religion......5yr old started at catholic..................?

Question

we moved into a small village from a town & the best school in village is a small catholic run school.
I am not bothered but my husband is not happy (we follow no religion) as our daughter has started coming home from school saying prayers & singing hyms.
I don't mind as i have looked up the religion & prayers on net & as far as i can see it's all about being kind & offering jesus your problems as god will help you.
how comfortable would you feel ? Am i doing the right thing ? the classes are really small & the school is disaplined & i like the school as does our daughter but i do think i should think about the religion & participate for my daughters sake but hubby, as i said feels uncomfortable.

Answer 1

If your husband does not want to get involved he doesn't have to. Neither do you if you don't want to. The religion aspect is a small part of your daughters education and if she is settling in and receiving a good education then there shouldn't be a problem.

She is so young that the religious aspect for her will probably only seem to be a fun thing to join in with. It is not indoctrination or anything to worry about. As soon as she grows up she will make her own decisions about whether or not she wishes to remain involved in religion, but at least she will have the knowledge to make a choice.

Answer 2

A catholic education is held to be a good education, in many peoples view. The school can not make your daughter do anything that you as the parents are not happy with (ie recieve communion, baptim etc). She will be taucht basic christan principles - to love and respect each other and each others property, that lying is wrong, (i am sure you will have been told all the rest) - how is that wrong? i believe that most christians are better people, because of the teachings within the catholic school. If she is singing songs, then she is happy. You know your child, if she was not happy would she sing? and what is wrong with saying a prayer? it only has an effect if you believe thhat there is someone / thing there to answer the prayer / chat - if you do not thing that there is anything there, then she is just talking to her self.

Not all cathholics abuse children - there is good and bad in all people, it is just that the news papers always put the "big " headlines of 'Catholic Priest.....' yet there are always other abuse stories, but they do not get the news coverage.

Yes i am a catholic by birth, and now a lapsed catholic by choise. i did go to a catholic school, and also went to other clubs like brownies, where i mixed with all sorts of people, and the children with a christian up bringing were kinder, nicer people.

Not all will agree, but these are my experiances.

Answer 3

First of all, I don't agree with the first contributor who states concern that your daughter will be "brainwashed." Many people who grow up with catholic education grow up to follow other religions, believe in different ideas, and so forth.
I have to say that sending your daughter to catholic school helps with instilling discipline, and a strong sense of morals/ethics - more so than public schools would. Also, having religious faith gives children (and people in general) stronger emotional health - and studies have shown that people with (any type of) religious faith are less likely to feel depressed, more likely to be resilient from stressors and other positive benefits. So not only from an educational standpoint do I support religious education, but also from a health perspective.
I suggest that you talk with your husband - why is he so particularly against catholic education? I can't imagine that he could not have anticipated these problems.. This is your daughter's future - and both parents need to be involved. I suggest that you also talk with your daughter and assess how she feels - if your husband is so adamant about having your daughter attend a different school, see how she may react to it, as well as the problems that she may encounter - e.g. adjusting to new people, making new friends, etc. It can be stressful for both the child and parents.

Good luck and take care!

Answer 4

You and your husband should go along together, to see what is being taught to your daughter. Make an informed, and joint decision, about her future. And don't just assume that a religious schooling is a bad thing. Most religions try and teach morals, which is something that many people lack these days.

If my children grow with decent morals, have compassion, and good hearts, then they will be ok in my eyes.

Out of choice, I didn't send my children to a catholic school. But had I have done so, I am sure they wouldn't have been overly religious, and would be just as caring and considerate as they are now.

Answer 5

Your husband should really have checked out things such as schooling before taking the decision to move to a small village. If your daughter is getting a good education and is learning manners and respect, I don't believe your husband has any grounds for complaint. The most important thing is that your daughter appears to be happy at her school. How many kids do you know come home from school singing?

Answer 6

Why don't you both go and have a chat with the principal? Since you didn't have to produce Baptism certificates for your daughter to enrol, it's probable that there is a Catholic ethos in the school, rather than it being run on strict Catholic lines; are there nuns teaching there for example?

In Ireland, the majority of primary schools are Catholic; but they welcome children of all religions and none, they have to, in this multicultural society - it doesn't mean that every single child has to attend religion classes. I'm sure a heart-to-heart with the Principal will enable you both to work out some arrangement that suits you and your child.

Answer 7

I am not sure where you live, but most catholic schools, from what I remember, will teach a religious curriculum. However, they do allow you outs when it comes to going to chapel and when older taking of communion. I would let her sing the songs and read the scripture and then you and your husband can discuss with her how she feels about all of this and what you believe about this. In the long run it will give her an education on a subject that many do not understand at all. Good luck

Answer 8

I went to a Catholic school though my parents weren't religious, they put me there for the same reasons as you did for your child.
I think its one of the best experiences of my life because I learnt a lot more than I would have in another school and also had a better schoollife because we pupils were encouraged to be kind and respectful towards not just our elders but to each other.
When I first went the newness of the religion was exciting to me, I enjoyed going to Rosary group and saying the prayers because it was a relaxing social thing as well as something to do in breaktime, I enjoyed singing in Mass because I enjoyed the music, the celebration of life, and the statues and the pictures in the church kept me amused for hours. It's likely your daughter is feeling the same and she may grow out of it or stop being as involved in the religion aspect of her education or she may embrace it because it comforts her. Eitherway you should respect her thoughts and feelings but do not feel like you have to join in if you don't want to, she knows that you are not religous and will probably accept that.
In my opinion it is good for children to learn about the different faiths and she will learn this from her school and learn your morals and ideals at home, it will be a good experience for her to see both sides of the coin.

Answer 9

Because she's young, she probably doesn't realise that what she does at school (ie sing hymns and say prayers) is part of religion, and not normal school life. I used to be like that as well, and none of my family is Christian. When I was a couple of years older than your daughter, I realised that I don't believe in Christianity, and while I fully respect it, I didn't want to join in singing hymns and be a Christian. Don't worry, I'm sure she won't be brainwashed if it's an average Catholic school. Reassure your husband that she will soon grow out of this phase. x

Answer 10

There are classes you can take to become a Catholic. I suggest you take them, because you dont necessarily have to commit. Then at least you are informed. You might also join the women's ministry at the church (usually mostly volunteer projects but at least you can meet others and ask questions as they come up).

My dad said something to me that was profound...he told me that he didnt care what I gave my children to believe in but that I had better give them something because the day would come when I wouldnt be there and they would need to find the strength inside of them to continue (whether I was alive or not)......and he thought that having the gift of a prayer in your heart might be just what they'd need. So far, raising my kids in a church has been a real blessing.

Good luck to you and God Bless.