Is it wrong for an atheist to send a child to Catholic school?

MayorMcCheese000

Discuss.....

eclaires

Not IMO.

I grew up going to Catholic schools, and there were a lot of non-Catholics in my classes, both in elementary and high school.

IME, Catholic schools are good at working with having other types of religions in the schools because their primary focus is education (at least where I grew up - because the public schools are pretty poor, so the parochial schools were one of the only options outside of public).  Most schools would likely work with you on the religious requirements, too.  I know at my k-8 school, religion class could be optional and in high school, the religion classes were required for the degree, but open discussion was always encouraged and the non-Catholic point of view (whether from another religion or from no religion at all) was always welcomed in class.  By high school, our religion classes were less about Catholic and more world religions, scriptures, history-type classes and moral/ethics classes.

shopgirl_07

No. Although I don't know how many atheists would. But I can't find it in me to care about it one way or the other.

ljlkm

As an Atheist, I'd do it. I think there's value in learning about different belief systems. Although I'd want to take a critical look at the curriculum.

littlemermaid

At the Catholic school my children attend(we are Catholic) there are children of other religions, one popular one is Hindu. I have not met any Atheists at our school but you never know.   The parents just wanted to send their children to a private school vs their local public school and a parochial school is a cheaper alternative compared to a prestigious private school.  The children learn the Catholic religion in their daily Religion class but they do not have to participate in the Sacraments(Reconciliation, First Communion, Confirmation).  They have to attend mass once a week with their class too.  It doesn't bother me one bit if someone of a different religion or someone of no religion(Atheist) attends since the parents of these children are the ones that have to answer their childrens' questions regarding what they learned in religious class that day.  

JoyGotDots

I think it's odd.  I wouldn't send my child to a school to be immersed in thing I don't believe in.

MayorMcCheese000

Well I consider myself to be agnostic possibly even atheist and I am in this position. I have a choice of a less than stellar elem or a private Catholic school for DS. In all other aspects I am all for the Catholic school but I am apprehensive of him learning about creationism, repenting, confessing- basically things I do not believe in. I have not had much exposure to Catholic schools (we are planning on touring) so it is hard for me to gauge how much religion actually plays a role or to what degree it is in the curriculum. I am very torn. I want to give him the very best education possible.....

TwoChickens

I went to Catholic school from K-7.  Very few of my classmates weren't Catholic.  Keeping in mind I grew up in south Louisiana and a large population is Catholic, we had a very religion heavy curriculum.  We prayed almost all the time.  Each class was opened with prayer, morning prayers, afternoon prayers, weekly mass once you got to 6th grade.  

I recommend touring the school once the year gets into full swing.  Take careful mental notes about what you're experiencing.  It may not be for you.

 I'm Catholic so this was never an issue for me.

Ciarrai

I would recommend touring the school and sitting in on their Kindergarten if possible.  As many of the pp said, a lot of kids who go to Catholic school are not Catholic.  I know growing up, there were even some Jewish kids who went to the Catholic school just because their parents felt it was a better education than public school.  It's just fine.

I would look into the creationism vs. evolution, but my understanding is that the school we looked at for the girls teaches evolution in science (with maybe a mention of "intelligent design") and creationism in religion.  In general, Catholics do not believe that the bible is meant to be taken literally and therefore both can be true to an extent.  Who's to say how long "7 days" or "a day" is to God.

Some Catholic school will let kids opt out of religion/going to mass and others won't.  That will depend on the school.  FWIW - I loved the Catholic school we toured and we're seriously considering it.  I need to tour the public school the girls would go to now that we've moved before we make a decision.

ljlkm

To be honest, I'd be less worried about the curriculum at a Catholic school than any other kind of religious school. But do your research and find out what's being taught. And remember--the classroom isn't the last word in what your child learns.

eclaires

FWIW, Catholic schools do not really teach creationism or intelligent design.  Also, any discussion of god creating the earth (like from Genesis) would take place in Religion class, not science.  Science classes at Catholic schools teach evolution.  Finally, Catholics do not believe the bible, specifically the Old Testament where Genesis is, is meant to be taken literally.

I am strongly, STRONGLY opposed to creationism/intelligent design and I'm Catholic.  I posted a few weeks ago about Catholic schools and this was touched on - I thought AggieCouple (who is Catholic) stated the church's position and how they teach it very well.  I'll look for the thread, but maybe she'll weigh in here too.

MayorMcCheese000

eclaires:

FWIW, Catholic schools do not really teach creationism or intelligent design.  Also, any discussion of god creating the earth (like from Genesis) would take place in Religion class, not science.  Science classes at Catholic schools teach evolution.  Finally, Catholics do not believe the bible, specifically the Old Testament where Genesis is, is meant to be taken literally.

I am strongly, STRONGLY opposed to creationism/intelligent design and I'm Catholic.  I posted a few weeks ago about Catholic schools and this was touched on - I thought AggieCouple (who is Catholic) stated the church's position and how they teach it very well.  I'll look for the thread, but maybe she'll weigh in here too.

This makes me feel better! Like I said, I am not Catholic and I have not had a lot of exposure to Catholic schools so it is really difficult for me to understand how it will be. I am open to DS learning about other religions because I think you need to have an understanding to form your own beliefs. I am just nervous about religion mixing with the education and how that all works.

btw- is Jackson going public or private? You decided public right?

eclaires

MayorMcCheese000:

eclaires:

FWIW, Catholic schools do not really teach creationism or intelligent design.  Also, any discussion of god creating the earth (like from Genesis) would take place in Religion class, not science.  Science classes at Catholic schools teach evolution.  Finally, Catholics do not believe the bible, specifically the Old Testament where Genesis is, is meant to be taken literally.

I am strongly, STRONGLY opposed to creationism/intelligent design and I'm Catholic.  I posted a few weeks ago about Catholic schools and this was touched on - I thought AggieCouple (who is Catholic) stated the church's position and how they teach it very well.  I'll look for the thread, but maybe she'll weigh in here too.

This makes me feel better! Like I said, I am not Catholic and I have not had a lot of exposure to Catholic schools so it is really difficult for me to understand how it will be. I am open to DS learning about other religions because I think you need to have an understanding to form your own beliefs. I am just nervous about religion mixing with the education and how that all works.

btw- is Jackson going public or private? You decided public right?

Right now Jackson is in private Catholic preschool, and will be until K.  I think we are going to try the public schools first at K - his neighborhood friends are going there, they're highly rated (and free, haha).  If we're unsure after that, we'll reconsider Catholic schools.  

It's hard for us because I'm a huge proponent of Catholic schools, but MH is not Catholic and balks at paying for education when we have good public options.  Our agreement is that we'll go with the best school, and since the two are pretty even from our current understanding, we'll start with free.  If we find that's not the case, then we'll reevaluate.  The other thing is that the Catholic schools are kind of far and the public schools are super close to our house.

winery

No.  I'm agnostic because I was taught many religions and attended Catholic school (as well as a Lutheran elementary).

Going to a religious school has many benefits, but learning about religion is important as well.  When you gain any knowledge, it's good.  Even if it is about a made up book.  :P

susanmosley

No but why would they want to?

veloelle

I went to Catholic K-12, and I was raised Catholic, no longer practicing. I went to school with everyone, even a Muslim. She had pants and a head scarf made out of our uniform material. We had two male teachers, and she'd be covered except for her eyes and hands in those classes. We LOVED having her in our school, and I was lucky to have her in my world religions class. Lots of dialogue was encouraged, understanding other cultures, etc.  Catholic schools (at least my experience) are very good at teaching about all religions and keeping creationism in religion. I learned evolutionary science like every other public school.

My high school was all girls Catholic. Queue the jokes. Anyway, I really treasure that education. Will DD go Catholic? Not sure. We're starting her public, and we'll go from there. If we still live here when she's in HS, then most likely. The HS's in our town are pretty dismal, from what I've been told. Even DH, who is not a fan of private school or Catholicism, acknowledge he'd send her Catholic for HS.

I ditto pretty much all of what E said.

thelastlaugh

It is only "wrong" if you are doing it to be disrespectful or disruptive to those who do want the religious aspect.