Catholic Education Is A Must

[mom25angels]

In reading on my favorite subject i've come across some serious food for thought.

In [i]Militantis Ecclesiae[/i], August 1 1897 Pope Leo says:

In this matter special care must be paid to these points. First of all catholics should not frequent "mixed" schools[those for Catholics and non-Catholics], especially those for little children. They should everywhere have their own schools ans should choose excellant, trustworthy teachers. An education which contains religious errors or which bans all religion, is full of dangers: and this often happens in the schools we have called "mixed". Let nobody easily presuade himself that piety can be separated from instruction with impunity.

In fact in no period of life, whether in public or in private affairs, can religion be dispensed with, much less can that inexperience of age, full of life, yet surrounded by so many corrupt temptations, be excused from religious obligations.

Whosoever, therefore, organizes education so as to neglect any point of contact with religion is destroying beauty and honesty at their very roots, and instead of helping the country, is preparing for the deterioration and destruction of the human race. For, once God is eliminated, who can make young people realize their
duties or redeem those who have deviated from the right path of virtue or fallen into the abyssof vice?

Religion must not be taught to youth only during certain hours, but the entire system of education must be permeated with the sense of Christian piety. If this is lacking, if this holy spirit does not penetrate and inflame souls of teacher and pupil, small benefit can be derived from any other sort of education: instead damage will be done......

A wide knowledge should go hand in hand with care for spiritual progress:[i] religion must permeate and direct evry branch of knowledge[/i] whatever be its naturea and by its sweetness and majesty must make so great an impression on the minds of youth as to be an incitement to better things.

Since it has always been the Church's intention that every branch of study be of great service in the religious formation of youth, this particular subject matter must not only have its place, and the principle place at that, but nobody should be entrusted with so important a teaching role who has not first been declared suitable for the purpose in the judgement and by the authority of the Church.

And also this is very thought provoking:

By nature, parents have a right to the training of their children, but with the added duty that the education and instruction of the children be in accord with the end for which by God's blessing it was begotten. Therefore it is the duty of parents to make every effort to prevent the invasion of their rights in this matter, and to make absolutely sure that the education of their children remains under their own control in keeping with their Christian duty, and above all refuse to send them to those schools in which there is danger of imbibing the deadly poison of impeity.

And here from Pope Pius:

We wish to call your attention in a special manner to the present-day lamentable decline in family education...for the fundamental duty and obligation of educating their children, many parents have little or no preparation, immersed as the are in temporal cares. The declining influence of domestic enviroment is further weakened by another tendancy..which..causes children to be more and more frequently sent away from home, even in their tenderest years. And there is a country where the children are actually being torn from the bosom of the family to be fromed (or so to speak more accurately, to be deformed and depraved), in godless schools and associations, to irreligion and hatred..thus is renewed in a real and more terrible manner the slaughter of the Innocents.

~~ So here are my thoughts.....Public education is a definite no, no and quite honestly how many of our catholic schools "measure up"? We already know from the catecism that parents are the primary educators of their children and that this role is of such importance that it is almost impossible to provide a suitable substitute(see CCC 2221). We are the already deemed suitable by the authority of the Church therefore aren't we called to homeschool our children, in fact does our faithe require it of us in the current state of affairs in our schools, both public and parochial?
I am interested to hear your thoughts.

[Guest JeffCR07]

First I would like to say that the Pope's are very wise in their respective writings, and it is only fitting for us to take what they have to say to heart.

A secular school (whether public or private) contains many dangers to the faith - I have attended secular school my entire life, and I can testify to that fact.

What is perhaps even more terrifying is that many parish schools are even more dangerous for our youth. Many of the teachers at these schools are espousing less-than-orthodox beliefs under the title of "catholic teachings." Some of these things are minor, but others are major, and even borderline on heresy.

But many parents cannot give their children an adequate education via the homeschooling route, whether as a result of an incompatable job, their own limited education, or other reasons.

Ultimately, I think the warnings of the Holy Father Leo are still valid today, though the recourse which he espouses (homeschool/parish school) are not as safe today as they were before. This does not, however, degrade or lessen the value of his message, for it still is as true as it ever was. He is particularly eloquent and beautiful when he says that "[i]religion must permeate and direct every branch of knowledge[/i]"

Similarly, Pope Pius' message is equally important, for all parents must take it upon themselves to ensure the formation of their children: it is part of being a good parent.

- Your Brother In Christ, Jeff

[Don John of Austria]

There is no doubt as a matter of fact both of the Following are listed as errors by Blessed Pius IX in his Syllablus of Errors. [quote]47. The best theory of civil society requires that popular schools open to children of every class of the people, and, generally, all public institutes intended for instruction in letters and philosophical sciences and for carrying on the education of youth, should be freed from all ecclesiastical authority, control and interference, and should be fully subjected to the civil and political power at the pleasure of the rulers, and according to the standard of the prevalent opinions of the age.—Epistle to the Archbishop of Freiburg, "Cum non sine," July 14, 1864.

48. Catholics may approve of the system of educating youth unconnected with Catholic faith and the power of the Church, and which regards the knowledge of merely natural things, and only, or at least primarily, the ends of earthly social life.—Ibid
[/quote]

[Don John of Austria]

Those Both discribe the American Public school system.

[Quietfire]

I wish I had gone to parochial school.
But then again, until high school, I had wonderful teachers. I can think of four teachers off the top of my head who were strong christians and one of them used to read Bible stories to us after lunch, ya know the ones with a great 'moral to the story' at the end. The school tried to kick her out for doing that, but I remember my mom fighting for her to keep her job. She won, but was no longer allowed to read Bible stories in class anymore.
So I guess I wish I had gone to a parochial high school. We dont have any in the area though and we wuz po', so my parents would never had been able to afford to send 4 kids through parochial school.


Peace.

Edited July 29, 2004 by Quietfire

[Don John of Austria]

I was Poor, but luckly my parents found a way, I remember bring the haveing an old 13" black and white tv when everyone else had 2 color tv's, heck I remember not having a tv, and not having AC( which in houston is a BIG deal) I even remember when year and a have ewhen we heated water on the stove for baths because the Hot water heater was broken and we couldn't afford another one, but I ALWAYS went to to a CAtholic School, My sister went through 8th grade but then went to the High school for Performing and Visual Arts ( by choice not because my parents wouldn't send her to a Catholic one). Rent, utilities, school, then food(food bills can be manipulated easily) I ate a lot of beans and corn bread but I Got my Catholic educaation. It is a shame that the cost for one is now so high that many people simply CANNOT afford it, they can't cut their cost that much, on the other hand I get really tired of people telling me how expensive it is when they are driving around in 40,000 dollar cars, and have Big screen digital TV's.( that is not directed at anyone here but at Parents from the school I teach at.)

[phatcatholic]

go [url="http://www.catholiceducation.org/directory/Core_Subjects/Catholic_Education/"][b]here[/b][/url] for 212 articles on catholic education

[mom25angels]

[quote name='JeffCR07' date='Jul 29 2004, 01:30 PM']

But many parents cannot give their children an adequate education via the homeschooling route, whether as a result of an incompatable job, their own limited education, or other reasons.

[/quote]
~~~If I may(as someone who used to feel this way, too), I must respectfully disagree in part to this. I do feel that there are parents who can not homeschool their children but I feel strongly that there are many, many ways to make it possible and that with the current state of our schools [i]should[/i] make it possible. I know and have heard of families who both work, some single parents who must work and they all successfully homeschool their children. As far as limited education this is absolutely not a hindrance to homeschooling. In fact one of the beauties of homeschooling is that you can learn(or relearn) alongside your children in fact this can lead to a huge lesson for our kids---livelong learning!!


Pope PiusXI yet again:\ On Christian Marriage

The blessingof offspring, however, is not completed by the mere begetting of them, but something else must be added, namely, the proper education of the offspring. For the wise God would have failed to make sufficient provision for children that had been born..if He had not given those to whom He entrusted the power and right to beget them, the power and right to educate them.

Now it is certain that both by the law of nature and of God, this right and duty
of educating their offspring belongs in the first place to those who began the work of nature by giving them birth, and they are indeed forbidden to leave unfinished this work...In matrimony, this provision has been made in the best possible way for this education of children.


~~~ This right and duty of educating our children can be fullfilled through the graces of the sacrament of marriage. I sincerely believe that some of those in the field of educating our children mistakingly believe that they are solely qualified in educating them and unfortunetly there are many parents who have believed them.
Parents are the[i] primary[/i] educators of their children any one else who educates children is there to provide the family with [i]support.[/i] It is really sad that many parents feel as though they aren't qualified to teach their children because truly they are the only ones who are.

[mom25angels]

[quote name='phatcatholic' date='Jul 29 2004, 02:35 PM'] go [url="http://www.catholiceducation.org/directory/Core_Subjects/Catholic_Education/"][b]here[/b][/url] for 212 articles on catholic education [/quote]
I do like the Catholic Educator's Resource Center although sometimes not everything is always wholely orthodox.

[Philippe]

eh ok... im gonna speak on behalf of myself

i really think that one of my vocations is to go to Public (secular) schoold because there are lots of misconceptions about Catholocism and i really think God wants me to go and to be openly Catholic and to teach people about Catholocism. I do that and i often argue about fornication and many things that the Church is against and i hope to give the Church view on it. Concluding, i think that some people with strong enough faiths that will not be influenced, are called to go to Public School

and im spent

[PedroX]

Phillipe,

You can not be "openly Catholic" as a public school teacher. You may possibly be quietly Catholic, but not openly so.

I wish you the best of luck as you discern your vocation, but please spend plenty of time talking to teachers about the ability to express Christian values in a public school setting.

p.s. I think any parent who has a college degree can teach their children at home.

peace...

[mom25angels]

More food for thought:

[i]Sapientiae Christianae[/i]

The family may be regarded as the cradle of civil society, and it is in great measure within the circle of family life that the destiny of the State is fostered. Consequently they who would break away from Christian discipline are working to corrupt family life and to destroy it utterly, root and branch. From such an unholy purpose they are not deterred by the fact that they are inflicting a cruel outrage
on parents , who have the right from nature to educate those whom they have begot, a right to which is joined the duty of harmonizing instruction and education for the end for which they were given their children by the goodness of God.

It is then incumbent upon parents to make every effort to resist attacks on this point and to vindicate at any cost the right to direct the education of their offspring,as it is fitting, in a Christian manner, and first and foremost to keep them away from schools where there is risk of their being imbued with the poison of impiety.....

However, let everyone be firmly convinced, first of all, that the minds of children are best trained above all by the teaching they receive at home. If in their growing years they find in their homes the rule of an upright life and the excercise of Christian virtue, the salvation of soceity will be in great part assured.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='PedroX' date='Jul 29 2004, 11:01 PM'] p.s. I think any parent who has a college degree can teach their children at home. [/quote]
It varies by state as to the requirements, but I think this is basically true. In MN a four year degree is not even required, but there's more hoop-jumping if you don't have one.

[Don John of Austria]

In texas the courts have ruled that any parent can home school, however as a teacher I have seen many kids come from home schooling into Jr High ( Jr high is much harder to teach as the fields get more specialisd and materials get more expensive, particularly for science) they tend to have Social Problems in the extreme particularly with things that require working with people they don't know and time managment, sometimes even things like waiting in line or realizing that
there are 20 other students in the room. I am on the whole NOT in favor of Home schooling, still if my choice was home scholol or Public School well then I'll take Home School for sure.

[popestpiusx]

To quote from the late Fr. Hardon, "Homeschooling is not A solution to the crisis in the Church, it is THE solution."

I am around homeschooling families every single day. I know hundreds of them, here in VA, in Indiana (where I am from originally) and from all over the country. I don't buy the "social problems" argument. Is it possible? Yes. I can think of one or two examples. Is it common? No.
Homeschooled kids are usually very well behaved and quite sociable. In fact, I have always been impressed with how well they are able to get along socially, both with other kids and with adults as well.

The Catholic education system in the country has collapsed. It is horrible. I went through 12 years of it. Luckily, I knew it was carp when I was in it, though I didn't really care too much. I'm sure there are good catholic schools out there. But they are few and far between. By and large, homeschooling is the way to go.

[homeschoolmom]

I've been really surprised at the low number of Catholic homeschoolers that I've encountered. Our old church (Baptist) had scores of homeschoolers (support group, shared activities... we even had our own directory etc). Our parish of the same size in the same community has nothing. I can only think of one or two other homeschoolers there (and I had to reeeeeeeeally look hard). Of course, our parish has a grade school, so that takes some of the "potential homeschoolers" right there.

[XIX]

[quote name='PedroX' date='Jul 29 2004, 11:01 PM'] Phillipe,

You can not be "openly Catholic" as a public school teacher. You may possibly be quietly Catholic, but not openly so.

I wish you the best of luck as you discern your vocation, but please spend plenty of time talking to teachers about the ability to express Christian values in a public school setting.

p.s. I think any parent who has a college degree can teach their children at home.

peace... [/quote]
Why not? What the worst that can happen?

So you get fired on the spot. I say GREAT!!! The Blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians! Granted dying isn't the same thing as getting fired, but you still leave and indelible mark. Heck, it's worth a soul if you can save one.

Hopefully you'll be able to find a Catholic school job to fall back on. Always remember that God will always provide for you, both materially and spiritually.

[b]Matt 6:25-34[/b]

25 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add one cubit to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin; 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32 For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well. 34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.

[Sojourner]

I was homeschooled in kindergarten and first grades, went to a Christian Reformed school for second, third and fourth grades, a Lutheran school for fifth grade, homeschooled again in sixth grade, and then to public school for seventh through 12th grades.

Homeschooling was not a good fit for me in sixth grade, although I did OK with it in the earlier years. I needed the interaction with people, and learned best when I had people with whom I could be competitive. For someone who is more inwardly motivated, I think homeschooling could be a good choice ... and I think that it would have been easier for me had I consistently homeschooled throughout my elementary years instead of jumping around a lot.

The adjustment to public school was VERY difficult for me, and I still don't really like to think about those years. I went from a pretty sheltered Christian home into a school where everyone already knew one another and had formed friendships long before I came on the scene. I did not fit in at all, which when you're in seventh grade is a really big deal. I didn't know any slang terms, I hadn't watched the same TV shows, I didn't listen to the same music, I didn't read the same books, I didn't wear the same clothes ... it was like I had moved in from another country.

No one at my school befriended me, and for two years I ate lunch every day by myself. Then another nerdy Christian girl moved into town, and we became friends, more out of desperation than anything else ...

By the time I'd graduated, school was at least tolerable, but to this day I don't think my parents understand exactly how much torture they put me through in that experience.

I have no idea how I'll school my own children ... I suppose that depends on the circumstances I'm in when and if I have them.

[Quietfire]

Well, I dont have children so I cant give an opinion on homeschooling.
I only know one family that homeschooled their children and they were wonderful children.

As far as teachers openly expressing their religious beliefs, here in NY where I live it is now a big no-no.
When I was in school, a unpopular teacher lost his only son. He relied heavily on the Catholic Church to get him through and as a result he started coming to school with a 4 inch crucifix around his neck. A very changed man.
He ended up being one of the most loved teachers in our jr. high. He learned patience and understanding and it visibly showed on him daily. He no longer yelled and kids actually respected him cause he would listen to them instead of his usual 'just get to work', or 'you little punk' attitude.
He's actually a very cool person.

Of course the school was not thrilled about the crucifix, but he argued it was his own personal expression and it contained no vulgarity (which was one of the only rules then) and he also argued that he would not preach so long as he wasnt asked.

They couldnt stop him from wearing the crucifix.
He is still involved with the Church.


Peace.

[mom25angels]

[quote name='Don John of Austria' date='Jul 30 2004, 02:20 AM'] In texas the courts have ruled that any parent can home school, however as a teacher I have seen many kids come from home schooling into Jr High ( Jr high is much harder to teach as the fields get more specialisd and materials get more expensive, particularly for science) they tend to have Social Problems in the extreme particularly with things that require working with people they don't know and time managment, sometimes even things like waiting in line or realizing that
there are 20 other students in the room. I am on the whole NOT in favor of Home schooling, still if my choice was home scholol or Public School well then I'll take Home School for sure. [/quote]
Well, there's a little bit of a difference between Social Problems('tis funny you capitalized this) and just not knowing how a clasroom works. You see when you homeschool there is no need to line up to go to the bathroom, lunch or recess. There is no waiting in line to ask a teacher a question or raising your hand.

I have to agree with popestpius here that the kids in our homeschooling group are amongst the best "socialized" kids I know. The can and do play with kids of varying ages. The can talk to adults in a respectfull and intelligent manner. And for the most part are just easier to get along with. With forty families in our Catholic homeschooling group all with kids a variety of ages, I've met quite a few homeschooled kids.