annie Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 and hates it. Please pray, she is shadowing the public school here. They are both good schools, but the co-ed Catholic school she has been at Fr and now 1/2 soph yr is too small, too micromanaging for her. Some good people, but also the religion classes are very 'Catholic Lite' and I wouldn't mind if she switched---well, they do have a good retreat program, but so far I haven't been impressed with what is taught as far as religion there. ugh, I think she is 16 and can make the decision for herself. We did give her the choice to go there, but she felt pressure from us to try it --left all of her friends at the public school to go there. Now she has some good friends at the Catholic school (who are NO different that the public kids, believe me, there is no evidence that their faith is any more important to them than the kids she was friends with at the public school, Catholic or otherwise) so she will have a heartbreaking choice to make. But it must be HERS. Any advice from you all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Does the public school have a good bike path? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 LOL different daughter! The eighth grader is Liz, this is Amy the 10th grader! LOL You are soooo quick this early in the morning!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thy Geekdom Come Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 I was "Catholic Lite" in middle school and when I went to a public school after 9 years of private, it was such a culture shock that it set me straight. I became devout, lol...it was that or join the goths...and they just didn't ever seem enthused or happy...what's attractive in that? However, I don't think the switch would benefit everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasJis Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 annie, I'm dying to know what chi-town sub you live in. I have tons of family there. You want my honest answer? It's your ultimate decision, but... if you send her to public school, she will be exposed to more evangelical protestants. You won't see that in Catholic schools. I do agree what you say about Catholic school students not taking their faith seriously and it being 'Catholic Lite'. I went to 12 years of Catholic school and sent my children to Catholic grade school. I also taught Confirmation classes for a few years for the parish youth, both public and Catholic school. It's six of one, half dozen of the other. It is up to the parents to encourage and demonstrate an involved Faith life. If you send her to public school, be sure to voice your reservations and set some limits. If you are worried about her turning away from the Church, insist that if she goes to public school that it's not an option to ever miss Mass or to complain about it. Also, decide if she is allowed to go to another denom's youth group activity if she is invited by friends. There are other things to consider as well. I don't know what your parish is like and what prots are like in Chicago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tojo Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Does you parish have decent youth activities? Involvement in after-school activities should be contingent upon involvement with parish-youth activities, unless you feel they're not worth going to. Something like: "you can run track, be in drama, whatever, if you faithfully go to youth group....." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 jasjis, we are in Wheaton... the "Protestant Vatican" You bet she will be exposed to Evangelicals---it is a hotbed of Evangelical Xianity here. More churches per capita than anywhere else in the US Our Parish youth group is a dud. She already goes to Mass regularly, never ever misses. I am thinking that if she does transfer (and her sister subsequently will go to public school also) I will add some things to our family life. Who knows, it may be an opportunity to strengthen family devotions, like the Rosary. We shall see. Some of the most devout Catholics I know work there. The public school has over 2000 kids, and believe me, the net amount of devout Catholic kids is higher there than at the Catholic school with 800 kids (who are not even all Catholic, and definitely not all devout in any way shape or form). Thanks all for your opinions. It is tough, but I know God has a plan for her. She wants to be a neurosurgeon, and I know she can do it. Academically both schools are a wash. I want her to be where God wants her to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tojo Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 Wow, you're in Wheaton! It is the Fundie Vatican! Evangelicals are more Colorado Springs, with plenty of blurring on both sides. Are there any decent Catholic youth activities nearby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 No, not anything really local. Our own parish (the one that burned down 4 yrs ago--arson) has a limping youth group that is all 'kum-by-yah' and full of nerds. It is ashame. The one light at the end of the tunnel is a Junior high leader taking kids to Catholic Heart Work Camp in Jamaica next summer. Amy is signed up, with a girlfriend from the Catholic school, and that is set. Am hoping she gets into that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tojo Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 I have a friend who does stuff like that. Brought him from suicidal depressed atheist to devout Catholic. I think his was "Shine Catholic Work Camp." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thy Geekdom Come Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 [quote name='annie' date='Nov 18 2005, 02:06 PM']jasjis, we are in Wheaton... the "Protestant Vatican" You bet she will be exposed to Evangelicals---it is a hotbed of Evangelical Xianity here. More churches per capita than anywhere else in the US Our Parish youth group is a dud. She already goes to Mass regularly, never ever misses. I am thinking that if she does transfer (and her sister subsequently will go to public school also) I will add some things to our family life. Who knows, it may be an opportunity to strengthen family devotions, like the Rosary. We shall see. Some of the most devout Catholics I know work there. The public school has over 2000 kids, and believe me, the net amount of devout Catholic kids is higher there than at the Catholic school with 800 kids (who are not even all Catholic, and definitely not all devout in any way shape or form). Thanks all for your opinions. It is tough, but I know God has a plan for her. She wants to be a neurosurgeon, and I know she can do it. Academically both schools are a wash. I want her to be where God wants her to be. [right][snapback]794311[/snapback][/right] [/quote] I have a friend at Franciscan who's from Wheaton. Would you like me to ask if he can recommend any youth activities for Catholics? If they'll let her go, you might want to see if the Fellowship of Catholic University Students (FOCUS) will let her come to their National Conference in Chicago this year. I plan on being there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 [quote name='annie' date='Nov 18 2005, 01:14 PM']No, not anything really local. Our own parish (the one that burned down 4 yrs ago--arson) has a limping youth group that is all 'kum-by-yah' and [b]full of nerds[/b]. It is ashame. The one light at the end of the tunnel is a Junior high leader taking kids to Catholic Heart Work Camp in Jamaica next summer. Amy is signed up, with a girlfriend from the Catholic school, and that is set. Am hoping she gets into that! [right][snapback]794328[/snapback][/right] [/quote] i really hope im wrong about the impression i got from what you said (that which is bolded). what do you mean by that? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 Oh, I certainly meant that SHE 'thinks' that---I know some of those kids and their families-- they are great kids! Oh, I am so sorry if it came across like they are nerds---she just thinks they are---I think if she got to know them, she would like them I am sorry if it came across the wrong way, thank you for pointing it out Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
franciscanheart Posted November 18, 2005 Share Posted November 18, 2005 [quote name='annie' date='Nov 18 2005, 02:37 PM']Oh, I certainly meant that SHE 'thinks' that---I know some of those kids and their families-- they are great kids! Oh, I am so sorry if it came across like they are nerds---she just thinks they are---I think if she got to know them, she would like them I am sorry if it came across the wrong way, thank you for pointing it out [right][snapback]794502[/snapback][/right] [/quote] *wipes sweat from brow* phew. i knew you were an awesome mom! : about the public versus catholic. im like micah. i went to private school for 9 years and switched to public for high school. despite what she might be around, if she has a strong back at home she will be fine. i went astray for a little while but i came back strong. you are definitely right about the catholic school kids being no 'better' than the public school kids. in fact, in my experience, i had more good influences at public school than i did from kids that were attending private catholic school. they will be introduced to the same things and will be around the same kind of people. the great thing about public school though is that they tend to be bigger which means: --more chances for good influences --less pressure to 'be' someone --tighter knit groups of friends --less expensive i think that at her age your daughter will take the move seriously. she isnt going to lose friends by switching schools, only gain them. and if she does, well they werent exactly friends in the first place, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
annie Posted November 18, 2005 Author Share Posted November 18, 2005 good advice. She is bound and determined to work really hard, and cannot wait to get to college. I think she will graduate early. She is taking AP stats, AP us history and AP chemistry this year (sophomore). She plans to take AP calculus and AP physics also. We shall see shortly what she thought of her day shadowing at the public school. I am sure she will have some sort of opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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