Vanity: Should I Send My Jewish Child to a Catholic School?

self

[k omalley]

P.S. Yes, sports were a big thing at the school, mainly soccer, track, and basketball but unlike public school everyone had the opportunity to participate. I found that sports kept my daughter busy so she had no time for getting into trouble.

[xJones]

If you haven't already, you should go to the Catholic school and ask about their cirriculum, look over the textbooks, and ask to see their 6th grade achievement test scores (and whose tests they used) for the last year, just for starters. Ask about their parent-teacher meetings, and the names of some other 6th grade parents. IOW, do your homework before you intrust your son to a school. Ask how many non-Catholic students go there, and if there any other Jewish students. Get a feeling for the school.

Catholic schools have a good reputation for a solid, no-nonsense education, but you will not feel comfortable untill you walk in, introduce yourself in a positive manner, and ask for all the information and help that you need in making your decision. And don't, as a Jew, go in expecting the {{{Spanish Inquisition}}}! Leave the bogeymen at the front door and you'll be amazed how 'normal' everyone is and how serious they are about a good education.

[.45MAN]

This is something that ou really need to pray on. Yes, We Catholics are different in our beliefs but we have more in common than not.. You propably already know the answer.

[2banana]

I am a devoted Jew, and yet the answer to your beautifully posed question is this: NO. (Right? The answer is no, isn't it?) It is FAR more important for my son to be in a safe, OBJECTIVE VALUES-based school where he will not be indoctrinated with the PC crap. I would far rather he learned Catholicism than the LIES of subjective morality and liberalism.

For me it was no - you must answer it for yourself.

[T Minus Four]

You've got mail...

BTW, way cool homepage.

[T Minus Four]

my only recommendations would be for you to continue with the religious part of your homeschooling curriculum regardless of what you decide, and please, no matter what, do not throw your children to the public schools!

Amen to that!

[Yaelle]

If you husband is already keeping Kosher then maybe he might beinterested in converting!

You'd think! But he is stubborn! His parents are in their 80s and I think that is his main block. He really does not wish to consider it. I don't know how Dr. Laura changed her husband's mind so fast! LOL.

I know the Prager book. We have so many sources here for both of us to read. We are pretty well read on the subject, and I love to learn as much as I can. My husband went through the 6-month class but did not convert at the end. He is Mr. Jew to all his Gentile friends, and is able to answer lots of questions that many of my born Jewish friends could not answer. He was horribly offended by a bar Mitzvah seudah we recently attended, IN a synagogue, where meat and dairy were served all together. I was unhappy about it and had to warn the kids and all, but he was DEEPLY OFFENDED! Ha ha!

I hope that my child will know the tribulations I engaged in before sending him, if I do. I hope he knows that as a Jewish child he needs to be a light upon the world and give everyone good impressions of us all. My decision is not made yet and I so appreciate your input, Yehuda.

[Yaelle]

Aw, I knew you were joking by the smiley, but I was afraid someone might think I really thought it woul dbe bad to be a Catholic! No way! LOL.

I thought Jews didn't go for sports much traditionally because we were too busy studying! There was always a double load on Jewish kids, with religious school taking up where secular left off. This is really changing. Although many sports do require play on Saturdays.

I wonder if your answer about association with paganism is true. Someone better informed might know that.

[Yaelle]

LOL! Don't mention the Inquisition!

Very good suggestions for what to look at next time I go in to see the school, if I do. Thanks. There are no Jews at the school now, but some mixed heritage kids. Plenty of non Catholics, though, and a Muslim.

[Yaelle]

Very good, a post like an arrow to my heart. I need to focus. Thanks.

[Yaelle]

Very good, a post like an arrow to my heart. I need to focus. Thanks.

[Yaelle]

We agree on the answer. I just had to look at the question to see whether the word "yes" answered it or "no," by the way the question was worded! LOL.

[TheSpottedOwl]

I hope that my child will know the tribulations I engaged in before sending him, if I do. I hope he knows that as a Jewish child he needs to be a light upon the world and give everyone good impressions of us all. My decision is not made yet and I so appreciate your input, Yehuda.

I attended Catholic School in the mid sixties. What I learned in 5 years was more than the rest of the public school years. Very sad. As a non practicing Catholic, I distrust some Catholic School curriculum. I've heard of sex ed, and other things that have no place in ANY school. My advice would to go to PTA meetings and see how liberal the faculty and parents are. You're better off with conservative Catholics; liberal Catholics are on par with Teddy Kennedy(our collective horror and shame). A Catholic School will not force Catholic teachings down your child's throat. An added bonus would be for discussions on what Catholics and Jews share, regarding the Old Testament. I don't think that anyone is going to try and turn your kid Catholic. Heck, these days they can't keep the ones that were baptized at birth. Your boy wants to go to school like the other kids, and you have a baby at home. Ouch. After attending a few PTA meetings, and of course scrutinizing the textbooks, let him go for a semester if you approve of the materials. I can understand why you're cautious. Your heritage is precious, and should be preserved. On the other hand, don't burn yourself out. The baby needs you more than anyone else right now :-)

[2banana]

Good Luck - I believe if the situation was reversed - That I would choose a good Jewish school over a poor and dangerous public school. I would rather my child got the great education. I would tell him that Jesus was a Jew and it is proper to learn the things Jesus learned growing up.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

Dr. Laura has her head on straight....I can't think of a Christian or Catholic school that would not be lots better than the "fast for Ramadan" public school system.

[franky]

Your very important question to this board was answered quite well by most of the posters. Of course there are those who present ignorant intolerance to others so do not concern yourself with their utterances.

Pray for guidance and wisdom to lead your conscience to the right decision.

[BlackVeil]

We really feel (yes, me too now) that the big one NEEDS more friends.

Very likely. Children need the interaction with other children - sometimes it is a bit bruising, but they do learn, and it is the best way for them to develop self-control and monitor themselves.

[Yaelle]

There is a Jewish preschool in this area, and at least 30% of the kids are not Jewish. My non-Jewish friends who sent their kids there said it had such a great reputation that they preferred it to all the other preschools. Thanks for the good wishes!