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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]The religious aspect was not originally our reason for sending our kids to a Catholic high school (we're cradle Catholics but "Christmas and Easter" types at best)... but now that they've been there for awhile, I can't help but think about what a good thing it's been for our teens' mental health. There are service requirements, quiet prayer time is built into every day (or just reflection if you're not the praying type), the required theology classes allow kids an intentional opportunity to think about who they are and how they can use their gifts to make the world a better place, the masses allow the school to come together for prayer and/or reflection...there are other things I love about the school that I think are also beneficial to mental health (phones away all day, very limited tech use, etc.) but the religious aspect -- even for kids that aren't very religious -- has been more powerful and beneficial than I could have ever realized.

Of course there are kids with mental health issues at Catholic school- it's not a cure all. But I do think having those very intentional opportunities for service, reflection/prayer, and learning about things bigger than oneself can be a good protective factor against some of these issues.[/quote]

I posted at 10:02 and 10:08 and completely agree with you on the issues of public and benefits of parochial school however there is a time period as a teen into young adult where you have to grow up from this world of black and white right from wrong and accept the good and bad in yourself and in the world and just move towards the positive as best you can. Despite all the benefits of parochial school like you mentioned, many many people stay stuck in this black/white world and self view and can't seem to grow up from it.

So while the public schools have a bit more realism and pessimism than ideal trying to meet a multitude of learner levels and cultures and economic levels, it seems like a lot of parochial kids are somehow left stunted as they move into adulthood focusing on the kingdom of God rather than their own life and world. There is no way you can look at MAGA and not see the hatred spewing forth from that group. It's a group that is basically immature in their thinking even if they have some valid concerns.

To get to a mature but positive mind frame you have to develop a goldilocks virtue model or whole brain thought. This article explains it better. 
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/thinking-in-black-white-and-gray/202005/finding-goldilocks-solution-black-and-white-thinking
[/quote]
NP.

Are you talking about Catholic school? Black and white thinking, "Focusing on the kingdom of God", etc. sounds very Evangelical to me. It certainly wasn't my experience in Catholic school. Maybe you're thinking of stricter Opus Dei et al., type schools like The Heights?  I went to a Dominican high school and one of the things I appreciated most about my education was the critical thinking abilities it instilled in me- we had so many robust discussions (and assignments!) on ethics, morality, etc. and the nuance. Loved it. [/quote]

Maybe some schools were like that. The people you see at church regularly today. Not like this. In line with evangelicals. [/quote]

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