Catholic Schools in General

[Anonymous]

The Catholic Church has always catered to the lower SES classes in America - even as some Catholics move up the SES ladder recent Catholic immigrants take their place at the bottom of the SES ladder.

Catholic schools historically played an important role in urban areas. As urban areas became less Catholic and more minority, the diversity of Catholic schools increased substantially. Urban Catholic schools are now often majority minority and non-catholic.

Now, however, charter schools are providing another alternative to failed public systems.

[Anonymous]

We are Buddhist and did generally fine in a DC Catholic school for all of elementary and middle school. We took it as an opportunity to learn about and participate in another culture.

As commented above, the degree which a school is Catholic can change over time. When we started it was not so Catholic with about half the kids non-Catholic. Near the end, it was 90% Catholic, and the Sisters and religion teacher started giving our kids the stink eye. We didn't feel as welcome when we left.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate? I know the kids don't participate in communion, etc. (but they go to masses); at least they did at my school. Besides that, how are the kids impacted in the classroom? How are the parents impacted? NP btw.

If you feel fine, I'm sure your family is fine. However you are probably not super cliquey. It's a problem with the snobs / elites in the school. We ignore those people too though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Catholic school parent here who believes that non-Catholics have a hard time blending in. We aren't particularly religious but my husband and I were both brought up Catholic. People are okay with single moms generally speaking but non-Catholics seem to be given a harder time. We wouldn't judge but unfortunately many others would.

+1 (also from experience)

[Anonymous]

My child attended local Catholic grade school K-8th grade, a small school (about 300 kids, 1 class per grade). I volunteered there a lot every year and knew many of the parents.

In all of her time there, I had no idea who was not Catholic, nor did the topic ever come up in any discussions with others. Was not an issue whatsoever.

[Anonymous]

Our parish school principal is divorced. Being a single parent isn't a big deal and common (perhaps not as common at noncatholic schools).

[Anonymous]

Catholic schools produce more atheists than what the communist countries schools ever did

[Anonymous]

It totally depends on the school.

[Anonymous]

Isn't there a big variation in schools? I remember looking at Woods Academy and they really stressed that not everyone was Catholic, but I was still concerned about Catholic doctrine such as abortion, Pope, etc.

Any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Isn't there a big variation in schools? I remember looking at Woods Academy and they really stressed that not everyone was Catholic, but I was still concerned about Catholic doctrine such as abortion, Pope, etc.

Any thoughts?

Interesting putting abortion and Pope side by side.
Woods Academy is not a High School -- so why even worry about these things?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate? I know the kids don't participate in communion, etc. (but they go to masses); at least they did at my school. Besides that, how are the kids impacted in the classroom? How are the parents impacted? NP btw.

If you feel fine, I'm sure your family is fine. However you are probably not super cliquey. It's a problem with the snobs / elites in the school. We ignore those people too though.

NP. I have to agree with this. We tried two Catholic Schools (and, yes, paid the Protestant rate - I hate that hurtful parent who keeps popping up saying the prots. are trying to get a private school education on the cheap by going with Catholic Schools). We admired the values of the schools; the communities; the intact families; and the devotion. It's very hard for me to put a finger on . . but we were never trulyl welcomed. Many of the families had grown up in the parish or in the neighboring Catholic schools and were very tight. They just didn't seem to have "time" for new people. I'm the dad - both my wife and I tried to get in the spirit. We did the auctions, the trips, the fundraisers, everything . . but there just seemed to be an elite (in their own minds) clique that did everything together. It worked well for the first year, then started to fall apart. Other protestant families left too. I found the gossip repellant. There was no teacher sympathy for any kids that any type of learning issues or alphabet issue (ADHD/OCD/ADD/Anxiety disorder/executive functioning). Granted most of the teachers had no training in those areas but I watch kids really suffer when the teachers yelled at them and were punitive about missing papers, bad penmanship, homework assignments, acting out in class. My roommate from law school had also been educated in Catholic schools and explained that the guilt he carried was enormous. I saw that in action in the two schools we tried. I would never do it again.

But to answer the first question. Yes, the non-catholic kids sit with the class during communion (depending on your grade many of the kids may not be able to take communion yet themselves). The children usually go up and cross their arms to receive a blessing but not the Host. Many of the festivals the schools hold (crowning of Mary, etc.) will be new to your child. Facility with Hail Marys and rosaries is expected. Some schools, like Oakcrest, have religious homework that one Prot. friend found disturbing. The head of the school or related Priest may try to spend special time with your child to encourage him or her to become Catholic. Or, in our case, they were ignored.

But what I found most troublesome was the way the teachers treated the kids, each other, other parents, and the gossip among the parents. We were glad to leave and never looked back. It was not the best moment for the Catholic Church and my family will never become Catholic due to the negative experiences we had. And, yes, that's why some Christians say Catholics aren't Christian. I did not have this feeling before we tried Catholic Schools. I definitely have it now. And, no, I'm not a Catholic basher.

[Anonymous]

Protestant single mom here with child at a very conservative Catholic school. I have felt 100% welcomed. I am amazed at the generosity of spirit by the students, staff, and parents. I am definitely non-traditional in terms of the parents, but it hasn't been a problem.

[Anonymous]

Make sure you pick one that actually demonstrates values!http://deadspin.com/will-the-pope-save-the-soul-of-a-d-c-area-high-school-1638492194

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate? I know the kids don't participate in communion, etc. (but they go to masses); at least they did at my school. Besides that, how are the kids impacted in the classroom? How are the parents impacted? NP btw.

If you feel fine, I'm sure your family is fine. However you are probably not super cliquey. It's a problem with the snobs / elites in the school. We ignore those people too though.

NP. I have to agree with this. We tried two Catholic Schools (and, yes, paid the Protestant rate - I hate that hurtful parent who keeps popping up saying the prots. are trying to get a private school education on the cheap by going with Catholic Schools). We admired the values of the schools; the communities; the intact families; and the devotion. It's very hard for me to put a finger on . . but we were never trulyl welcomed. Many of the families had grown up in the parish or in the neighboring Catholic schools and were very tight. They just didn't seem to have "time" for new people. I'm the dad - both my wife and I tried to get in the spirit. We did the auctions, the trips, the fundraisers, everything . . but there just seemed to be an elite (in their own minds) clique that did everything together. It worked well for the first year, then started to fall apart. Other protestant families left too. I found the gossip repellant. There was no teacher sympathy for any kids that any type of learning issues or alphabet issue (ADHD/OCD/ADD/Anxiety disorder/executive functioning). Granted most of the teachers had no training in those areas but I watch kids really suffer when the teachers yelled at them and were punitive about missing papers, bad penmanship, homework assignments, acting out in class. My roommate from law school had also been educated in Catholic schools and explained that the guilt he carried was enormous. I saw that in action in the two schools we tried. I would never do it again.

But to answer the first question. Yes, the non-catholic kids sit with the class during communion (depending on your grade many of the kids may not be able to take communion yet themselves). The children usually go up and cross their arms to receive a blessing but not the Host. Many of the festivals the schools hold (crowning of Mary, etc.) will be new to your child. Facility with Hail Marys and rosaries is expected. Some schools, like Oakcrest, have religious homework that one Prot. friend found disturbing. The head of the school or related Priest may try to spend special time with your child to encourage him or her to become Catholic. Or, in our case, they were ignored.

But what I found most troublesome was the way the teachers treated the kids, each other, other parents, and the gossip among the parents. We were glad to leave and never looked back. It was not the best moment for the Catholic Church and my family will never become Catholic due to the negative experiences we had. And, yes, that's why some Christians say Catholics aren't Christian. I did not have this feeling before we tried Catholic Schools. I definitely have it now. And, no, I'm not a Catholic basher.

The fundamental purpose of Catholic Schools is the propagation of the faith. There is little interest in using them to recruit new Catholics.

These are schools for Catholics run by Catholics and frequently supported by the parish. Protestants that choose to take advantage of them should understand this.

The presence of Catholic schools in the inner cities is another role or mission. The church is providing a sorely needed alternative to the public schools

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can you elaborate? I know the kids don't participate in communion, etc. (but they go to masses); at least they did at my school. Besides that, how are the kids impacted in the classroom? How are the parents impacted? NP btw.

If you feel fine, I'm sure your family is fine. However you are probably not super cliquey. It's a problem with the snobs / elites in the school. We ignore those people too though.

NP. I have to agree with this. We tried two Catholic Schools (and, yes, paid the Protestant rate - I hate that hurtful parent who keeps popping up saying the prots. are trying to get a private school education on the cheap by going with Catholic Schools). We admired the values of the schools; the communities; the intact families; and the devotion. It's very hard for me to put a finger on . . but we were never trulyl welcomed. Many of the families had grown up in the parish or in the neighboring Catholic schools and were very tight. They just didn't seem to have "time" for new people. I'm the dad - both my wife and I tried to get in the spirit. We did the auctions, the trips, the fundraisers, everything . . but there just seemed to be an elite (in their own minds) clique that did everything together. It worked well for the first year, then started to fall apart. Other protestant families left too. I found the gossip repellant. There was no teacher sympathy for any kids that any type of learning issues or alphabet issue (ADHD/OCD/ADD/Anxiety disorder/executive functioning). Granted most of the teachers had no training in those areas but I watch kids really suffer when the teachers yelled at them and were punitive about missing papers, bad penmanship, homework assignments, acting out in class. My roommate from law school had also been educated in Catholic schools and explained that the guilt he carried was enormous. I saw that in action in the two schools we tried. I would never do it again.

A testimony that explains that non-Catholics at Catholic schools will eventually be disappointed in what they get.

But to answer the first question. Yes, the non-catholic kids sit with the class during communion (depending on your grade many of the kids may not be able to take communion yet themselves). The children usually go up and cross their arms to receive a blessing but not the Host. Many of the festivals the schools hold (crowning of Mary, etc.) will be new to your child. Facility with Hail Marys and rosaries is expected. Some schools, like Oakcrest, have religious homework that one Prot. friend found disturbing. The head of the school or related Priest may try to spend special time with your child to encourage him or her to become Catholic. Or, in our case, they were ignored.

But what I found most troublesome was the way the teachers treated the kids, each other, other parents, and the gossip among the parents. We were glad to leave and never looked back. It was not the best moment for the Catholic Church and my family will never become Catholic due to the negative experiences we had. And, yes, that's why some Christians say Catholics aren't Christian. I did not have this feeling before we tried Catholic Schools. I definitely have it now. And, no, I'm not a Catholic basher.