Non-Catholic Students in a Catholic School
Back in the day, all the provinces had educational systems divided by religion. Presently, most provinces have now abolished this system. Ontario, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and some parts of Saskatchewan still maintain the Catholic separate school boards.
I have notice over the last several years there has been an increasing amount of non-Catholic students enrolling into the Catholic system. I am especially thinking of an increase of Muslim students within my board. I challenge the questions:
· Should we allow non-Catholic students to enroll?
· Should Muslim faith be allowed to practice within our schools?
· Should they respect our faith and attend our school masses?
If we keep allowing non-Catholic students into the Catholic system will this not demolish the Catholic separate system? I know that Premier Kathleen Wynne has reassured the Catholics that the government funded religious education is not going to be abolished. Can we as Catholics be assured of this, after all the government did take our sick leave away that was once granted to us! (Give with one hand, and take away with the other.)
As we answer these questions we must think of the Golden Rule that requires us to treat others, as we would wish them to treat us, not as we think they would treat us.
If the enrollment of non-Catholic denominations were to continue and the populations of non-Catholic were to exceed the Catholic denomination, should the Catholic Faith be taught within the classrooms? I vote YES! I strongly believe it gives the Catholic churches the chance to give the Muslim students an excellent education and at the same time to witness our Catholic faith.
Back in the day, all the provinces had educational systems divided by religion. Presently, most provinces have now abolished this system. Ontario, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and some parts of Saskatchewan still maintain the Catholic separate school boards.
I have notice over the last several years there has been an increasing amount of non-Catholic students enrolling into the Catholic system. I am especially thinking of an increase of Muslim students within my board. I challenge the questions:
· Should we allow non-Catholic students to enroll?
· Should Muslim faith be allowed to practice within our schools?
· Should they respect our faith and attend our school masses?
If we keep allowing non-Catholic students into the Catholic system will this not demolish the Catholic separate system? I know that Premier Kathleen Wynne has reassured the Catholics that the government funded religious education is not going to be abolished. Can we as Catholics be assured of this, after all the government did take our sick leave away that was once granted to us! (Give with one hand, and take away with the other.)
As we answer these questions we must think of the Golden Rule that requires us to treat others, as we would wish them to treat us, not as we think they would treat us.
If the enrollment of non-Catholic denominations were to continue and the populations of non-Catholic were to exceed the Catholic denomination, should the Catholic Faith be taught within the classrooms? I vote YES! I strongly believe it gives the Catholic churches the chance to give the Muslim students an excellent education and at the same time to witness our Catholic faith.
Practicing Muslim Faith in a Catholic School
I wonder if the Catholic faith is going to be jeopardized by the increasing enrollment of non-Christian believers. It is understandable that Muslim families want the best education for their children and this can be found within the separate school system. I believe that many Catholic schools are feeling challenged by the presence of different faiths in their school community. I can see this within my own classroom.
Over the last few years I have been getting more and more Muslim students. I am a Catholic educator that teaches math within a Catholic board. I have had many Muslim students in the past who need to take time away from math class to pray. I still wonder if I should allow this or not. I am sure that many Catholic students have misunderstood and misconstrued the Muslim faith and bullied the Muslim student. Within the Catholic community of my school we strongly support multiculturalism. This leads me to having ambiguous feelings towards Muslim prayer within the sanctum of a Catholic school.
Mutual understanding and mutual respect haunts me to allow the Muslim student to practice his faith. I do not want to promote unfairness because of my lack of understanding the student’s needs for inclusion. But on the other hand, I feel like I am denouncing my faith in a Catholic haven to allow a student to practice a non-Catholic religion.
Thus as stated in Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
I have allowed all Muslim students and other denominations to practice their faith because I would not want someone to tell me that I could not believe in God Almighty.
So what is the difference between fair discrimination and unfair discrimination?
A Catholic school promotes “classroom inclusion” on the principles of special education. I can play devil’s advocate and say that “inclusion” is not a place but rather a feeling. All God’s creations need to feel that they belong and need to feel that they are loved. So, inclusion should brace all students regardless if the student has a learning exceptionality or comes from a diverse culture or religion. So here I stand again – do I allow for other religious beliefs to practice within a Catholic school with a gut retching feeling of loosing a Catholic culture within the school? After all, I took the oath of a Catholic teacher that all curriculum initiatives shall consist of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
I think the bottom line for me, if you respect my belief I will respect yours.
I wonder if the Catholic faith is going to be jeopardized by the increasing enrollment of non-Christian believers. It is understandable that Muslim families want the best education for their children and this can be found within the separate school system. I believe that many Catholic schools are feeling challenged by the presence of different faiths in their school community. I can see this within my own classroom.
Over the last few years I have been getting more and more Muslim students. I am a Catholic educator that teaches math within a Catholic board. I have had many Muslim students in the past who need to take time away from math class to pray. I still wonder if I should allow this or not. I am sure that many Catholic students have misunderstood and misconstrued the Muslim faith and bullied the Muslim student. Within the Catholic community of my school we strongly support multiculturalism. This leads me to having ambiguous feelings towards Muslim prayer within the sanctum of a Catholic school.
Mutual understanding and mutual respect haunts me to allow the Muslim student to practice his faith. I do not want to promote unfairness because of my lack of understanding the student’s needs for inclusion. But on the other hand, I feel like I am denouncing my faith in a Catholic haven to allow a student to practice a non-Catholic religion.
Thus as stated in Matthew 7:12
Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye
even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
I have allowed all Muslim students and other denominations to practice their faith because I would not want someone to tell me that I could not believe in God Almighty.
So what is the difference between fair discrimination and unfair discrimination?
A Catholic school promotes “classroom inclusion” on the principles of special education. I can play devil’s advocate and say that “inclusion” is not a place but rather a feeling. All God’s creations need to feel that they belong and need to feel that they are loved. So, inclusion should brace all students regardless if the student has a learning exceptionality or comes from a diverse culture or religion. So here I stand again – do I allow for other religious beliefs to practice within a Catholic school with a gut retching feeling of loosing a Catholic culture within the school? After all, I took the oath of a Catholic teacher that all curriculum initiatives shall consist of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
I think the bottom line for me, if you respect my belief I will respect yours.