The Church Needs A Lesson In Education (Opinion)

IT'S good the organisations representing gardai and teachers are making their feelings known. It's a sign of the times. 

The days of issuing edicts from on high and expecting them to be obeyed are gone.


It applies in politics, in business and for religions. 

Businesses throughout the world are aware of the need to communicate and to collaborate with the work force. Those who do it best become the most successful. 

Sadly, neither politicians nor church leaders understand how out of date their methods are. It's known as systemic failure.


That's why it is encouraging that these representative bodies make the feelings of their members known. Initially all the talk will be about whether protesters should be disrespectful to a speaker they invited along to address them.We should not be disrespectful to anyone at any time. 

But that's not the issue. 

The issue is: how else can they make their feelings known directly to the person who imposes policies and lifestyles without consultation?

Engaged

Fr Peter McVerry made a striking contribution to one of the teachers conferences when he questioned the purpose and the methods of modern education in Ireland. He engaged the teachers and perhaps even shocked them. 

However he made a wide range of valid points which were based on reality; both teachers and the ministers need to pay attention to what he said.

It's time we had a discussion about the value of Catholic education in Ireland today. Not being involved in teaching I am reluctant to make too much of it. 

But can anybody tell me what the purpose of Catholic education in Catholic schools' is these days? If it is to pass on the Catholic faith to the pupils, then obviously it's failing miserably.


The Catholic Church in Ireland wants to retain control over the majority of primary schools here. 

I can understand why, because the Catholic Church, through its teachers, parishes and Religious Orders, have made a massive contribution to education in this country.

The question though remains valid: what's the purpose of Catholic education? It should produce well educated citizens capable of taking their place with confidence anywhere in the world.




But what about the call to pass on the Catholic faith? Is that part of Catholic education? I thought that was one of the main purposes for putting so much time, effort and money into building and maintaining the Catholic school structures.



Are pupils who come through Catholic schools any more convinced of their faith than those who don't come through Catholic schools? The Church seems to argue that without control of schools, its freedom to pass on the faith will be curtailed.


This may well be true but I feel the need to question its under-lying principle. Are schools the best place to pass on the faith in this day and age?


It seems to me that the vast majority of young people whether north or south of the border are at best indifferent to the Catholic Church. The vast majority see the church as being irrelevant to their lives. In fact many that I know have rejected the practice and the teachings of the Catholic Church on many issues especially sexual morality. 

Even such basic beliefs as attending Mass on Sunday mean nothing to a great number of young students who have received their education at Catholic schools.

Those involved will tell you that confirmation is becoming the cut-off point for their rather short Catholic lives. 

Furthermore I believe many parents of children who attend Catholic schools have themselves no great commitment to their faith. They send their children to Catholic schools not for education in their faith but simply because they produce children capable of passing examinations. Parents are indifferent to the religious education their children receive.



Would it be too much to say that a high percentage of teachers whose job it is to teach the faith themselves do not practice and are not convinced by the teachings of the Catholic Church?

Contribution

I don't know the answers to all of these questions. I do recognise that well organised Catholic schools have made a massive contribution to society. 

What I continually ask myself is this: Is it not time to seriously question the value of Catholic schools in handing down the faith to Catholic children?

If the Church put the same effort into organising lay Catechists who would pass on the faith to interested children in a parish or community setup, would the results be more lasting? 

Anyone in touch with reality must realise the Catholic Church as we knew it is no longer central to the lives of parents, students or their communities.

First of all they know remarkably little about the teachings of the Catholic Church. Even when they do, many have rejected those teachings.



There are other models across the world which we could try. If I were younger and in charge of a parish again, I would try to arrange after school groups where people could learn and experience what true community living is about. I would argue that because of the way people live their lives today, there is no noticeable difference between Christian communities and the society around them.



These days after Easter when we read the Book of Acts, we discover that the Christian community grew because it was so different.They were enthused by the risen Christ. They shared everything. They lived Gospel values.

Do Catholic schools teach children about who Jesus was, or how Jesus expects us to live? Is there a Catholic way of life? 

And if there is, can we find a better way of making it tangible and liveable in today's world? 

In short, do we need schools in order to pass on the faith?