Going to a Catholic school if you're not Catholic?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Your kid will probably be fine either way, but can you and your spouse handle associating with Catholic parents?

Unless they’re bigoted like you, I don’t see why not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid will probably be fine either way, but can you and your spouse handle associating with Catholic parents?

Unless they’re bigoted like you, I don’t see why not.

Let’s see.

They send their kids to a Catholic school because they want their religion and culture reinforced. They are expecting a more homogeneous environment.

You are sending your kids there in spite of it being a Catholic school and are hoping to skate by with as little of Catholic teachings rubbing off as possible. You are there because you don’t like the public school and you don’t want to spend the money for or can’t afford a secular private school alternative.

What could possibly go wrong???

The Catholic parents you meet aren’t stupid. They know why you are there. They also understand that if the school has open slots that they need to fill them and that you are almost certainly paying list non-Catholic, non-paishoner price. So that makes it a little more palatable.

No one is going to be impolite (usually). But they are not dumb. They know what is going on.

[Anonymous]

^^^^^ a thousand times over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid will probably be fine either way, but can you and your spouse handle associating with Catholic parents?

Unless they’re bigoted like you, I don’t see why not.

Let’s see.

They send their kids to a Catholic school because they want their religion and culture reinforced. They are expecting a more homogeneous environment.

You are sending your kids there in spite of it being a Catholic school and are hoping to skate by with as little of Catholic teachings rubbing off as possible. You are there because you don’t like the public school and you don’t want to spend the money for or can’t afford a secular private school alternative.

What could possibly go wrong???

The Catholic parents you meet aren’t stupid. They know why you are there. They also understand that if the school has open slots that they need to fill them and that you are almost certainly paying list non-Catholic, non-paishoner price. So that makes it a little more palatable.

No one is going to be impolite (usually). But they are not dumb. They know what is going on.

My kids go to Catholic school but I honestly could not tell you which families are Catholic (other than the ones we see at Mass all the time. Or if they have a son named John Paul... kind of a giveaway) and which ones are not. They could attend other parishes, they could go to our church just at different times, they could just not go to Mass but may still be culturally Catholic. Religion doesn’t come up at class parties or kiss & ride. If they don’t make the sign of the cross before a prayer, I’d probably think their spouse is Catholic but they are not. It’s not a big deal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid will probably be fine either way, but can you and your spouse handle associating with Catholic parents?

Unless they’re bigoted like you, I don’t see why not.

Let’s see.

They send their kids to a Catholic school because they want their religion and culture reinforced. They are expecting a more homogeneous environment.

You are sending your kids there in spite of it being a Catholic school and are hoping to skate by with as little of Catholic teachings rubbing off as possible. You are there because you don’t like the public school and you don’t want to spend the money for or can’t afford a secular private school alternative.

What could possibly go wrong???

The Catholic parents you meet aren’t stupid. They know why you are there. They also understand that if the school has open slots that they need to fill them and that you are almost certainly paying list non-Catholic, non-paishoner price. So that makes it a little more palatable.

No one is going to be impolite (usually). But they are not dumb. They know what is going on.

My kids go to Catholic school but I honestly could not tell you which families are Catholic (other than the ones we see at Mass all the time. Or if they have a son named John Paul... kind of a giveaway) and which ones are not. They could attend other parishes, they could go to our church just at different times, they could just not go to Mass but may still be culturally Catholic. Religion doesn’t come up at class parties or kiss & ride. If they don’t make the sign of the cross before a prayer, I’d probably think their spouse is Catholic but they are not. It’s not a big deal.

That’s not our experience.

Very early on in any conversation they frequently say, “Well, we’re not Catholic , but ...”

Some do this because they don’t want anyone to think they are Catholic, even though they have their kids in a Catholic school.

You don’t have to guess by seeing which ones don’t cross themselves or take communion. They’ll tell you.

[Anonymous]

Same here as PP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Your kid will probably be fine either way, but can you and your spouse handle associating with Catholic parents?

Unless they’re bigoted like you, I don’t see why not.

Fair point

[Anonymous]

Catholic schools have historically welcomed and educated children of all colors particularly in inner city locations. Mom has an African American woman working for her in State of Maryland. African American woman plans on sending her daughter to Catholic schools as the public schools are so poor in her area. African American Mom says she will work a fourth job if she has to to pay tuition (she already works 3 jobs.)
I told her I thought the fees were negotiable and to approach things that way.

[Anonymous]

But why would those of a different faith tradition who are skeptical bother attending a Catholic school? It’s not like the schools hide the religious aspect of the education and then spring it on unsuspecting new admits. It’s a Catholic school. If you want religion but not Catholic or no religion at all, there are other choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But why would those of a different faith tradition who are skeptical bother attending a Catholic school? It’s not like the schools hide the religious aspect of the education and then spring it on unsuspecting new admits. It’s a Catholic school. If you want religion but not Catholic or no religion at all, there are other choices.

I had the same question. We are a non Catholic family at a Catholic school and went in eyes wide open that our DC would have Catholic-focused religion classes and attend Mass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But why would those of a different faith tradition who are skeptical bother attending a Catholic school? It’s not like the schools hide the religious aspect of the education and then spring it on unsuspecting new admits. It’s a Catholic school. If you want religion but not Catholic or no religion at all, there are other choices.

I had the same question. We are a non Catholic family at a Catholic school and went in eyes wide open that our DC would have Catholic-focused religion classes and attend Mass.

This is OP. The main reason we are considering is because it is the closest school to our house! So most of the neighborhood kids go there. Our neighborhood public is a failing school. I met the religion teacher and actually liked his curriculum and I’m aware they will attend Mass. I’m ok with all of that but I wanted to ensure my kid wouldn’t be labeled an outsider if her family also didn’t attend Mass on the weekends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:But why would those of a different faith tradition who are skeptical bother attending a Catholic school? It’s not like the schools hide the religious aspect of the education and then spring it on unsuspecting new admits. It’s a Catholic school. If you want religion but not Catholic or no religion at all, there are other choices.

I had the same question. We are a non Catholic family at a Catholic school and went in eyes wide open that our DC would have Catholic-focused religion classes and attend Mass.

This is OP. The main reason we are considering is because it is the closest school to our house! So most of the neighborhood kids go there. Our neighborhood public is a failing school. I met the religion teacher and actually liked his curriculum and I’m aware they will attend Mass. I’m ok with all of that but I wanted to ensure my kid wouldn’t be labeled an outsider if her family also didn’t attend Mass on the weekends.

Most churches have multiple masses over the weekend, so it is unlikely that your child will be singled out as not attending mass. It's not like the entire class would be there during one mass.

[Anonymous]

Sticking ones head in the sand doesn't solve the problem. The comments about this community in DC is made again and again because they are true.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But why would those of a different faith tradition who are skeptical bother attending a Catholic school? It’s not like the schools hide the religious aspect of the education and then spring it on unsuspecting new admits. It’s a Catholic school. If you want religion but not Catholic or no religion at all, there are other choices.

Cost and academics. That was my main reason for looking at them. I found a huge range in the Catholics from very welcoming to we will convert your child. Having the basics like textbooks and a real curriculum is always helpful. None hide it but they all had very different reactions to us being not Christian/Catholic. Sadly, there are not a lot of other choices in that price range. If there were a lot of us would gladly sign up. Its basically either Catholics or $40-50K schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sticking ones head in the sand doesn't solve the problem. The comments about this community in DC is made again and again because they are true.

Not our experience.