Msg Base:  AREA 5  - ASK FATHER            CIN ECHO   AMDG
  Msg No: 163.  Mon 10-21-91 20:06  (NO KILL)  (RECV'D)  (MAILED)
    From: Father Mateo
      To: Mike O'donnell
 Subject: Religion Curriculum

³ I am writing as a parent volunteer on the Curriculum Committee at Trinity
³ School in Ellicott City, Maryland, where our children attend school.
³ Every semester, we take a subject area and look at what we are doing, what
³ other schools are doing, trends in teaching that subject area, and how our
³ (already excellent) curriculum can be improved.
³  
³ I would like to get your opinion on what you feel children who attend a
³ Catholic school religion program (this is K through 8) should learn.  In
³ particular, how deeply should Catholic theology be taught.  Should the
³ emphasis be placed on developing sound Christian principles and ethics
³ with the theology to be introduced in high school? With respect to
³ Catholic teaching, the school currently assists in sacramental preparation
³ (First Eucharist, Penance), but the actual first reception must be in the
³ parish.  Also, in 5th grade, they do an intensive study of the Mass to the
³ point that any student should be able to be a sacristan with just being
³ shown where things are kept.  Also, to what extent should Bible readings
³ be used?  Should religion be incorporated into other subject area  such as
³ Language Arts and Social Studies?
³  
³ Also, do you have information on how Catholic schools in California structur
³ their religion curriculum?
³  
³ One thing that Trinity does which gives me mixed feelings.  They do not
³ include Religion on the report card.  The philosophy, with which I totally
³ agree, is that religion is a way of life rather than a collection of facts
³ (with the Baltimore Catechism that I studied, it was a collection of
³ facts!)  and cannot be quantized with A, B, C, D, and NP.  The true "final
³ exam" is in how the children apply religious teachings to living a good
³ Christian life.  Instead, the school sends home a written evaluation in
³ January and June in paragraph form which covers this philosophy.  I like
³ the idea in theory, but find with my children that they put off their
³ religion homework to do the other work because religion is not on their
³ report card!  (I try to point out that recommendations for high school are
³ based on all class work, including religion.)
³  
³ I would appreciate any thoughts you might have on any of the above.  Also,
³ if you know of any good journal articles which discuss current trends,
³ could you send me title, author, journal, and date?  Thank you in advance
³ for your kind attention to my requests, and for your ministry.
³  
³ In His Peace,
³ Mike O'Donnell


Dear Mike,
 
I have never been a parish priest nor have I worked in a grammar
school.  I have no experience with K-8 children.
 
All I dare say is this: the first priority at any age is Jesus Christ.
Tell them about Christ, explain Christ first, last and always.  That is
teaching them the Word.  "In the beginning was the Word and the Word
was with God and the Word was God . . . . and the Word was made flesh."
Teach them the gospels.
 
Secondly, teach them Mary.  Never separate the Mother from the Son.
Teach them and lead them in the Rosary.
 
Thirdly, teach them about themselves, that they are the Body of Christ,
the Church.  Don't be gaseous - - the Church has structure.  As they
serve God by obeying their parents, so in God's Family, we all serve
God by obeying our Bishops and the Pope, learning and following their
teaching.
 
Fourthly, teach them doctrine and how to express what they believe.
Help them trace these beliefs in the Bible and Sacred Tradition.
 
Lastly, teach them morality and base it on love.  Love is the two
commandments: 1) love God, 2) love others as oneself.  All the law
depends on these.
 
Obviously (I should think), this all has to go on at the same time,
and be accommodated to the age group.
 
No, religion is NOT a "way of life rather than a collection of facts".
It is and must be BOTH.  And unless we hold the factual and know how to
explain and defend it, we have no sure guidelines for living a good life.
 
No one, repeat, no one, ever goes to heaven because he just "lives a
good life".  He must believe in Jesus Christ and adhere to His teaching
as preached by His Church, the pillar and ground of truth.  This is
non-negotiable.
 
By refusing to grade the children's religious KNOWLEDGE, a school
refuses to use a powerful TOOL to convey and consolidate that
knowledge.  Consider the child's later years: as an adult, if he is
perfectly convinced that marriage is a sacrament and a symbol of
Christ's union with His Church, and if he knows the Scriptures which
teach this, will he not work harder at his marriage and refuse to
consider divorce?  And if he knows the doctrine and Scripture of the
Real Presence, will he be tempted to miss Mass or wobble off into
other forms of Christianity that reject the Mass and the Real
Presence?
 
See, I was going to write a short message, begging off, and see what
I've done!
 
Don't undervalue children.  Young as they are, they UNDERSTAND very
much and they REMEMBER.  I remember when I was a very young child.  I
played with Catholic children.  I was IMPRESSED!  They KNEW something
and could EXPLAIN it, and I was tongue-tied.  The Sisters at their
school must have been fearsome!
 
                        Sincerely in Christ,
 
                        Father Mateo