My father-in-law
The third Catholic educator I have decided to highlight throughout Catholic Education Week is my father-in-law. He is now happily retired and still filled with great knowledge about the profession. Him and I have enjoyed various conversations about education and the importance of the Catholic faith being woven into the classroom. I am happy that he took the time to share with me, despite his busy schedule with the Knights of Columbus and everything else that he is spending retired time committed to. Thumbs up dad! Here is what he has to share about Catholic Education and his experiences...
If we are truly interested in educating our children then we not only
have a responsibility to nurture their mental , social , and physical well
being but most importantly their spiritual well being. Students, after leaving
our educational institutions, should not only be prepared for the workforce but
also should be decent, respectful individuals, who uphold the precepts of the
Roman Catholic Church.
I attended a Catholic Elementary school in Sault Ste Marie from kindergarten to grade 8. I can remember the principal who was a nun to be
very strict with us. She was our choir teacher and brought us to music
festivals. The priest would come in on a regular basis to teach catechism. All of the students in the school would walk to the
church nearby for Mass and Confession. Some of us would go to the church
which was being built and help out on the job site. Many times when I had to
serve mass in the early mornings l was allowed to arrive late at school.
Preparing for Confirmation was also an exciting time, especially when we got to meet the Bishop!
I taught elementary school for 30 years.
I taught grades 3 to 8. I spent 25 years in the classroom and taught as an
itinerant music teacher for 5 years. I worked with teachers on their music
programs as well as conducted a children’s choir made up of students from
grades 4 to 8 from 14 schools. I have been retired since June of 2009 which is now 5 years.
In my classroom I always had a religion
corner with a statue of the baby Jesus, various prayer books, as well as
books on the saints. Each week one student had the responsibility to lead the
children in prayer first thing in the morning. They read from a daily prayer
book which was also kept in the religion corner. Religion was taught daily. Any
issues during the day were always dealt with the question ‘What would Jesus do?”.
I was in charge of the school’s liturgical committee, making sure the readings
and songs were appropriate with the Church calendar. Christmas and Easter time
always involved the children in concerts and plays. Prayers were also said
before lunch as well as at the end of the day. We always had children say
special intentions for those people they thought might be sick or were in need
of healing. When the priest was present for school Confessions we would have the examination of conscience in the classroom.
During the month of May we would
say the rosary every morning. Our principal converted the photocopy room into a
chapel and we would take the children down at random times for silent prayer and
reflection. On Fridays the Holy Eucharist would be present. When the Pope, and now St. John Paul II first
came to Downsview Park we taught the children the songs and prayers for the Papal Mass.
As a Catholic teacher I have always considered myself as a role model
for my students who l treated as my own children, as a loving and caring
parent. Each month students received certificates based on virtues. At
Christmas time children would meet me at the local food bank called the Knights
Table and they would help make Christmas baskets for the less fortunate in our
community. We also had food drives at the school.
The biggest challenge I see in today’s
Catholic schools is the way that we have become watered down. Catholic education is invaluable and adds great meaning to our classroom settings but especially in the lives of our young people as they seek to know Christ in their lives.
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