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In the September 2006 issue of The Forerunner, I shared the religion standards that are taught in our School and Parish Faith Formation Programs. These standards were developed for both the parish and the school. I will be sharing with you over the next several issues an in-depth look at each standard and how it is implemented in the school's religion curriculum.
We have the standards to give us expectations of what is to be taught. Religion standards, as well as other subject area standards, are a guide for teachers to use to make certain we are covering essential elements of a subject, and in this case, our faith. However, what is taught, how it is taught, and the amount of time varies according to the age of the students.
We want our children to be touched in the faith through their heads, their hearts, and their hands. If we utilize appropriate methods with our students, we will give them a range of activities which will help them grow in the faith that their parents are practicing with them at home. We want the students to experience a caring community, both within the school and the parish, with vibrant liturgies and caring people of all ages providing living examples of discipleship. It really takes all of us, a whole village, to develop faith in our children. This means that it starts at home, is practiced in Mass on Sunday or other times within the parish, and then is taught and practiced daily at school. The ultimate goal for any religion program is "to make Jesus Christ known and loved in our time." The standards are another tool to lead us toward the accomplishment of this goal.
PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE OF THE FAITH
This is the first standard, and through it we help children "to know, understand, and integrate Catholic beliefs," taken from the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Through this standard, we want our students to know, love, and be in relationship with Jesus Christ. In the K - 2 grades, this would include recognizing God as the Creator. They will read the Genesis story of creation in religion classes and in science and other subjects that come up during the day. God is recognized and appreciated for the gift of life.
In grades 3 - 5, Jesus is shown to be the visible sign of God's love, and we are identified as the "People of God" who help each other. We are helping the children to understand that we are put on earth not for ourselves but to know, to love, and to serve God. At this age, we can talk about how the culture around us is in contradiction to this belief. In our society, we are led to believe that material things are important and that immediate gratification is what will make us "happy." Discussions occur around these issues to help children as they are taking in information via TV and other media sources, and students discuss how this information fits with our beliefs.
In the 6 - 8 grades, students learn the titles that Jesus has throughout the Bible, such as Messiah, Prophet, Son of God, Lamb of God, etc. They discuss the implications of how belief in Jesus might affect our daily lives.
THIS STANDARD ALSO INCLUDES:
(1) The exploration of Scripture as hearers and doers of the Word. The Bible is used and taught to students, the Old and New Testaments included. Bible stories are read and shared.
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Parables are read and discussed with students in grades 3 - 5. The older students recognize that Scripture is the primary way God reveals Himself, and that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, not just a book of historical or scientific facts. Students in grades 6 - 8 are taught to retell Bible stories, not just memorize verses, but to talk about some of the stories that they hear yearly from the pulpit such as Joseph in Egypt, Moses and the Exodus, or the Prodigal Son.
(2) For an understanding of the major teachings of Catholicism, students will know the seven sacraments and show how the Beatitudes relate to our lives. For the older students, they will learn the Ten Commandments and know where they are found in the Bible. For students in grades 6 - 8, they will learn about the Creed and the significance of this in our Church.
(3) Knowledge of the Church's teaching on the dignity of the human person in its social doctrine, including Respect Life teachings are emphasized. Children learn that we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Older students will learn the Spiritual and Corporal works of Mercy and how to apply these and the Catholic Social Teachings in their lives.
(4) In knowledge of the richness of the Church's Tradition and Church History, students will recognize that Jesus came to save all people. They will hear the biographies of the saints and learn why they became saints. Then we go a step further to translate this into their daily lives, knowing we are each called to be holy. For older students, they are taught to recall major events, themes, and people from salvation history.
(5) Finally, we impart knowledge of the meaning and practical relevance of current Church teachings by the Pope, Archdiocesan Bishop, Vatican Congregations, and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Younger children will learn about the leaders within the Church, and older students will learn about the Magisterium of the Church, Infallibility, and the Sacrament of Holy Orders.
We see the standards in religion as critical to our mission here at St. John's, and they are incorporated into our daily religion classes. Some of this is also taught through sacramental preparation, at liturgies, and at Friday's religion class on the upcoming Sunday readings. In the school, we are all religion teachers, including the principal and the pastor. We are the "village" that helps our children grow in their faith and develop a relationship with God. We support what is being taught and practiced at home. We are partners with parents to help our children develop into adults with mature faith lives. It is indeed a privilege to do this!
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