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JMO, but I don't think any of these things would matter if the family was living their faith. Schools responsiblity should be to teach the 3 R's:). As far as religious beliefs a school should at most be supplamental.

But parents sent their children to Catholic school specifically so that the home teaching would be reinforced. And, incidentally, the Catholic schools around here (Boston) anyway were doing a better job on the 3 R's than the public school.

In grammar school, we opened each morning with prayers and a hymn (public schools used to). We said more prayers before going home for lunch, and after coming back from lunch, and again before the close of school.

We also had a custom by which, on the hour, the nun (and our teachers were all nuns then) would break into the lesson and say, "Let us remember the Holy Presence of God," and the class would respond, "We adore His Divine Majesty." It was called "Blessing the Hour."

We studied religion as an academic subject, but the nuns made it clear to us that our general behavior would count toward our religion grade.

You must be real old ;-)

Kidding there! My how times have changed. Although I think Catholic social teaching is very important, it seems to be at the forefront of religion classes today - even in the Catholic schools.

Last year I was approached to help with a fledgling "Middle School Youth Group" in my Catholic parish (notice the lack of the word "Catholic" in the title) and bowed out when the nun, in no uncertain terms, told me that the focus of the group would be "giving back" and "social justice." I have a friend who makes rosary beads and I suggested that we have her visit so the kids could learn to make rosary beads and possibly extra ones for the parish vesibule - and I would pay for the materials used. The nun wasn't interested as this was not part of what her goal for the group was. See YA!

We also had a custom by which, on the hour, the nun (and our teachers were all nuns then) would break into the lesson and say, "Let us remember the Holy Presence of God," and the class would respond, "We adore His Divine Majesty." It was called "Blessing the Hour."

What a marvelous custom! I have never heard of this before, but I'm going to try to remember it. Thank you.