Compass)?
I'm outraged for your son, but could causing a stir at school prevent DS getting into the high school of his choice?

Good memory! Yes, in the past 2 years we've had a problem with the Golden Compass and a science teacher who would not teach evolution. She was not hired back this year; however, no one EVER stood up last year in the administration and told her she was wrong.

As I said, this school has quickly become "evangelical" and I don't know what happened. It was so "normal" when my daughter was there 6 years ago.

Dawn, I don't have a problem with them teaching their doctrine. They do everyday and I don't take ANY issue with it. It was the singling out, pulling my son in the principal's office, and telling him why his choice was wrong. He already knows that his choice is against Catholic slant--I don't see why they need to pull him aside.

As for what he "could" have said about McCain, I have made at a point, at home, not to speak negatively about either candidate. My son knows I like Obama and my DH won't tell him who he was "for" (I secretly think McCain) so we've remained neutral. I kind of want my kids to form their own opinion. So between some of my comments and the daily preachings at school, I feel he did choose on his own. I just want his choice respected.

 

[Uncle Remus]

Your son is being bullied at school, maybe you can find some useful information here:

Family members—parents, siblings, grandparents, and others—play key roles in helping to prevent bullying, stopping bullying that may be occurring, and helping children and youth to cope with bullying that they already have experienced. Bullying can take many forms, such as: hitting or punching, teasing or name-calling, intimidation through gestures, social exclusion, and sending insulting messages or pictures by mobile phone or using the Internet (also known as cyber bullying).

Stop Bullying Now

Good luck to your son and you.

 

[amyhughes]

See on the evolution thing, that actually sticks out as odd for me. Most Catholics, and our parish, do not believe in the Fundamental story of Adam and Eve, or that God created the world in 7 days (what is a day to God, KWIM?), but more along the lines of Intelligent Design. That the theory of Evolution is to be explored, and that God had his divine input at every step of the way.

To not teach it at all is just weird beyond measure to me.

 

[Kycha]

To the OP, this is a little off topic but, if you are not Catholic, why do you send your children to Catholic school? I'm not trying to be snarky in any way. I am really curious.

 

[troobabiee7]

I can see the Breaking News story Now! Catholic School teaches Catholic Doctrine and points out to child that Obama supports abortion!! This will indeed be a news flash! I am shocked! Just shocked. It reminds me of the scene from Casablanca; "You mean there is gambling going on here??
If her son doesn't want his opinion commented upon, he needs to learn to keep it to himself. He is attending a Catholic school. One can't go for the education and think that they won't get the entire package.

Wow, now I'M shocked! I always went to public schools and I now teach at a public school, where the children are taught to foster their own opinions and learn to speak their minds. I always went to public schools and I now teach at a public school, where the children are taught to foster their own opinions and learn to speak their minds. How could you possibly expect a child to get a well-rounded education when they're taught to just "sit down and shut up" if their teachers don't agree? These are children we're talking about - regardless of what kind of school they're in, it's NEVER OK to single out an innocent child and make them feel bad for having an opinion. Ever. Priest, nun, whoever... this is completely disgusting behavior. As I've said before, if such closed-minded and intolerant people are shaping the minds of the future, I'm truly afraid of what the future holds. It's despicable actually.

 

[DawnCt1]

His teacher was ASKING him for his opinion. He's a child. When asked, he's going to answer. If the teacher wanted to make a point about the church's teachings on the issues, then the teacher should have just had a lesson on it. But DON'T sit in front of a class of children, ask them for their opinion, and then chastise them for it. The teacher set them up. It's cruel and uncalled for.

She may not be a good teacher. She may not be a nice person, but when you chose to send your child to a Catholic school, you will get Catholic doctrine. I am not Catholic but DH was. He can tell you "nun" stories that would curl your hair. He got a good education however. As far as the school/church endorsing a candidate, they aren't specifically endorsing a candidate and violating their tax free status. They are responding to a situation that arose in the class room and offering an explanation.

 

[Pin Wizard]

I am not an Obama fan. PERIOD.
Does your son want you to fight this battle for him?
If so, I would be making an appt. with the school. Your son has the right and the priviledge to support any presidential canidate for any reason he chooses. He does not have to defend his position to anyone for any reason.
As a parent, tuition is paid to the school to educate your child. I understand the lesson on the debate process, the voting process, teaching that as part of our citizenship we have a responsibility to choose officials that represent us-as closly as possible to our ideas and ideals...all worthy and admirable lessons. The school crossed the line (even as a Parochial/Religion theology based one) and violated your sons God given Constitutional rights. Not only that, there is the issue of the violence. What would have happened if your son (wrongly) had hit someone?
Give your son a hug for me. I don't agree with his political beliefs. However I admire his abilty to stand up for it & the fact that he did educate himself on the canidates and their beliefs.

I have to agree. He did a great job supporting his beliefs! That's the important part. It's not easy to hold up your end with administration in a catholic school!! If he wants your help, I'd then contact them to meet. But I also believe them pulling him in the office for a discussion wasn't right.

 

[hentob]

As for the notebook incident, they are middle schoolers, heck they pound on each other all the time.

Nowadays, bullying is sort of not accepted.

I don't think it is normal to hit other people.

 

[Pin Wizard]

See on the evolution thing, that actually sticks out as odd for me. Most Catholics, and our parish, do not believe in the Fundamental story of Adam and Eve, or that God created the world in 7 days (what is a day to God, KWIM?), but more along the lines of Intelligent Design. That the theory of Evolution is to be explored, and that God had his divine input at every step of the way.

To not teach it at all is just weird beyond measure to me.

Are you Roman Catholic? I've never heard this. All our churches have followed the Adam and Eve teaching, creation of the world, etc.

 

[hentob]

......it's NEVER OK to single out an innocent child and make them feel bad for having an opinion. Ever. Priest, nun, whoever... this is completely disgusting behavior. As I've said before, if such closed-minded and intolerant people are shaping the minds of the future, I'm truly afraid of what the future holds. It's despicable actually.

 

[DawnCt1]

Wow, now I'M shocked! I always went to public schools and I now teach at a public school, where the children are taught to foster their own opinions and learn to speak their minds. How could you possibly expect a child to get a well-rounded education when they're taught to just "sit down and shut up" if their teachers don't agree? These are children we're talking about - regardless of what kind of school they're in, it's NEVER OK to single out an innocent child and make them feel bad for having an opinion. Ever. Priest, nun, whoever... this is completely disgusting behavior. As I've said before, if such closed-minded and intolerant people are shaping the minds of the future, I'm truly afraid of what the future holds. It's despicable actually.

If a parent choses a Catholic school because they feel it affords their child a "better education", they have to accept that they will be taught Catholic doctrine in the process. Many Catholic parents, or Baptist parents, etc will chose a school of their particular denomination because they want that type of Christian education. If I didn't want my child exposed to that, I wouldn't chose that type of school. I would chose public school. If the school, the teacher, the principal and the doctrine are not acceptable, the mother can remove her child. Its a free country.

 

[amyhughes]

Are you Roman Catholic? I've never heard this. All our churches have followed the Adam and Eve teaching, creation of the world, etc.

Yep. Actually I am sponsoring my DH through RCIA and this issue came up with our Deacon in the past few weeks. The important part that he brought up was that the message of God the Creator, not the literal black/white on the page translation. Also, Pope John Paul II before he passed (I believe it was 1998 or 99) spoke about Intelligent Design and the Theory of Evolution.

Our local Catholic High School teaches Darwin's theory and has for the past two decades.

 

[troobabiee7]

If a parent choses a Catholic school because they feel it affords their child a "better education", they have to accept that they will be taught Catholic doctrine in the process. Many Catholic parents, or Baptist parents, etc will chose a school of their particular denomination because they want that type of Christian education. If I didn't want my child exposed to that, I wouldn't chose that type of school. I would chose public school. If the school, the teacher, the principal and the doctrine are not acceptable, the mother can remove her child. Its a free country.

That's true, absolutely. But there's a difference between teaching the Catholic doctrine and singling out a child for their beliefs. Teaching that abortion is sin is one thing, but teaching a child that they're wrong for believing in a particular political candidate goes above and beyond what's acceptable. What happened was way out of line. I have a lot of friends who went to Catholic school growing up and never dealt with this kind of thing, so I honestly don't think it's all Catholic school. It just strikes me as odd that the school would be so intolerant towards CHILDREN, especially considering the allegations that have been coming out of the Catholic church these past few years. Is THAT not a sin? It's so hypocritical.

 

[fourdaughters]

Yep. Actually I am sponsoring my DH through RCIA and this issue came up with our Deacon in the past few weeks. The important part that he brought up was that the message of God the Creator, not the literal black/white on the page translation. Also, Pope John Paul II before he passed (I believe it was 1998 or 99) spoke about Intelligent Design and the Theory of Evolution.

Our local Catholic High School teaches Darwin's theory and has for the past two decades.

Yep, same here. Roman Catholic and my girls grade school and high school teach both. They also held mock elections and have had no reports of any one being chastized for their view/vote.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Just be thankful the schools aren't still run by nuns.

DS was in two Catholic schools in two different states...both run by nuns. And the Catholic high school here is also run by nuns.

The parents had a good laugh at our school in FL. When Monsignor was done with his talk, he turned it over to the school principal. Never mind addressing her as Sister. He said don't ask him any questions about the school. All questions could be directed to General Murphy. Yup, Sr. Murphy. This is at the largest parish in Palm Beach County.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

What bothers me about the OPs story is not the fact that her son was pulled into the office and lectured, but the bullying that is going on because of his views. Regardless of which candidate you support, bullying should not be tolerated.

If I were you, I would go to the school office and inform them about what is going on regarding the bullying. If they don't do anything, go to the diocese. Your son should not be bullied for his views. If nothing else works, you may want to switch him to a different school.

Best of luck!

 

[Christine]

To the OP, this is a little off topic but, if you are not Catholic, why do you send your children to Catholic school? I'm not trying to be snarky in any way. I am really curious.

Both my kids were in public school for most of elementary. We are zoned for a "horrible" middle school. It seems that most people in our zoned area go to private if they can. My DD went to that horrible middle school for 45 days. That was enough so we moved to private and it was fine. When it was my son's turn to move (when a slot opened), I moved him.

My intention was public high school. My daughter went to the public high school for 1 year. It was really a joke, so I moved her back to private where the structure is just so much better for her.

Believe me, as a non-Catholic, if I felt my choices in public school were better, I would be there.