No Norms...

[faerieevaH]

I love my work. I think at this moment in life I am doing what God wants me to do and that I am where he wants me to. Sometimes I wish he made it easier though. In two classes today the topic of stealing came up. Some of my students don't considder shoplifting some sweets stealing. They don't think it's wrong at all. If you've accidentily walked out of a store with something still in your pocket or under your arm (I've done that at times when I was too stuborn to take a basket) they don't feel you should go back or return it. Not for a piece of chewing gum, but also not for a t shirt, a dvd or an mp3 player...
I can't get it through to them that it's wrong. Citing the ten commandments really doesn't work with these children because although they've done their first communion and sometimes even their confirmation,t hey don't care about it and don't get it taught at home either.
Some days are hard when you try to teach children who have not even gotten the most basic of values.

 

[Dream]

Empathy is the key. Put the students in the shoes of the shopkeeper. Say to them "alright, you invite me over to your house for dinner. In showing me your Playstation game (I don't know if this is the "hip" thing with kids anymore), I somehow accidentely stick it in my purse. When I get home, I realized that I accidentely took your video game. Is it okay for me to keep it or should I give it back to you?"

By then, the students might be able to understand why stealing is wrong.

Just a thought...

 

[Cat59]

I dont get that so much in first communion class, but my sisterinlaw who teaches confirmation often comments on this. I worry about my son growing up with this around him and if he'll have the courage to stand up against it....

 

[faerieevaH]

Been there, done that, tried that. The answer: "That is something different". "Why?" "It just is..."
Of course something added to it is that most stores here are anonymous stores. The personally owned ones are becomming rare. Most people don't know or see an 'owner' anymore. It just is 'the store'.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

I teach 11-13 year olds-

I try to take the attitude that perhaps there will be a seed planted so that at some point in their life- a little voice will remind them that someone once told them about these things. That they will have met at least one person who loved the Catholic faith and sought to be obedient to Holy Mother Church in all things. I try to appeal to the rebelious and counter- cultural nature that pops up in teenagers-- heroically living the Gospel is about as rebellious as it gets. They thought it was awesome when we talked about the Missionaries of Charity- and how they own literally nothing. I showed them my favorite picture of Mother Teresa-- it's her mangled feet in these falling apart sandals. That spoke to them of Truth.

Kids know Truth when it is proclaimed- they hunger and thirst for it--- but just like wheat bread - it can take time to get accustomed to it and decide to incorporate it into your life, and even more time until you eat only whole wheat breads....

 

[faerieevaH]

That is one of my great joys, especially in the 14 to 16 age group... their awe when I speak of people who do live the life of God, in big or small ways. Our current theme (growls once more at 'aproved curriculum for Catholic religion in highschool', forgive my rebelious mind) is "sources of life"... A commercial tv station at the end of previous year had a show in which you could chose the 100 heroes of the year. Mostly these were singers, or politicians (just because they came into the media, or had helped raise money for the tsunami cause by participating in a program or something). It did my heart good that they found it very easy to find the 15 people who must certainly did not belong, and much more difficult to find five who did. ((I could find three that I truely agreed on)). The next contrast lesson on 'Christian heroes' included Mother Theresa, Father Damian, Monseigneur Romero, Therese de Lisieux and Sister Dorothy Stang, since she had just died...

It remains strange though to see how they admire certain behaviour but don't find it in any way applicable to their own life, not even in the small ways. Especially the 12 year olds.

 

[ShannonMcCatholic]

It remains strange though to see how they admire certain behaviour but don't find it in any way applicable to their own life, not even in the small ways. Especially the 12 year olds.

Again I try to just go for planting seeds and keep my goals small. Last year I wanted to make sure everyone leaving my class knew that the EUcharist is Jesus, Body , Blood, Soul and Divinity.

This year it is my goal to have them all know the Apostle's Creed.

Keep in mind that my 4 year old knows the Apostle's Creed as well as the Real PResence- but they have a mum who is a hardcore religious fanatic . They pray the rosary, DIvine Mercy Chaplet and Angelus every day as well as go to Mass everyday....

As a teacher you are a supplememnt-- parents are the ones who through the sacramental grace specific to Holy Matrimony are given the abitlity to educate their children in the faith- as the end of marriage is to have children and bring them up in the faith. If parents are neglecting their duty, for which they are sacramentally empowered, there is very little chance that you will be able to morally instruct them. However, if they can see you and experience you as someone who is not hypocritical-- not saying one thing and living another-- it will resonate. Kids are lied to all day long everyday in this culture-- the Truth you give them will matter at some point. I just so firmly believe that!! Often our influence is hidden from our view- and what a blesssing that is so that we don't take the credit for that which God has worked through us. It might be years before these kids hit rock bottom and are reaching, looking, searching--- and all that you have done and taught will be in there, in the confines of their hearts waiting to be unleashed!!