How hard was transition from progressive to Cath school?

[Anonymous]

Coming from a small progressive into a Catholic school. We are not Catholic. What are the biggest challenges to anticipate?

[Anonymous]

I’m assuming you have no problem with the religious aspects and your child is willing and able to participate or sit quietly and respectfully.

What grade are you talking about? Some of the biggest difference are going to be in the younger grades, with a strong focus on foundational skills like grammar and constructing a paragraph, rote memorization of math facts, etc. By HS there’s honestly not as much difference except that religion classes are required, religious services are required, and there are more prayers.

[Anonymous]

My daughter did this as a freshman this past year and really had no issues. As long as your kid is willing to go with the flow with things like uniforms, attending mass, and religion classes, it's going to be fine.

[Anonymous]

NP. Very easy. Was nice to be in class with well-behaved kids who want to learn and have heard the word “no” before. At least that’s what my kids say.

[Anonymous]

Don't - Catholics don't want "progressives" in their schools. Aren't the many other progressive options good enough?

[Anonymous]

We’re in the same boat as OP. Going into
9th grade. We’re fine w/ curriculum, uniforms, and mass. My only concern is there is very little hierarchy with teachers/students, as is the design of progressive schools. My child isn’t disrespectful but very much voices their own opinion, isn’t afraid to offer a different point of view etc. Are most Catholic high school teachers really strict/hierarchical? Any thoughts on how to talk to DC about this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't - Catholics don't want "progressives" in their schools. Aren't the many other progressive options good enough?

What? Progressive schools are a pedagogy not a political affiliation. They often have left leaning members (as do Catholic schools btw), but it’s wholly untrue that Catholic schools “do not want” kids from progressive schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. Very easy. Was nice to be in class with well-behaved kids who want to learn and have heard the word “no” before. At least that’s what my kids say.

I can totally see that. A lot of “god child” going on at our K-8

[Anonymous]

A non issue. 2 of my kids went from public to Catholic/Jesuit schools in 6th and 10th grade. We are not Catholic. It was not an issue. They go to mass like everyone else. There is a big segment of the school that is not Catholic-at least in the Jesuit school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re in the same boat as OP. Going into
9th grade. We’re fine w/ curriculum, uniforms, and mass. My only concern is there is very little hierarchy with teachers/students, as is the design of progressive schools. My child isn’t disrespectful but very much voices their own opinion, isn’t afraid to offer a different point of view etc. Are most Catholic high school teachers really strict/hierarchical? Any thoughts on how to talk to DC about this?

Tell them to be quiet. It will be a good lesson for your child that not everybody is interested in what he/she thinks. There are plenty of adults walking around DC who don’t seem to have learned this yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't - Catholics don't want "progressives" in their schools. Aren't the many other progressive options good enough?

Just stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re in the same boat as OP. Going into
9th grade. We’re fine w/ curriculum, uniforms, and mass. My only concern is there is very little hierarchy with teachers/students, as is the design of progressive schools. My child isn’t disrespectful but very much voices their own opinion, isn’t afraid to offer a different point of view etc. Are most Catholic high school teachers really strict/hierarchical? Any thoughts on how to talk to DC about this?

I think you are operating on a misconception. At my kids' Catholic high school you are graded on being able to voice your opinion (respectfully). Sitting back and not participating does not fly. Your kid will be fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’re in the same boat as OP. Going into
9th grade. We’re fine w/ curriculum, uniforms, and mass. My only concern is there is very little hierarchy with teachers/students, as is the design of progressive schools. My child isn’t disrespectful but very much voices their own opinion, isn’t afraid to offer a different point of view etc. Are most Catholic high school teachers really strict/hierarchical? Any thoughts on how to talk to DC about this?

I think you are operating on a misconception. At my kids' Catholic high school you are graded on being able to voice your opinion (respectfully). Sitting back and not participating does not fly. Your kid will be fine.

Oh good to hear. I probably am channeling friends from my generation who were very much in a “sit up straight, stay quiet” kind of Catholic school.

[Anonymous]

My kid who did this learned the rules and played by them. However, we looked back at what they were taught, and it was really antiquated. In "health" class, they were taught that masturb__ is a sin. I didn't think that was a high school teacher's business.

Seemed like the school was stuck in the 1950s.

They also had teacher who graded you on whether or not you could memorize answers from the book. Thankfully, she retired and future kids will not be subjected to that terrible way of teaching.

The school was also "command and control" with an assumption that high school students are not good and do not do the right things. This got old very quickly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My kid who did this learned the rules and played by them. However, we looked back at what they were taught, and it was really antiquated. In "health" class, they were taught that masturb__ is a sin. I didn't think that was a high school teacher's business.

Seemed like the school was stuck in the 1950s.

They also had teacher who graded you on whether or not you could memorize answers from the book. Thankfully, she retired and future kids will not be subjected to that terrible way of teaching.

The school was also "command and control" with an assumption that high school students are not good and do not do the right things. This got old very quickly.

Thankfully our Catholic high school was nothing like that, but it sounds very similar to the public middle school they attended.