The children aren’t to blame

by Letters Editor · April 5, 2012

From Charmaine Reynolds, Cape Town

Mlebana WA Majahe of Johannesburg (March 14) refers to the state of our Catholic schools. I would like to agree and disagree with the opinion stated in the letter.�Jesus said: �Let the little children come to me and do not stop them; because it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs� (Mt 19:14). Jesus welcomed all children and did not discriminate against any of them. We should follow his example.

Policy states that no child should be turned away or discriminated against at schools for any reason, be it cultural, social, religious or racial. My Muslim dentist attended St Joseph�s Marist College in Cape Town and speaks fondly of his time spent there. He quoted the high discipline, the Christian example that was set, and the religious freedom he had in practising his own.

One can never ever lay blame of the state of our Catholic schools at the feet of little innocent children. These children were put under the care and guidance of adults and they only act upon the consistant boundaries and examples that these adults set.

It is unfortunate and sad that not many of our teachers and those on the management teams and governing bodies at schools are Catholics.

I am a teacher and have been trying unsuccessfully for many years to be employed at one of our Catholic schools in Cape Town. I often wonder why not because I have so much to offer. I am highly qualified and experienced, and I am currently studying my master in education.

Another reason for the state of our Catholic schools is the constant change in the system of education, the high volume of administration and amount of work for teachers, lack of good resource materials and the fact that relgious education was taken out of our schools.

I know that our Catholic schools still keep the distinct character of our Catholic ethos, but how is this implemented by non-Catholic teachers? I have heard of non-Catholic teachers at a certain Catholic school in Cape Town taking down the crucifixes!

As a Church we should support our Catholic schools and pray that God will send the right people to continue and extend our Catholic faith and the Gospel values of Jesus Christ in our schools.