Hi all
I am new to the athiest republic. I would love to hear some feedback on the following :
1) anyone here from Ireland?
2) experiences of sending children to school in a Catholic ethos (very little choice in Ireland).
3)Any feedback on non religious or mindfulness meditation as a way to bring focus, clarity and calm
4) Any experiences of being a secondary school teacher and being an atheist? I teach science to 13- 18 year olds. Overall the school has a background of being Catholic.
Thank you all and looking forward to feedback.
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Welcome.
Welcome to the forum.
3) Try reading "Waking Up" by Sam Harris.
I'm from Sweden, so I have no experience with the Catholic Church or Catholic schools.
Welcome, Bear.
As a science teacher, how much control have you over the curriculum? Do law and/or school policy dictate what you must teach? Must you, for instance, spend any time on creationism in your science classes?
Would you be fired from your position for outwardly identifying as atheist?
As I'm sure you know, 13 - 18 year olds are frequently contrarian. They may be ripe for ideas different than their religious parents.
Perhaps all you can do for them is to separate religion and science in your classroom. Give energy, in front of these kids to how amazing, fun, and awe-inspiring science can be. Maybe one or two of them will get it.
Thanks everyone. I am lucky that the science syllabus is just science and religion doesnt interfere. So I teach evolution and genetics and Darwin without any interference or problem. Its just the catholic ethos overall in the school. Clergy sometimes pay visits. Prayer is around. People assume you are a Catholic
Welcome, Bear.
Half my family is from Eire and therefore so am I (as much as I'm British). I understand the RC "ethos" as they call it. That essentially means: 'if it's good, it's RC (God-given, reward for good behavior, etc). If it's not good, it isn't RC (against god's will, etc)". Denominated schools sometimes do produce better results than inclusive ones but there are reasons for that. It isn't essentially the ethos as their proponents suppose. They often have a more conservative and compliant population, better discipline and (in the UK) are often smaller.