I am thinking of sending DS to a Public Primary School and Catholic Secondary School, however we are not very religous at home. I am therefore wondering if he would find it overwhelming attending a Catholic Secondary School, having NOT attended a religous Primary School. I don't want him to be the odd one out. Any thoughts/advice?
Well not every class is structured around religion.
They usually have specific religion classes. In my experience, codes for behaviour are tied back to the core values of that school - for example, friendship, charity towards others etc.
They will probably celebrate religious days of consequence with a special assembly or activities for the children and may have masses from time to time...does that help?
BTW my non Catholic friends in school could choose not to go to religious classes and activities.
All I can say is that it would have been nice if my mother taught me the Lords Prayer BEFORE my first day at Catholic Secondary College!
Once I got that bit right I was fine...I certainly wasn't the only catholic-challenged student there, I wouldn't worry too much. We had mass and prayers in the morning, it wasn't horrible. I even joined the choir and it was fab singing in Cathedral in the city.
I went to a catholic secondary school. It was an all girls school and I hated that it was all girls. Girls can be so awful!
Anyhoo, we had Religious Education classes, probably about 6 or so of these a fortnight. The whole school also attended church once a fortnight, on a wednesday or thursday morning. On the other second week, we didnsinging practice in the schools chapel.
The religion classes were compulsary for us. Even for non-catholic people, you still had to go. It wasnt reading the bible (well some of it was) but we also did assignments about values and morals, stuff like that. I cant remember. It was 10 years ago now.
I went to a public primary and catholic high school. My high school was very very pro catholic in that if you even said you were not catholic outloud you'd get roused on. They accepted people of different religions and of non-religion but i dont think they liked it. I felt they tried to convert eeveryone who wasnt. They were very strict also in reglards to relationships. Like if they saw you holding hands with the opposite sex, you'd be in trouble.
It was a good school though and i dont regret going there. Just didnt like that they tried to make everyone believe in what they did. And they didnt teach much about sex education. Basically just said dont do it. I feel they didnt teach enough about contraception which they should have. I know they dont believe in it but they still should have because they are teens and we all know teens have sex no matter what anyone says.
The sex education in my all girls Catholic school was excellent. They were non judgemental, factual and given by the school nurse. Included contreception info, including abstience, condoms, pill, etc. Not just one off classes but a series through the semester. We also had biology lesssons where we also watched birth videos and learnt about the reproductive organs.
My husband had a similar exp in his all boys school (also Catholic).
I had to come back and say, I am really happy I went to a Catholic Secondary (even if it was all girls!). I ended up leaving to go to a state school (they weren't big on sports and I wanted to be a PE teacher then), and the biggest difference I noticed was the sense of community and belonging I felt at the Catholic school.
As a catholic, I went to a public primary school (the local primary catholic school was completely booked out). I then went to an all-girls catholic school from years 7-10 and then a co-ed catholic school from years 11-12. I actually was taught more of the religious type education when I attended the public primary school when we would break out once a week into our separate religions for 'scripture classes'. This was really the only time in my religious education that I learnt anything from the bible!
When I attended the all-girls catholic school we had compulsory religion classes - maybe once or twice a week (over 20 years ago now!!) but as others have said - they were mainly focussed on issues such as values, respect, morals, etc. During years 11 & 12, the subject matter was similar - but we would regularly have guest speakers who would discuss matters such as bullying, aids, general lifestlye and community issues.
As for sex education - the subject was addressed in a very informative way during our physical education classes in Year 7 where everything from menstrual cycles, birth control, conception and birth were discussed very openly.
Between the two types of schooling - public vs catholic - I found the catholic education system to be very flexible and community orientated.
My daughter attends a angligan & catholic school, relgion is taught as a subject and both religions are followed, in both primary and high school. The school is very big on charity and the children have donated tins of food for casual days and team avents, the importance of helping others is one of there main goals. So far I have been impressed with the school and would highly recommend a catholic education to others. I've noticed the children have alot of pride in themselves and there work. We are not a relgious family, I was bought up with catholic beliefs, but my husband was not, I've found my daughter does bless everyone we know, but I'm sure it's just a faze she's going through as she is a reception this year! Most people comment on her manners and pride she takes in herself.
Hopefully this might help to sway you either way,
Snoopea
My DD is attending school next year. I went for her interview with the Catholic School of our choice only this week.
Like you, we were going to send her to a public school which is 2 streets away from our home, then when high school comes around, we were going to send her to a catholic school. But the 'friend' factor kept creeping into my mind. I know i would have hated the thought of leaving my friends at the end of primary school, only to be trotted off to a whole new school, whole new philosophy etc.
I think its a fairly common statement these days 'we're not religious at home' - going to church every sunday for many has become a thing of the past, something our parents and granparents did ritually, not our generation. What are your reasons for sending to a public school? What if he doesnt want too switch schools when the time comes ?
Me and my DH are not religious either - we both believe in God, but dont read the bible, or attend mass. For me a Catholic school is a whole lot more than just learning about God. The fundamentals of life - forgiveness, love, honesty, trustworthiness, faith, respect etc - i hope my DD will learn inside out at her Catholic School......not necessarily just Catholicisim..... - KWIM...anyway, thats just our story....good luck !