My son just left his catholic school to go to a gifted school. I just signed DYS, DS10 up for PSR. They gave him a questionare with eye color, 3 favorite wishes, favorite food and draw a family picture. I don't know, but doesn't this sound a little young? My DH wants him to have this religion, but I see a lack of tolerance ahead. DS doesn't want to go. Thanks for the vent. I'm sure I won't be able to find a gifted PSR class.

Maybe I need some caffeine or something but I'm confused. Your DS left a catholic school to go to a gifted school, but then you talk about the PSR? Is the PSR the gifted school?

And yes, the questionnaire seems to be remedial at best for a 10 year old.

Not Catholic, but PSR (parish school of religion) is youth religious education for kids who are Catholic, but for whatever reason don't go to Catholic School. Maybe a couple hours a week, if Google is leading me in the right direction.

I wouldn't anticipate that religious instruction would have a strong academic bent - that's not at all the point of it. Sounds like you and your DH don't share a religion, and the underlying issue is a disagreement about religion, rather than a disagreement about appropriate academics?

So, let me make sure I understand:

* The Gifted School is either a private school or a public school that doesn't have a religious education component

* The PSR is a separate program for religious education. Perhaps it meets after school or on Sundays?

* Either way, we're talking about two totally separate programs.

Seems to me that the questionnaire could have been one of those getting-to-know you things.

I wouldn't expect a gifted component in religious education.

Is AlexsMom right that the problem is a disagreement between you and your husband? If so, you should probably talk to him (?).

Val

I think this is what we used to call "CCD" when I was growing up. My kids now call it "church school" for lack of a better term.


I think Val is right - sounds like a getting-to-know-you activity, not an academic one.



Two whole other topics.


No. It's not really an academic activity, IMO. However, gifted kids may come up with more interesting questions in class than other kids.

just my two cents...

When I was a kid they DID NOT LIKE those "more interesting questions" in CCD class.

I vividly remember my elementary school religion teacher calling my mom to complain about my "impertinent" questions, i.e. if Jesus was alone in the garden and the disciples really were asleep, how do we know what he said when he prayed? and others of that ilk. My mother finally told me to keep quiet in religion class.

My daughter goes to sunday school while we are in the church service and she was frustrated last year because each year, no matter what grade you were in, they started over in Genesis! This year we found out they changed the curriculum when we asked her if she learned about Adam & Eve yesterday. We always laughed because we said she got a really good education about the Garden of Eden! She said they didn't and showed us a picture they each drew describing where they worship. I thought that was nice

OTGmom -
I really feel for you on this one, buttttttt it may be time to give an inch.
How many hours a week does this occupy?
Do you really want to convey the message that your DCs are too delicate to handle agemates and agemate leveled education for X hours a week?

If you feel strongly, then be sure to have DH 'volunteer' in the classrooms from time to time so that he can have a clear picture of what it is - exactly - that he is so interested in the kids getting.

You might also observe the classroom, and shop around various locations. AS in all things, having a teacher who 'gets' your kids can make a huge difference. In fact, DH might want to volunteer himself as a teacher.

We went through a lot of pain on this one - and my DS isn't the sort to suffer silently. If I remember your kids are more good-natured than mine. We kept trying different things, but if we made it to April that was a victory.

Love and More Love,
Grinity

I got thrown out of one for asking them.

Yes it is called CCD...ALL of my DC went to or are going to Catholic schools. I have noticed the last 10 years the Catholic School system has Tanked right with the public schools.

As far as gifted programs for religion education...NOPE not going to happen. The teachers in CCD are "volunteers" they have an outlined program.

My DS 10 who has religion EVERYDAY in school spoke out and explained to his religion teacher why he believes evolution was/is very much a good possiblity.
Man, that went over well...NOT
This is what happens when you have kids who dig deeper and want to make logical sense of the universe.

I had to stifle him again...Just like the reproductive system he taught himself in 1st grade. I had to explain to him it was one of those things he cannot talk about at school...

Catholic high schools here select by ability as demonstrated by grades and national testing percentile rank. There are twenty-eight of them in St. Louis. Students apply by listing their top three choices. They are offered admission to their best match within their performance range. The higher tiers do turn away non-qualified students every year.
Teacher expertise varies greatly in the PSR and in-school religion courses although most have an education degree at the K-8th level. My son has been very lucky to have only teachers with advanced degrees in their subject (who appreciate his challenging questions) since switching to non-parish affiliated Catholic prep school.
This sounds like the Catholic school my grandmother attended.
My kids have been instructed on evolution since 6th grade-and at a more in-depth level than my state university freshman prehistoric anthropology course (with much tougher tests too).