Athiest parent sending child to Catholic school

[drfuzzy]

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Hello, welcome to the forum

No, I don't think you're being a hypocrite. Reality requires compromise, and if it's the only school which is any good I can totally understand it.

I suspect they will try to indoctrinate, at least subliminally and through immersion. It may not be explicit, but it will be there. They're not going to be presenting a balanced, critical examination of catholicism. Put it that way! If you think your daughter is mentally strong enough not to cave in, then it should be fine. Indoctrination tends to primarily take place in the home anyhow.

Of course, she may decide to become a catholic, but that's always a possibility. Personally, you could have sent me to the most religious school you liked and it would have bounced right off me. I'd have taken the education part and ignored the rest.

The other way to look at it is that sooner or later your daughter will be exposed to religion anyway, you can't protect her from getting "contaminated". So as long as they're not in her face about it and pressuring her, and she's old enough not to get passively brainwashed, it sounds cool to me.

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All of this, but...

It's not so much the school or the teachers/administration that I'd be worried about, but the peer pressure. Kids will follow where other kids lead far more readily than they will follow the teachers...

 THIS.  
         As most of you know, I'm an atheist working as a church musician. (There are actually a lot of us. One of my college music professors started a class by saying "NEVER, ever, work for a church.  However, probably everyone in this room will take church jobs because you have to pay the rent.  So . . . " )
         There is a school where I work.  Here is what I see: a lot of the parents pay their tithe, so their kids can attend the school, but never set foot in the church. The priests rant and rave about this, but they cannot force parents to attend Mass.  But they CAN, and do, require classes of students to participate in Masses - for a grade.  The students have religion class and sing religious songs and perform at Mass.  There is a a required school Mass every Wednesday and every Holy Day.  School kids lead the Mass twice a year, as well as taking part at Xmas and Easter.  The school prepares children for first communion and first confession.  
         I have an atheist friend whose children were at the school for two years.  She got tired of combating the questions and the peer pressure from other students and other parents and the priests, and now her kids are homeschooled.  I'm sure that many other families deal with the pressure better than she did.  
         The decision is up to you, of course.  Are there no secular private schools, or charter schools, in your area?

[Cephus]

I know people who have done the same thing, or at least something similar.  My best friend went to a Seventh Day Adventist school growing up for exactly the same reasons.  They tried to indoctrinate him, they required that he attend religious classes just like everyone else, but beyond that, they didn't worry too much about what he believed and he escaped without having his religious views changed any.

Do what you think you ought to do for your child.  Just know what the school is going to do and the students are going to do if your child doesn't hold similar beliefs.

[Socratic Meth Head]

I am fairly certain they will try to indoctrinate your kid. It is your call, but have you considered an online education? I am using it now and I love it.

[Meandering Atheist -J-]

I went to some christian schools when I was really young, then was in public school from 4th grade through middle school. I returned to a Catholic school for high school, and I'm really glad I went there. It certainly gave me quite a bit of understanding about religion that I would not have gotten at public school. It's probably one of the weaker points about public school that religion just isn't discussed, seeing as it is such an important issue in the world.

I don't think indoctrination is too much of a concern if your daughter is old enough. At my school there were quite a few non-christians, and students would regularly challenge the Catholic teachings (why can't we use condoms again?)

[Simon Moon]

Hello, I am new to the forum and just wanted some opinions on my choice to see whether I am doing the right thing or not, so....

My wife and I are sending our daughter to a Catholic school although I am an Athiest. Why you might ask? well...

First and foremost it is because we believe she will get a better education (by far!) going to this school than to any others in our local area. The school we are sending her to is one of the best schools not only in the city but the country! The alternate schools are poor in comparison.

My wife went to this same school and I have no doubt that if I would of gone to this school I would of got better grades. She is a Catholic but is undecided on her belief (she doesn't feel that strong about it) however she does feel very strong about our daughters education! The school I went to was terrible and I don't wish to send my daughter there.

 I do not believe the school will brain wash my daughter or effect her in a negative way, my only real question is this...

Am I being a hypocrite sending her there?? Or am I doing the right thing by trying to get her the best education I can??

Some opinions would be greatly appreciated

My girlfriend, who does not identify as an atheists, but pretty much is, sent her son to a Catholic school because it is a good school.

He was brought up with no indoctrination. 

He did extremely well at the school. Even the mandatory theology classes. But he did have a laugh from time to time when he actually considered that most of the students and teachers believed the crap he was being taught.

[Sterben]

It all depends on the age of your child, yes those schools do offer a better education then a public option. I don't have children my own so the only basis I could go on is what I would do if I did. I'd look for a other option, maybe a private school without a religious affiliation, or a good boarding school. The boarding school be a better option since it would offer more then a Catholic School can offer. I know a couple people of that was in boarding schools from age 12 to 18 and they loved having the options that those freedom from there parents offered them. There are some good ones that offer collage credits as well for some courses. A double win in my book, life skills and collage credits without the regulation of mandatory religious classes.

[c172]

I went to four high schools in three US states. One of them was a Catholic school (I'm atheist). Overall it was actually my favorite school to go to. Very caring people, students and faculty. There was one instance where, in religion class, we were encouraged to try out confessing, but I was overlooked for that. Kind of relieved, but it wouldn't have been the end of the world. They kne me and would have gently guided me through it if I had trouble.

You're new? Welcome!

[Minimalist]

"Well my interpretation is..."

LOL.  Your interpretation had better be the same as THEIR interpretation, Rob.

Those fucking nuns are not only as ugly as the back of your balls.........



but they can swing a mean ruler.

[robvalue]

Lol yeah I bet

I'd have been seeing a lot of that ruler with my third eye. I'd have been calling them on their bullshit constantly if I'd got sent to a religious school. I think the very idea is ridiculous, to be honest. I don't think they should be state funded, if that is indeed the case.

[Fidel_Castronaut]

Welcome!

If it's really just that, F*** principles, it's not your or your kids fault that the available public schools suck. It's not like all members of the catholic church believe in God either Just have a close look at what they are doing there religion wise.

In the UK almost all catholic faith schools are public schools. Given government money and a mandate to discriminate on who they allow in.

An abhorrent stain on our education system.