So my oldest daughter is in grade 4 at our local community school (so local I can see it from my kitchen window!) It’s a fabulous school – FABULOUS – but it’s time for her to move on, because the school only goes to grade 4. There are a few options to consider at this point:
- She can move on to her designated school, which is in one of the neighbouring communities and accepts students from grades 5-9. There is bussing from stops very close to our home and most of her cohort will attend.
- She can attend what used to be (until last year) the designated school for our community, also in a neighbouring community, accepting students from K-6. Then of course the question of where to go in grade 7 comes up. Several of her friends will be attending this school.
Those are the two obvious options, but one of the teachers at school recently suggested we should consider an arts-based education program for her next year. This seemed like an excellent choice for our daughter; this girl whose favourite after-school activities are drama and art. So we’ve been looking into the options for art-based education here in Calgary. And the truth is, it’s pretty slim pickings, as far as I can tell.
The Calgary Board of Education has three arts-based education schools. One is a high school only (grades 10-12 here in Alberta), one is a junior high (grades 7-9) and one is actually perfect – it’s a middle school (grades 5-9). The problem? It’s in the absolute farthest corner of the city from where we live and there’s no bussing to our area – there’s no bussing, in fact, to anywhere even remotely near our area.
Then there’s a charter school (which, for you non-Albertans, is kind-of like a private school, but in the public system, with public funding) which has arts-based education, but it is also quite far away and also doesn’t have adequate bussing. They do come up to our quadrant of the city (the northwest), but not even into our community. Which begs the question: why have a school bus when parents have to drive their kids to the bus stop?
Then there’s the third option. It’s an arts-based school, for kids from grades 4-6, it’s closer to our house and they have a bus that comes to the end of our street. It sounds like a great option, doesn’t it? There’s just one catch: it’s a catholic school. And we’re not. Which isn’t, necessarily, a deal-breaker as it turns out. Seems that this school will accept non-catholic students if there’s space for them. I spoke to a school representative and she told me they’ve had a number of non-catholic students before, and in fact she was very encouraging.
So, we’re going to go and tour the schools with an open mind, and we’ll see which one we think might be the best fit for our daughter. She will have to apply/audition for a space, which will of course be an important factor.
But assuming she is accepted at the two schools, I’d rather she attend the Catholic one, mostly because of the much improved transportation, and because it has an excellent reputation. So then our real question will be: how do we feel about sending our child to a catholic school? We are neither a catholic nor even a religious family. If she attends this catholic school, our daughter will be required to attend religion classes with the rest of her classmates. Which is fine: I’ve always been of the opinion that more information about any topic (but especially religion) is better. She will have to make up her own mind about the important issues, and I’m not opposed in any way to her learning about all world religions. If she starts that journey of learning through grade five religion class, well that’s fine. The other piece, though, is that the rest of the students will have been taking religion already since Kindergarten. They’ll have memorized things like catechisms and Hail Marys and Paternosters (without: “for thine is the the kingdom, the power and the glory, forever and ever, amen” as I learned it it Protestant Sunday School) and my daughter won’t. Will she be lost? Will she feel stupid? Will she be teased for not being catholic?
As I said, we’ll look into all our options with open minds, but what do you think? What would you do in our shoes? Have you experienced something similar with your children?
that’s a complex dilemma. i agree with you that the catholic school overall sounds like the best option. my mom (a muslim who attended school and university in India) went to a Catholic convent run by Irish Catholic nuns. She learned the Hail Mary’s and all that stuff, but still adhered to her own faith and ideas. She had a lot of respect for the faith and culture. even my friends in toronto whose kids attend catholic schools praise the level of education and the emphasis on manners and respect – i like that idea.
Sorry, no words of wisdom. It’s a tough call, indeed. Please let us know what you decided.
I can only speak as a teacher, because The Boy is certainly not in school yet.
However, I personally believe that we should always teach to a child’s strengths and if your daughter has obvious strength in the arts (and has opportunity to explore this), then I say go for it!!
As to where to send her, it’s a tough call. I like the Charter School (even though you’d have to drive her to the bus). If the Catholic School is easier, then I think she could easily learn the prayers over the summer. Many students who attend Catholic schools are not from that religious background. Many of my non-religious friends went to Catholic school and fit in just fine!!
I think the most important thing (from a teacher standpoint) is to make sure that she wants to pursue this avenue of learning! If she really wants to go to school with her friends and has no interest in going to an arts school, then maybe this isn’t the right time for her…I think the opportunity is fabulous and I would have jumped at it as a kid, but it’s important that this style of learning is suitable to her and that she will enjoy all aspects of being at an arts school.
If the arts-based school doesn’t work out, try your best to encourage her to join programs or afterschool clubs that deal with the arts in her new school. I feel like they are so important and so often overlooked!!
And congrats to your daughter for being so obviously talented!!
It’s a tough choice. One I think about often. I have two kids in grade 1 and 3. They both go to a Catholic school and they are baptised Presbyterian. We initially sent my son there because it was close and when he started school I did not have a car. My husband is technically Catholic but I know more about it then him. That’s why we got in the school.
I don’t really like that they take religion class but I agree with you, let them learn and make up their own minds. We talk about what they learn and I ask questions and try and show them other options if I think it’s too strict. They both love the school and their teachers so that’s why we keep them in that school. I just wonder what we’re going to do when it comes time for high school. Their school is JK-8.
No one makes fun of them, I have asked if there are other kids that are not Catholic, but it’s not a big deal for them. I was warned once by another mother to not spread it around that we were not Catholic as it was considered a very good school and hard to get into and some people were not happy that non catholics were taking up spaces. I did tell my son’s grade two teacher that the kids were not Catholic because they were doing classes for first communion and I didn’t know what my son would do during that time. She had no problem with it and said that it was to be done through your own church so not to worry. I think that the big difference is that thay talk about God in school. I am not a religious person either (although I do believe in God) so I find them talking about God all the time a bit strange, but I don’t think it’s a bad thing either.
Sorry for the long winded response. Good luck in your decision. I wish you and your family well.
I am Greek Orthodox & my husband is Catholic. My family was pretty religious, his not at all. I grew up with many friends who were Catholic & went to Catholic school. The Catholic board in ON begins teaching French in Grade 1, Public board – grade 4. My friends’ kids in a public school near our home learn about every religion & their major celebrations – great! Except they don’t touch the subject of Christianity…all this helped me decide to send my kids to the Catholic school and I am very pleased with our decision. I know a few parents in this school who are not Catholic either and are happy with the school. I honestly don’t think your daughter will have a hard time not being Catholic. Religion class is a small part of their day to day learning, and just as other kids may not have strong skills in math, science, or art, your daughter’s skills will shine in probably everything else they have to offer.