General discussion - Mom and Dad Esq.

[pony_trekker]

Probably the wrong board. What level of religious involvement does a Catholic High School have? Let's say one's child was born Catholic but never formally baptised or confirmed because of religious indiference. Would a Catholic high school (which the kid wants to attend for other reasons -- athletics -- be inappropriate?

I anticipate that the answer is no but am really clueless.


Just curious.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
Probably the wrong board. What level of religious involvement does a Catholic High School have? Let's say one's child was born Catholic but never formally baptised or confirmed because of religious indiference. Would a Catholic high school (which the kid wants to attend for other reasons -- athletics -- be inappropriate?

I anticipate that the answer is no but am really clueless.


Just curious.

I don't really have first hand knowledge, but I think it would depend highly on the school, which in turn probably depends on the density of non-Catholic private schools in the area.

I had a friend in college who was jewish who went to a Catholic high school and said it was never an issue - hardly noticable except for the crucifix in every room. But there are definitely schools at the other end of the spectrum. It seems to be the same as with colleges, i.e. Georgetown vs. Catholic University of America.

My guess is that a school that is likely to recruit for athletics probably doesn't push the religion too much.

ETA: Just to clarify my first statement: the lower the density of alternatives, the more likely a school is to serve a broad base, until you get to a point where there is enough density that some schools will play to conservative Catholics and some to liberals.

[Trepidation_Mom]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
Probably the wrong board. What level of religious involvement does a Catholic High School have? Let's say one's child was born Catholic but never formally baptised or confirmed because of religious indiference. Would a Catholic high school (which the kid wants to attend for other reasons -- athletics -- be inappropriate?

I anticipate that the answer is no but am really clueless.


Just curious.

If your kid was born Catholic, I would be a bit more wary than if he wasn't. The Management might deem him stray property rather than treating him tolerantly as they would a heathen non-Catholic jew or protestant. The Church can be rather proprietarial with regard to those it considers lapsed. Probably depends a lot on the school - if there is significant nun/priest presence, it might be more of an issue.

Then again, high school might be old enough for your kid to hold his own against any attempted indoctrination, particularly if he has strong opinions of his own on the matter.

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Anyone know an online place to buy flannel sheets for a crib?

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Anyone know an online place to buy flannel sheets for a crib?

The Company Store

Solid and gingham flannel fitted sheets for cribs (and other kids beds).

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
Probably the wrong board. What level of religious involvement does a Catholic High School have? Let's say one's child was born Catholic but never formally baptised or confirmed because of religious indiference. Would a Catholic high school (which the kid wants to attend for other reasons -- athletics -- be inappropriate?

I anticipate that the answer is no but am really clueless.


Just curious.

From my own experience at a Jesuit high school, I think he would be fine. You and child would know, of course, that the child will probably have to take and pass certain religious education classes to graduate (like everyone else), and may well have to sit through the occasional Catholic Mass that is part of special school events/programs.

That said, I wouldn't expect any efforts at conversion or that kind of pressure.

S_A_M

[Hank Chinaski]

Originally posted by pony_trekker
Would a Catholic high school (which the kid wants to attend for other reasons -- athletics -- be inappropriate?

one of my partners sez:

I can only speak about my HS. I don't know much about what the other options might be like.

I don't think he would have a hard time at my HS. We had whole school assembly masses and a few other things that are very "catholic" but most of the school experience is just academic. Even many of the required "religion" classes are not purely "catholic."

We had a practicing hindu kid in our graduating class and he seemed to like it. He was almost held in higher regard in some ways (by teachers and other students). We had one religion class where the teacher asked him if he was willing to explain the hindu religion and his family's practices to us as part of our class. He did.

If the guy is looking for a place that has good discipline and high academic standards (not to mention good athletic teams), he would certainly find those there.

[Secret_Agent_Man]

Originally posted by Trepidation_Mom
If your kid was born Catholic, I would be a bit more wary than if he wasn't. The Management might deem him stray property rather than treating him tolerantly as they would a heathen non-Catholic jew or protestant. The Church can be rather proprietarial with regard to those it considers lapsed. Probably depends a lot on the school - if there is significant nun/priest presence, it might be more of an issue.

A child who was never baptised is not a Roman Catholic, lapsed or otherwise. There really isn't the "born Catholic" concept that Pony enunciated, unlike with, say, the Jewish tradition.

S_A_M

[Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)]

Originally posted by baltassoc
The Company Store

Solid and gingham flannel fitted sheets for cribs (and other kids beds).

Thanks. Although I liked Company Store more before they started imposing, in addition to shipping and handling, an "Delivery and Service charge" that "include[s] our costs for customer service, processing and shipping, returns and exchanges, and some overhead." Um, isn't that what the price is supposed to include?

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Mmmm, Burger (C.J.)
Thanks. Although I liked Company Store more before they started imposing, in addition to shipping and handling, an "Delivery and Service charge" that "include[s] our costs for customer service, processing and shipping, returns and exchanges, and some overhead." Um, isn't that what the price is supposed to include?

Hmmmm. That bites. I've never ordered anything from there, but we got a set as a gift for the baltspawn. Nice quality.

[Trepidation_Mom]

Originally posted by Secret_Agent_Man
A child who was never baptised is not a Roman Catholic, lapsed or otherwise. There really isn't the "born Catholic" concept that Pony enunciated, unlike with, say, the Jewish tradition.

You are of course correct, but, as a practical matter, I've definitely known nuns & priests to try to "reclaim" the poor, lost children of non-practicing Catholics when they wash up in schools or community groups. Kids of mixed marriages as well as lapsed parents. With entirely non-Catholic families, I've always noted the same tolerance in Catholic schools that others have mentioned. Perhaps some people figure that, with a formerly Catholic parent or parents, the kids are more likely to be more sympathetic to Catholicism. I don't know that it's likely to be an issue, but I've seen it enough that I'd consider whether it might be.

[Sparklehorse]

Does anyone know if there is a periodical akin to Stone Soup but for older kids (teens)? Query is for a gift for a very bright 15 year old (probably going to college early) who is interested in creative writing.

[baltassoc]

Originally posted by Sparklehorse
Does anyone know if there is a periodical akin to Stone Soup but for older kids (teens)? Query is for a gift for a very bright 15 year old (probably going to college early) who is interested in creative writing.

If he/she/it is that smart, I'd aim higher. At that age level, go for adult popular press level for whatever the topic is. No idea for creative writing, but I'd look for the writing equivalent of Scientific American or the Economist, not Seventeen (or for that matter, Nature or the Harvard Journal of Foreign Policy).

[Sparklehorse]

Originally posted by baltassoc
If he/she/it is that smart, I'd aim higher. At that age level, go for adult popular press level for whatever the topic is. No idea for creative writing, but I'd look for the writing equivalent of Scientific American or the Economist, not Seventeen (or for that matter, Nature or the Harvard Journal of Foreign Policy).

I'm making the query for someone else but I inferred that the interest was in finding something like Granta or the New Yorker that publishes pieces by younger writers. I believe that is more or less Stone Soup's niche but the audience is the 8-13 age group.

[Replaced_Texan]

Originally posted by Sparklehorse
Does anyone know if there is a periodical akin to Stone Soup but for older kids (teens)? Query is for a gift for a very bright 15 year old (probably going to college early) who is interested in creative writing.

I don't know if it's still around, but I used to read Cricket. I don't remember what age group it was targeted at.

Answering the Catholic thread in the same post, I thought I had a leg up on my peers when I moved from Catholic elementary and middle school to parochial high school, because of the religion classes, which often were more history classes than anything else. We had to go to mass on Fridays, and around 13-17 some of the schools will start getting the kids ready for Confirmation, so your kid will miss out on the retreats and extra classes (unless, of course he wants to four of the seven sacraments in one fell swoop).