Oh, why, why, why did I choose Catholic school for my kids?

[Anonymous]

This is the second year my boys go to Catholic school. I was iffy after the first year, but I wanted to keep it stable for my first grader who has made wonderful friends, a new school can be stressful for little ones that have already made friends. But I should have grabbed my boys and ran the moment my first grader crucified my kindergartner to a construction paper cross, complete with blood on the hands, feet and forehead courtesy of red marker. My kindergartner mentioned he was going to hell because the teacher told a friend he was going there if he didn't behave. I kid you not, really, really? I volunteer a bit at the school on my free days (I only work part-time.) One day I was sorting papers for an activity in the Kinder classroom. A kindergartner was particularly bouncy on his seat, he was really struggling to remain seated, which I think is normal in 5 and 6 year old boys. He wasn't making noise, just kept bouncing up of his chair. I personally would have let him work standing up, what's the harm, right? But then I'm not a teacher, so don't lynch me. Well the teacher told him to stay on his chair like 10 times, and she was getting so frustrated, and the little guy obviously struggled to do so for a long period of time. Finally, she called him to the front, and announced that the whole class could thank little boy for not having recess that day. Little boy started to cry and I was so mortified. The assistant teacher acted like it was the most normal thing. I asked my son and he told me they miss recess all the time because that little boy and another boy "suck." I reprimanded him for using the word and explained that not all children that little have an easy time staying in their seat and that it is not their fault. But to him, it was their fault because the teacher made it that way. She pinned the whole class against these children. I just want to cry. I wrote a letter to the principal, her response was the rules of the class apply to all (in a nicely written email.) My first grader keeps coming home and bolting to the bathroom because the teacher does not allow them to use the bathroom more than twice a day, even though I have emailed her about it and so have other parents. Sooo, it is public school for us next year, thank goodness we have a great one in our neighborhood.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the second year my boys go to Catholic school. I was iffy after the first year, but I wanted to keep it stable for my first grader who has made wonderful friends, a new school can be stressful for little ones that have already made friends. But I should have grabbed my boys and ran the moment my first grader crucified my kindergartner to a construction paper cross, complete with blood on the hands, feet and forehead courtesy of red marker. My kindergartner mentioned he was going to hell because the teacher told a friend he was going there if he didn't behave. I kid you not, really, really? I volunteer a bit at the school on my free days (I only work part-time.) One day I was sorting papers for an activity in the Kinder classroom. A kindergartner was particularly bouncy on his seat, he was really struggling to remain seated, which I think is normal in 5 and 6 year old boys. He wasn't making noise, just kept bouncing up of his chair. I personally would have let him work standing up, what's the harm, right? But then I'm not a teacher, so don't lynch me. Well the teacher told him to stay on his chair like 10 times, and she was getting so frustrated, and the little guy obviously struggled to do so for a long period of time. Finally, she called him to the front, and announced that the whole class could thank little boy for not having recess that day. Little boy started to cry and I was so mortified. The assistant teacher acted like it was the most normal thing. I asked my son and he told me they miss recess all the time because that little boy and another boy "suck." I reprimanded him for using the word and explained that not all children that little have an easy time staying in their seat and that it is not their fault. But to him, it was their fault because the teacher made it that way. She pinned the whole class against these children. I just want to cry. I wrote a letter to the principal, her response was the rules of the class apply to all (in a nicely written email.) My first grader keeps coming home and bolting to the bathroom because the teacher does not allow them to use the bathroom more than twice a day, even though I have emailed her about it and so have other parents. Sooo, it is public school for us next year, thank goodness we have a great one in our neighborhood.

That's a shitty teacher but that isn't Catholic school specific.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the second year my boys go to Catholic school. I was iffy after the first year, but I wanted to keep it stable for my first grader who has made wonderful friends, a new school can be stressful for little ones that have already made friends. But I should have grabbed my boys and ran the moment my first grader crucified my kindergartner to a construction paper cross, complete with blood on the hands, feet and forehead courtesy of red marker. My kindergartner mentioned he was going to hell because the teacher told a friend he was going there if he didn't behave. I kid you not, really, really? I volunteer a bit at the school on my free days (I only work part-time.) One day I was sorting papers for an activity in the Kinder classroom. A kindergartner was particularly bouncy on his seat, he was really struggling to remain seated, which I think is normal in 5 and 6 year old boys. He wasn't making noise, just kept bouncing up of his chair. I personally would have let him work standing up, what's the harm, right? But then I'm not a teacher, so don't lynch me. Well the teacher told him to stay on his chair like 10 times, and she was getting so frustrated, and the little guy obviously struggled to do so for a long period of time. Finally, she called him to the front, and announced that the whole class could thank little boy for not having recess that day. Little boy started to cry and I was so mortified. The assistant teacher acted like it was the most normal thing. I asked my son and he told me they miss recess all the time because that little boy and another boy "suck." I reprimanded him for using the word and explained that not all children that little have an easy time staying in their seat and that it is not their fault. But to him, it was their fault because the teacher made it that way. She pinned the whole class against these children. I just want to cry. I wrote a letter to the principal, her response was the rules of the class apply to all (in a nicely written email.) My first grader keeps coming home and bolting to the bathroom because the teacher does not allow them to use the bathroom more than twice a day, even though I have emailed her about it and so have other parents. Sooo, it is public school for us next year, thank goodness we have a great one in our neighborhood.

I have a similar experience. My husband was transferred to a DC based office and we bought in Northern VA. Because of the change in schools we decided a smaller school would work better for our daughter who was going to be a third grader. Well it was the worse year. The bathroom issue is the same at her school. At home she uses the bathroom about 4 times in the morning/afternoon and at school she can only use it twice. She is so stressed out about this, but she is absolutely terrified of her teacher and won't ask more than twice. My daughter is a very aware child and she has mentioned how bad her teacher treats some kids, she actually makes fun of them. I consider her a bully and I have met with the principal twice. But she is just a peace keeper, not willing to take any sides. I have spoken to a lot of parents at the school and most of them have complaints about the teacher's methods, but they just stick with it because they are Catholic and they want a Catholic education for their children. We are Catholic also, just not crazy enough to make our daughter go through another year at Catholic school. We are back to public next year where our daughter was happy.

[Anonymous]

This is a problem specific to your schools not characteristic of Catholic schools in general.

[Anonymous]

It's always good to make the best decision for your family. I've had kids at public and Catholic. I can say from experience that your experiences are teacher- or school-specific. I haven't seen anything that bad at either Catholic or public, but the chances of something similar happening again are equal be it at a different Catholic school or a public school. Good luck next year.

[Anonymous]

I agree. Just like you can't blame all public school on one bad teacher (or shouldn't), you shouldn't blame all Catholic schools for one bad teacher, worse, one bad assistance teacher.

[Anonymous]

I'd pull them. Do you have other options? Authoritarian discipline should be a thing of the past.

[Anonymous]

My son's Catholic school teacher was not that bad, but did use shame to keep the kids in line.

I volunteered one day, and was in the classroom, when the teacher called up a K boy to the front of the morning circle, and had him stand there while she shoed the students how what he was wearing was not the correct uniform. She shamed him publicly -- "This is NOT the way we come dressed to school. Look at Billy's socks. Are they the correct socks? No. " Etc.

I thought is was horrible and pulled my kid from the school by the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

You are in the wrong school. I feel bad that you're trashing all Catholic schools because ours is nothing like that. We couldn't be happier with our experience for both kids.

[Anonymous]

AntiCatholic troll.

I've taught in public and Catholic schools. The Catholic ones are more desirable by miles: appropriate discipline, fewer head cases, fewer special snowflakes, etc.

[Anonymous]

I'm a Protestant. However, I find it hard to believe this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm a Protestant. However, I find it hard to believe this.

I am a Jew (and a teacher,) and I find it hard to believe, too...

[Anonymous]

The Catholics are going to come out in force to defend their schools. I'm Catholic, my children are older. One is finishing high school, the other is in college. The oldest went to Catholic school (elementary and high school.) I had to take my youngest out. He did not adapt well. I had notes sent home all the time because he talked, or he did not remain seated or he got out of line, etc. All things I thought the teacher should be able to handle. I was told he should be held back, but in public school he got tested and got into the GT program and did mostly honors and AP classes in high school. He excelled in public school. My daughter did just fine in Catholic school, she was the perfect student, really quiet and studious. I think they'll both do great in College, so education is about the same. There are always a million stories going around schools about their teachers and their hard methods, but you'll rarely hear a Catholic discussing it with anyone outside our faith.

[Anonymous]

The thing about parochial schools is that a lot of the teachers are underpaid. Most teachers are vocational and some are amazing, while others have been teaching for decades without any enrichment to modernize their teaching skills. I have 3 kids in Catholic school. Our school has some incredibly good and kind teachers, but a few have been terrible. Just plain mean, particularly to the kids that cannot learn a certain way. I've heard teachers say things some parents might not even believe. But I knew the following year would be different. Catholic based education is important to my husband and I and we'll continue to keep our children at our parish school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The thing about parochial schools is that a lot of the teachers are underpaid. Most teachers are vocational and some are amazing, while others have been teaching for decades without any enrichment to modernize their teaching skills. I have 3 kids in Catholic school. Our school has some incredibly good and kind teachers, but a few have been terrible. Just plain mean, particularly to the kids that cannot learn a certain way. I've heard teachers say things some parents might not even believe. But I knew the following year would be different. Catholic based education is important to my husband and I and we'll continue to keep our children at our parish school.

Out school is the exact same but public. I really haven't heard anything that is Catholic school specific.