Producing great South Africans

Some people criticise Catholic schools for allegedly diluting the very thing that defines them. But while Catholic schools may no longer be the parochial institutions they once weredue to the lack of resources and religious teachersthey can represent something different now. Today’s Catholic schools produce many great South Africans.

In short to be a Catholic school is to have a heart, and our heart is based on the teachings and way of Jesus given to us by the Marist Brothers.

Veteran educator Marjorie Wallace of Marist Brothers Linmeyer in Johannesburg says being a Catholic school means more than just ensuring learners leave with a matric certificate. It is universal embracing, it is sympathetic to the needs of everyone and it is interested in all that the community is doing.

In short to be a Catholic school is to have a heart, and our heart is based on the teachings and way of Jesus given to us by the Marist Brothers.

She says parents can feel confident in the knowledge that they have secured the best possible future for their children when choosing a Catholic school because these seek to nurture the child.

Catholic Schools seek to be an extension of the home and its moral compass, but respecting at all times that parents are the primary educators of their children. We seek to nurture children in a loving and caring atmosphere, encouraging a good work ethic and first-rate sportsmanship in a creative stimulating, learning environment.

Kananelo Buthelezi, who presents the variety youth programme Youthwise on Radio Veritas, was schooled in the Catholic education system her entire school career, attending Dominican Covent Belgravia, Sacred Heart and Holy Rosary in Johannesburg.

What I found to be a common thread with all three schools is what I refer to as the all-rounder approach, she says.

Learners are encouraged to do their best in all they do: sports, academics and cultural activities. Learners do exceptionally well academically, and this is evident with the high matric pass rate among Catholic schools. One might think that the exceptional academic marks are at the expense of all the other areas such as cultural activities and sports; however this is not the case. Catholic schools encourage learners to be the best in all they do, regardless of how big or small the task is, Ms Buthelezi says.

She believes one of the most valuable aspects of her schooling was the sense of community, of belongingness, of caring. Being in a Catholic school makes one feel like they are part of a big diverse family. And much like a family, you are made aware of the responsibilities you have towards others. This has contributed a lot to not only being aware of your needs, but also of being aware of other people and respecting them, the radio presenter says.

Sr Victoria Sibisi is the national director of Education for Life, a development programme that addresses social issues many of the country’s youth face. She believes Catholic schools provide lessons in life and faith particularly where parents have taken an active role in the school.

However, she believes the lack of religious teachers today is contributing to the dilution of faith in Catholic schools. Generally, the teachers are doing their job as educators and nothing else, Sr Sibisi says, adding that the environment is no longer conducive for passing on the faith.

Sr Sibisi says while schools will struggle to implement the faith as they did in the past, Catholic youth can still be educated at home or in the Church on Sunday. She believes it takes a community to enrich a child’s faith.

But Ms Buthelezi believes Catholic schools produce great South Africans, even if they aren’t all Catholic. I would definitely recommend youth to attend Catholic schools, if there are means and resources available. I believe a human being is made up of three components that all need to be nurtured: body, mind and soul. From my experience I found that Catholic schools have managed to strike the balance between all three components.

Ricardo de Freitas is a Grade 12 learner at St Dominic’s High School in Welkom. He says he was sent to the Catholic school because his family is Catholic and they wanted me to fully understand my faith; but more than that my parents also felt assured that I would be exposed to good moral teachings through whatever I was to learn.

His school is made up predominantly of non-Catholics. I do believe that there is a difference in how schools operate today due to them having less Brothers and Sisters running them, as it was in the past. However, I believe that the [Catholic] ethos and traditions are still taught in the schools.

Learners at St Dominic’s still pray the Angelus every day at noon, a tradition started by the Dominican Sisters, the school’s founders.

Since today’s Catholic schools cater to more than just the Catholic community, the schools are focused on creating good citizens of the country. I think that Catholic schools create caring South Africans, who would want to improve South Africa in whatever way they can, said Mr de Freitas.

Ms Wallace, whose learner body is 50% Catholic, says Catholic schools are attractive to prospective learners because as soon as they enter the environment they feel cared for.

Our values set the tone for our school and are our foundation, permeating through every aspect of school life. There is a happy buzz of busy learners and dedicated teachers who see them not as strangers but as future friends or pupils.

Ms Buthelezi says this was also part of her education. The learners who attended came from different backgrounds, different races, different countries and different religious denominations. We were taught about diversity, embracing diversity and we lived and practiced those values daily, she says.

Mr de Freitas says even his non-Catholic counterparts attend Catholic schools because they are steeped in tradition, positive values and a strong ethos which result in an overall positive education  something which is attractive regardless of your faith.

Catholic schools often perform well in academics, sporting and cultural activities, while still focusing on their outreach programmes and being a good Christian every day, he says.

The same is true in Linmeyer where the school is directed by its vision of providing an education for integrity and success.

We endeavour to deliver a dynamic and holistic programme relevant to the needs of our learners by providing love and care and encouraging hard work, by working together as a family and by living out the gospel values within a Catholic tradition, says Ms Wallace.

And helping to shape learners for a positive future is something present in all Catholic schools.

A Catholic school provides all the necessary tools to ensure each learner enjoys an excellent future but the reality is that it depends on how each individual child uses it. With a top class education, excellent teachers and facilities, a nurturing environment, young minds can grow and develop and learners can experience success in order to become the best they can be. The young person is indeed ready to face the world and become a contributing citizen, Ms Wallace said.

Often the learner takes more than just a good education from the school. Mr de Freitas feels he has been well prepared by his Catholic education.

My school has given me a clear understanding of the Catholic ethos, that has allowed me to let God come into my life and be with me in whatever I do.

He says while many of his fellow learners will not embrace Catholicism as he has, a Catholic education will definitely change how one perceives life.

Sr Sibisi believes there is enough opportunity for education and faith enrichment in the country but young people get lost or fail because they don’t find people who will help direct them. She says it is a difficult job to get faith to our youth, but for those who are guided and groomed by good teachers will have constant faith.

Ms Buthelezi feels that attending a Catholic school is a lifetime investment, as you will grow with the values instilled in you  the values of love, respect, standing your ground, awareness, understanding, being true to yourself, kindness, sharing, and tolerance.