Why I ❤️ Elk County Catholic: 1.) Having the opportunity to attend mass on a weekly basis and participating in prayer services. 2.) Being able to have conversations about my faith with teachers and students in a safe environment. 3.) Wearing a kilt on a daily basis makes my heart warm and fuzzy because I do not have to pick out what to wear.
How could Elk County Catholic be Better? In the 2016-2017 school year, ECCHS offered 81 classes, yet the school only offers four theology classes. There are ten English classes, thirteen math and thirteen science classes, seventeen business/technology classes, seven social studies classes, six health/physical education classes, eight language classes, one art and two music classes offered. Most of these leave amble room for students to take the extra classes in fields that interest them, yet their are not any theology electives. I think that offering more religious classes should be beneficial for students who are looking to expand the knowledge that they have about their faith. Deacon Harold said something that hit me hard in his talk about evangelization- the only way to be able to share your faith well is to know it inside and out. That moment I realized that I did not know as much as I should about something that is so important to me. The new slogan for our school is "the school with the cross," but we do not seem to show that in our curriculum. Dubois Central Catholic offers 4.5 theology credits with a requirement of at least four for graduation and Villa Maria Academy in Erie offers 6.5 theology credits with at least four for graduation. I think that we are being out done by other Catholic schools in the area, and it is not allowing students to participate in classes that they may be interested in taking. I do not think that we should force these classes on a student, but rather they should be like any other elective that students can add to their schedule. I think the most important part of add these classes should be making sure they are taught by a passionate, well versed teacher who would make the class interesting and actually teach it it in a way that students would learn and develop their faith. Our mission is to develop the mind, body, AND spirit, so I think we need to start offering extra classes rooted to gaining a deeper understanding of our Catholic identity for students and teachers.
I think that the idea of offering more religion-based classes is a great idea. I have never before thought about that, but it seems like it would be a great option for students. I also think that if more classes are offred for religion, then maybe it would inspire more students to pursue a future dealing with the religious life or to continue practicing their Catholic faith through their whole lives.
I agree, different types of theology classes may benefit students and that is what ECC is all about. Four does seem like a small number for a school that is catholic.
I love my Catholic School because... 1.) The teachers in my school genuinely care about my education, and each teacher can personally know each student.
2.) I have the freedom to express my religious beliefs, discuss it with teachers and students, and practice them during school/school events.
3.) My Catholic School provides me with every opportunity to succeed, experience new things, and make the best of my future through extracurricular activities, class/activity opportunities and trips, education, and many more things.
One way my Catholic School could be even better... Though my Catholic School provides me with many opportunities to learn and experience new things. I believe that there could be some improvement within the religion classes. It seems as though every year in school we are taught about the 7 sacraments or theology of the body. While these things are fantastic and should be taught in Catholic environments, I think that our school should also consider spending more time teaching the students about the Bible and having students study the Bible, as well as teaching the students about religious history and the origins/evolution of the Catholic faith. Never can I recall learning about how Christianity has developed, struggled, or even thrived in past times between the life of Jesus and our society today. I think it is important to be able to fully understand our Catholic faith and it's history, and while we are being taught the specifics of the faith itself, which is great, we are not being taught about the history and evolution of the faith, which is not so great. And while we touch upon religious ideas in history classes, they are not completely developed upon simply because the class is history, not theology. I think it would be important and useful for our school to include religious history and Bible study into its theology curriculum along with theology of the body and the seven sacraments, so that the students may receive the full opportunity to discover and understand their faith.
I can agree with you on your idea, but I also can say that senior year is a bit different than the previous years. You learn more about the history of Catholicism amongst other religions as well. Then you compare them to each other to see how we use our religion compared to how others are taught. So, you do get the history of our faith and much more along with it. But, I can agree for the previous years. Ninth, tenth, and eleventh should have at least one year dedicated towards some other teachings other than the ones you listed above. The seven sacraments and the theology of the body isn't everything about Catholicism. We need to know more about the Bible and what it is actually teaching us.
I think that your blog is similar to mine with regards on how to make it a better school. I also feel like we learn the same thing in Cultures each year, yet I could not tell you anything about it, or even what it the topic was. I think that a huge factor in learning the same thing in religion, though, is the complexity of the sacraments, for example, but we need to know about them when we are younger, so we have to "relearn" then again and again with growing depth.
Studying the Bible is very important and I wrote about studying the Bible to understand the mass. I think by having a better understanding of the history, students will be able to understand the Bible more and in turn their faith.
I go to Elk County Catholic High School and it is awesome for so many reasons, but I will just give you the top three.
#1 - The teachers are always willing to give you one on one help to make sure you succeed in their class or classes.
#2 - Everyone in a Catholic environment is treated equally. For example if a boy does damage to school property, the principal calls every boy down to let them know the situation and how to prevent further damage. The same for the girls.
#3 - The school pushes you to succeed in life and prepare you for what you will need to know. Also doing this along with a great Catholic teaching, incorporating God into our work.
There is only one thing that I would think needs to be changed, and I'm sure others can agree. I like the way we are all treated equally, but it's taken so far to the point we all dress the same, having guidelines on our clothing, hair styles, jewelry, and even beards. Our shoes must be dress shoes for guys and girls. For men, we cannot have our hair shorter then a forth of an inch, but it cannot be touching our collars or covering our ears. Girls cannot have crazy hair styles or have their hair dyed any color other than a natural look. Jewelry must not be worn by guys and for girls, nose piercings, eyebrow piercings, lip piercings, and any other facial piercings are unexpected. Ears can be pierced, but there is a limit to the amount of piercings. Lastly, beards, men cannot have a single hair on their face or they will, in fact, receive an hours of detention for not shaving. I believe that the dress code should be different, allowing us to wear reasonable clothing, nothing to short and nothing to showing, but allow us to be comfortable as we learn. On dress down days we always can agree that learning is much easier and that is because we all are comfortable and relaxed. I also have had the argument that Jesus had a beard, why can't I, and I still don't get away with a beard. Who cares about a little fuzz on our young faces. We need to grow up at some point. Let it start with a little beard. Beards are for guys, but for the girls, jewelry. Let them wear what they want. It really can give someone character by having a couple more piercings. The moral of this change idea is that some of us can agree that uniforms are not comfy, but most of us, if not all, can agree that dressing down is much comfier. Let us wear what we please and you can judge us from there.
I think there is a dress code for a reason and even though it might not seem bad to eliminate some of these rules, I think it would get out of had and as soon as they started letting some things happen, then students would push it too far.
I definitely agree with Joe, that dress code is there for a reason, if we didn't have a dress code I think that some people would be okay with it on dress down days, but other people would get very carried away, I think they teacher just need to tone it down a little bit and quit taking the little things and making them into a bigger deal than they are.
I agree with you in many terms about the dress code, but I do believe that it is necessary to have a dress code without it people would go to far. I completely agree with the idea that the shaving rule is a little dumb and some jewelry that is not allowed should be allowed for girls, but when some people go to far they ruin it for everyone. So I agree, but there needs to be some regulation, maybe just not as strict.
One reason that I like attending a catholic school is that because it is a private school, a large majority of the students are good people with families that raise them with good morals. A second reason is that our teachers and coaches follow the same morals that are taught in our school and they provide an example for students. The third reason is that classes are small and it gives students the opportunity to get one on one work with a teacher if they are struggling in a class. Several changes could be made to make ECC a better school. This goes for just about any school but there is something in particular that could benefit ECC. To make it better we should have a better way or a program for students who do not go to our school so that they can see the many benefits of it. I know there are many students that go to Ridgway high school that could be getting a much better education at ECC and I'm sure the same goes for Dutch. If we had a better program to help show those students what they were missing then those students would go to our school and it would make our school better. I think the same goes for the parents of those students. I think there should be a program to help show parents what their children will be missing if they do not send them to ECC.
I really agree with your ideas that a small school gives the students the chance to work one-on-one with their teachers. That is definitely a aspect of our school that I take for granted. I think that is a very important fact about our school. I agree that a new method of showing students what they are missing at a public school would really benefit.
Reason number one why I love going to a Catholic School: God is the center of our entire curriculum. Every class I take, our teachers make a sure effort to make God a part of our every day learning. Reason number two why I love going to a Catholic School is because we get to wear a uniform everyday. They might not be the most appealing uniforms, but it's much better than having to pick out an outfit to wear every single day. Finally reason number three would have to be that I love that the school is so small. This means that everyone is mostly friends with everyone. It can get hectic sometimes and rumors spread quickly but knowing the entire school body will always have your back is a feeling that cannot be expressed in words.
One way my Catholic School could be even better if the administration would focus less on unimportant matters such as dress code, iPads, and just the little things, and focus more on the students academically and socially I think the students would be a lot more happy in school. There are many different issues involving students not getting the best possible education, and that should be the top priority at ECC, not worrying about what type of socks the boys are wearing, and if the girls are wearing the right type of shirt on a dress down day. I've been going to a Catholic School my whole entire life, I don't know any different. I definitely can say that I surely would not want it any other way either.
I think that this is a good suggestion for our school. While image matters for publicity and getting more students to attend ECC, it think that sometimes our school administration is worried more about how we look rather than what is actually going on in the classes or within the school. I think a prime example of this would be a few years ago when we had the race for education. It was about 55 degrees out that day, and none of the students were allowed to wear a sweatshirt over top of their eccss shirts because the administration wanted everybody to look the same for pictures and publicity. Is that really what is important in our school?
Cassidy, I agree with you that our uniforms are very convienent to have and easier than choosing regular clothes. I also like them because they are a symbol that we attend a Catholic school and have the opportunity to learn about God every single day.
"God is the center of our entire curriculum." What a a great way to explain the honor and privilege we receive from being able to attend a Catholic school. Many people must suppress their religious beliefs when attending school, but we are able to celebrate our religion. I would say it is even encouraged to do so. Great job in explaining that.
I have attended a catholic school all my life and I am proud to express my belief in God. Attending a Catholic school has granted me an opportunity to receive and practice a curriculum combined God that allows a strong encouragement to grow deep in my faith The Catholic school environment provides a strive for students to be involved in their values and to also be aware of everybody's uniqueness. Students are involved in creating special bonds with teachers and other students in a faithful matter. Catholic schools teach students about morals and respecting others. They engage in many appropriate social and cultural activities while also providing relaxation and creativity.
How can our school be better?
I believe that it important and definitely understandable to why a Catholic school is structure in the ways that it is. We take religion classes, we dress in uniforms, and we even participate in a weekly mass. Catholic schools are truly great, but one thing that comes to mind in is a lack of individual creativity and exploration. In school there is no expression of who you are as you are just in the mixture with everyone else. I think in order to break this habit there would have to be a launch in new classes that pertain more to an individuals qualities and personalities. These classes would introduce new and different industries that would allow a student to learn more about what their plans for the future may inhabit. By opening up a new series of classes students would be able to learn more about themselves and also would have an opportunity to put their personality and skills to great work. Students will grow to become confident in who they are and also for their plans in the future.
The first reason I like going to a catholic school is because people are able to talk about their preferences and beliefs in an accepting community. Granted some people will take this to extremes or on the opposite end and flinch whenever the word “God” is uttered. The second reason is because the teachers can relate to you better because they do not need to stick to the common core curriculum, they can slow down on some parts to make sure every student fully understands the text. This is important to me personally because I am going to be an elementary teacher, and I wish to teach in a catholic school. The third reason is because no matter how bad this school may seem, there is always someone looking out for you, whether it be a friend, teacher or God.
I believe that the school is a great place to go if you are looking for a good education and a friendly atmosphere. This is all well and good, but there is always going to be something that someone doesn’t like, no matter what you do. I believe that what this school really needs is for the teachers to start to realize and understand that yes, we may be teenagers, but we are on our way into the real world in as many as four short years. They need to start to understand that we are no longer children and should not be talked down to with a condescending tone all the time. This is something that a lot of adults do to teenagers and it is one of the most frustrating things to have to deal with. Of course, we do not know everything. But if there is another suggestion or way about it, do not just scoff down on it immediately because I am seventeen. Teenagers go from having to ask to go to the bathroom to having to make life choices in a few short months. There needs to be a gradual change between the two, rather than an ice cold shower. Some adults do treat teenagers like adults, and it is one of the most gratifying things to be a part of. It is easier to respect someone who shows you respect as a human being, not act as if you are a whiny child.
I really like your third reason for liking a Catholic School environment. I think that your "way to make it better" is very important, but I also feel as if no matter where you go to school this may be a problem. Also, I think that the ones who do speak to students in this way may not see what they are doing which is also and issue. The maturity level of many students is a huge factor for the way the vast majority of us are treated which may be something to consider when getting upset about how a teacher acts.
I completely agree with your entire argument about making the school better. This is a good school with good people, but sometimes some teachers really do need to understand that we are not in elementary school. Some do a good job with it and others do not. I agree it is annoying when it happens.
Three Reasons Why I Think My Catholic School is Awesome: We go to mass every week, and always are involved in some type of prayer. We have the freedom to discuss faith freely, with our own religion and others. ECC offers a unique small town and small school school atmosphere.
One thing that could make ECC Better:
Something I frequently think about that could make my school better is a more diverse range of classes. Many of the classes currently offered are of course essential, but also very common amongst almost all schools. I would like to see more classes focused on a specific type of degree. Classes that may really draw in more students would be a machine shop class, or a music theory class, or acting class, or maybe multiple classes that combine certain aspects of the same field of study. For example, music students could take a class that focuses on playing an instrument and musical theory, or engineering students could take a class that teaches about a verity of engineering types to help them decide upon a major. A broader range of major specific classes could really help me, and I'm sure they could really help others as well. These classes would also make ECC a better Catholic School and maybe even more appealing to new students. This system of classes could be integrated into almost every subject in some way. It would really be a great improvement.
I love my catholic school because I have the opportunity to go and participate at mass with my entire school every week. I am able talk to my teachers and classmates freely about Jesus Christ as well as pray whenever I need to. The small class sizes allow more individual time with a teacher and allows our school to be more like a family. I think our school is doing a great job teaching the students about the meaning and importance of the sacraments and the importance of service to others along with many other topics. By doing the Pay it Forward projects and ECHO hours I believe students have the ability to understand the importance of helping others. Something that I believe would make our school better is the more in depth study of the Bible as well as explaining the mass and why it is so important. Throughout the years, I have learned a great deal about the sacraments and it seems as though we are learning either the same or similar material each year. The Bible is the most important book and by studying it, I believe students will have a better understanding of Christ. By studying the Bible students can also find the meaning of the mass. Many students do not understand what is really happening at the mass and they become bored. If the mass was explained to the students piece by piece, I believe that more people would be excited about mass and participate more. I never used to fully grasp was happening at the mass until I went to Deacon Herald's talk about explaining the mass. Of course no one can fully grasp the miracle of the mass, but he explained where each part of the mass came from the Bible. He then explained the meaning of each part. At our Catholic school, students go to mass each week, but I think that students can benefit from it as more if the they were given an explanation of the mass and what the responses truly mean. In freshmen theology we studied the Old Testament in the Bible and I believe a continuation of studying the Bible would truly deepen the faith and understanding of the students. God gave us the Bible and I feel that if it is not used as much as it should be, than much information can be lost. A person that knows the Bible and their faith can then share the good news with others and can stand up for their faith of need be. I am extremely blessed to be enrolled in a Catholic school and I am thankful for everything that it has taught me, not only academically, but spiritually. Every school can be improved in some way, but I believe that I am provided with and excellent education here at ECC and I have grown in my faith greatly. I would not have wanted to be at any other school.
I too enjoy being able to speak freely about our faith, it truly does radiate a feeling of safety in the school environment. Good use of recent faith-related events!
1- I love going to a Catholic school because it allows me to live out my faith without living in fear of being segregated because of my faith. It allows you to really live your faith.
2- I love attending a Catholic school because I feel that the teachers around me truly want me to succeed in all aspects of life, but especially in my education.
3- Lastly, I love attending a Catholic school because I get to go to mass at least once a school week. It really allows me to grow in faith.
If there was one thing that I could suggest to make my wonderful school just that much better, it would be suggesting that our school should have more student-led clubs and discussions. For me, school is fun at times, but constantly having to listen to lectures from teachers with minimal student discussion causes school to be rather monotonous and boring. I think that our school could look back to the early times of education, times where philosophy and question and answering sessions were the preferred method of learning. It would make school so much less predictable and also much more exciting. School can definitely be fun I just think we need to take some extra steps to make it both educational and exciting. If you are having fun, it makes it much simpler to pay attention, which in turn makes learning much easier. That is the one suggestion I think our school could take into consideration.
Mass is an important part of our lives, so I agree, being able to go during the school week is truly a blessing. It gives us all the little boost we need to keeps chugging along on our faith journies.
Logan, I agree that learning should be fun. It becomes difficult to focus on learning when there is a lost interest in becoming engaged in the materials. Providing little exciting educational additions for the students to participate in could introduce a spark in better learning.
I'm thankful that we have uniforms we can wear most days of the school year, mostly due to the fact that I'm somewhat slothful when it comes to dressing. I'm extremely thankful for our personalized classroom experience, with less students and more interactive teachers, I feel we get a more specialized education. Another element of our school I am thankful for is our faith incorporation, it makes the day less stressful for most and instills a feeling of safety in the learning environment. Though I realize my opinion on how the school could better itself is not wholly unique, I feel I need to reinstate what so many already agree on. The purpose of the uniform, from what I understand, is so that every student may be equal while simultaneously looking presentable. This is a fine concept, but the other restrictions that come with the dress code seem to be a bit extreme, even from the standpoint of one who doesn't often struggle with these ideas. As previously mentioned, I personally put little effort into my appearance and plan to keep it that way, so the thought of having to shave my face everyday instills a sort of secondhand irritation within me. So what if a guy has a bit of facial hair? Unless he's hiding something in there, I see no need to fuss over such a minute detail that has nothing to do with education. I fail to understand how facial hair, wearing a certain kind of jewelry, and donning certain types of makeup hinder anyone's ability to learn or be successful. Enforcing rules for the sake of being equal and studious is one matter, but taking away someone's individuality is another entirely. Yes, I realize it sounds a bit overdramatic, but implore anyone to think of the world beyond St. Marys. People have discovered countless ways to succeed despite how non-traditional they might dress or look, so, just because it is not the way of our area does not mean it is not a way.
Alicia, I do agree with you that taking these features to extreme standards is a bit much. As humans I believe we have a right to express ourselves in ways that we believe are necessary, but yet not over dramatic.
Why I ❤️ Elk County Catholic:
ReplyDelete1.) Having the opportunity to attend mass on a weekly basis and participating in prayer services.
2.) Being able to have conversations about my faith with teachers and students in a safe environment.
3.) Wearing a kilt on a daily basis makes my heart warm and fuzzy because I do not have to pick out what to wear.
How could Elk County Catholic be Better?
In the 2016-2017 school year, ECCHS offered 81 classes, yet the school only offers four theology classes. There are ten English classes, thirteen math and thirteen science classes, seventeen business/technology classes, seven social studies classes, six health/physical education classes, eight language classes, one art and two music classes offered. Most of these leave amble room for students to take the extra classes in fields that interest them, yet their are not any theology electives. I think that offering more religious classes should be beneficial for students who are looking to expand the knowledge that they have about their faith. Deacon Harold said something that hit me hard in his talk about evangelization- the only way to be able to share your faith well is to know it inside and out. That moment I realized that I did not know as much as I should about something that is so important to me. The new slogan for our school is "the school with the cross," but we do not seem to show that in our curriculum. Dubois Central Catholic offers 4.5 theology credits with a requirement of at least four for graduation and Villa Maria Academy in Erie offers 6.5 theology credits with at least four for graduation. I think that we are being out done by other Catholic schools in the area, and it is not allowing students to participate in classes that they may be interested in taking. I do not think that we should force these classes on a student, but rather they should be like any other elective that students can add to their schedule. I think the most important part of add these classes should be making sure they are taught by a passionate, well versed teacher who would make the class interesting and actually teach it it in a way that students would learn and develop their faith. Our mission is to develop the mind, body, AND spirit, so I think we need to start offering extra classes rooted to gaining a deeper understanding of our Catholic identity for students and teachers.
I think that the idea of offering more religion-based classes is a great idea. I have never before thought about that, but it seems like it would be a great option for students. I also think that if more classes are offred for religion, then maybe it would inspire more students to pursue a future dealing with the religious life or to continue practicing their Catholic faith through their whole lives.
DeleteI agree, different types of theology classes may benefit students and that is what ECC is all about. Four does seem like a small number for a school that is catholic.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI love my Catholic School because...
ReplyDelete1.) The teachers in my school genuinely care about my education, and each teacher can personally know each student.
2.) I have the freedom to express my religious beliefs, discuss it with teachers and students, and practice them during school/school events.
3.) My Catholic School provides me with every opportunity to succeed, experience new things, and make the best of my future through extracurricular activities, class/activity opportunities and trips, education, and many more things.
One way my Catholic School could be even better...
Though my Catholic School provides me with many opportunities to learn and experience new things. I believe that there could be some improvement within the religion classes. It seems as though every year in school we are taught about the 7 sacraments or theology of the body. While these things are fantastic and should be taught in Catholic environments, I think that our school should also consider spending more time teaching the students about the Bible and having students study the Bible, as well as teaching the students about religious history and the origins/evolution of the Catholic faith. Never can I recall learning about how Christianity has developed, struggled, or even thrived in past times between the life of Jesus and our society today. I think it is important to be able to fully understand our Catholic faith and it's history, and while we are being taught the specifics of the faith itself, which is great, we are not being taught about the history and evolution of the faith, which is not so great. And while we touch upon religious ideas in history classes, they are not completely developed upon simply because the class is history, not theology. I think it would be important and useful for our school to include religious history and Bible study into its theology curriculum along with theology of the body and the seven sacraments, so that the students may receive the full opportunity to discover and understand their faith.
I can agree with you on your idea, but I also can say that senior year is a bit different than the previous years. You learn more about the history of Catholicism amongst other religions as well. Then you compare them to each other to see how we use our religion compared to how others are taught. So, you do get the history of our faith and much more along with it. But, I can agree for the previous years. Ninth, tenth, and eleventh should have at least one year dedicated towards some other teachings other than the ones you listed above. The seven sacraments and the theology of the body isn't everything about Catholicism. We need to know more about the Bible and what it is actually teaching us.
DeleteI really agree with your #2 statement. When you go to a public school you aren't even aloud to mention Gods name without getting in trouble.
DeleteI think that your blog is similar to mine with regards on how to make it a better school. I also feel like we learn the same thing in Cultures each year, yet I could not tell you anything about it, or even what it the topic was. I think that a huge factor in learning the same thing in religion, though, is the complexity of the sacraments, for example, but we need to know about them when we are younger, so we have to "relearn" then again and again with growing depth.
DeleteStudying the Bible is very important and I wrote about studying the Bible to understand the mass. I think by having a better understanding of the history, students will be able to understand the Bible more and in turn their faith.
DeleteI go to Elk County Catholic High School and it is awesome for so many reasons, but I will just give you the top three.
ReplyDelete#1 - The teachers are always willing to give you one on one help to make sure you succeed in their class or classes.
#2 - Everyone in a Catholic environment is treated equally. For example if a boy does damage to school property, the principal calls every boy down to let them know the situation and how to prevent further damage. The same for the girls.
#3 - The school pushes you to succeed in life and prepare you for what you will need to know. Also doing this along with a great Catholic teaching, incorporating God into our work.
There is only one thing that I would think needs to be changed, and I'm sure others can agree. I like the way we are all treated equally, but it's taken so far to the point we all dress the same, having guidelines on our clothing, hair styles, jewelry, and even beards. Our shoes must be dress shoes for guys and girls. For men, we cannot have our hair shorter then a forth of an inch, but it cannot be touching our collars or covering our ears. Girls cannot have crazy hair styles or have their hair dyed any color other than a natural look. Jewelry must not be worn by guys and for girls, nose piercings, eyebrow piercings, lip piercings, and any other facial piercings are unexpected. Ears can be pierced, but there is a limit to the amount of piercings. Lastly, beards, men cannot have a single hair on their face or they will, in fact, receive an hours of detention for not shaving. I believe that the dress code should be different, allowing us to wear reasonable clothing, nothing to short and nothing to showing, but allow us to be comfortable as we learn. On dress down days we always can agree that learning is much easier and that is because we all are comfortable and relaxed. I also have had the argument that Jesus had a beard, why can't I, and I still don't get away with a beard. Who cares about a little fuzz on our young faces. We need to grow up at some point. Let it start with a little beard. Beards are for guys, but for the girls, jewelry. Let them wear what they want. It really can give someone character by having a couple more piercings. The moral of this change idea is that some of us can agree that uniforms are not comfy, but most of us, if not all, can agree that dressing down is much comfier. Let us wear what we please and you can judge us from there.
I think there is a dress code for a reason and even though it might not seem bad to eliminate some of these rules, I think it would get out of had and as soon as they started letting some things happen, then students would push it too far.
DeleteI definitely agree with Joe, that dress code is there for a reason, if we didn't have a dress code I think that some people would be okay with it on dress down days, but other people would get very carried away, I think they teacher just need to tone it down a little bit and quit taking the little things and making them into a bigger deal than they are.
DeleteI agree with you in many terms about the dress code, but I do believe that it is necessary to have a dress code without it people would go to far. I completely agree with the idea that the shaving rule is a little dumb and some jewelry that is not allowed should be allowed for girls, but when some people go to far they ruin it for everyone. So I agree, but there needs to be some regulation, maybe just not as strict.
DeleteOne reason that I like attending a catholic school is that because it is a private school, a large majority of the students are good people with families that raise them with good morals.
ReplyDeleteA second reason is that our teachers and coaches follow the same morals that are taught in our school and they provide an example for students.
The third reason is that classes are small and it gives students the opportunity to get one on one work with a teacher if they are struggling in a class.
Several changes could be made to make ECC a better school. This goes for just about any school but there is something in particular that could benefit ECC. To make it better we should have a better way or a program for students who do not go to our school so that they can see the many benefits of it. I know there are many students that go to Ridgway high school that could be getting a much better education at ECC and I'm sure the same goes for Dutch. If we had a better program to help show those students what they were missing then those students would go to our school and it would make our school better. I think the same goes for the parents of those students. I think there should be a program to help show parents what their children will be missing if they do not send them to ECC.
I really agree with your ideas that a small school gives the students the chance to work one-on-one with their teachers. That is definitely a aspect of our school that I take for granted. I think that is a very important fact about our school. I agree that a new method of showing students what they are missing at a public school would really benefit.
DeleteReason number one why I love going to a Catholic School: God is the center of our entire curriculum. Every class I take, our teachers make a sure effort to make God a part of our every day learning.
ReplyDeleteReason number two why I love going to a Catholic School is because we get to wear a uniform everyday. They might not be the most appealing uniforms, but it's much better than having to pick out an outfit to wear every single day.
Finally reason number three would have to be that I love that the school is so small. This means that everyone is mostly friends with everyone. It can get hectic sometimes and rumors spread quickly but knowing the entire school body will always have your back is a feeling that cannot be expressed in words.
One way my Catholic School could be even better if the administration would focus less on unimportant matters such as dress code, iPads, and just the little things, and focus more on the students academically and socially I think the students would be a lot more happy in school. There are many different issues involving students not getting the best possible education, and that should be the top priority at ECC, not worrying about what type of socks the boys are wearing, and if the girls are wearing the right type of shirt on a dress down day. I've been going to a Catholic School my whole entire life, I don't know any different. I definitely can say that I surely would not want it any other way either.
I think that this is a good suggestion for our school. While image matters for publicity and getting more students to attend ECC, it think that sometimes our school administration is worried more about how we look rather than what is actually going on in the classes or within the school. I think a prime example of this would be a few years ago when we had the race for education. It was about 55 degrees out that day, and none of the students were allowed to wear a sweatshirt over top of their eccss shirts because the administration wanted everybody to look the same for pictures and publicity. Is that really what is important in our school?
DeleteCassidy, I agree with you that our uniforms are very convienent to have and easier than choosing regular clothes. I also like them because they are a symbol that we attend a Catholic school and have the opportunity to learn about God every single day.
Delete"God is the center of our entire curriculum." What a a great way to explain the honor and privilege we receive from being able to attend a Catholic school. Many people must suppress their religious beliefs when attending school, but we are able to celebrate our religion. I would say it is even encouraged to do so. Great job in explaining that.
DeleteWhy it's awesome to attend a Catholic school?
ReplyDeleteI have attended a catholic school all my life and I am proud to express my belief in God. Attending a Catholic school has granted me an opportunity to receive and practice a curriculum combined God that allows a strong encouragement to grow deep in my faith
The Catholic school environment provides a strive for students to be involved in their values and to also be aware of everybody's uniqueness. Students are involved in creating special bonds with teachers and other students in a faithful matter.
Catholic schools teach students about morals and respecting others. They engage in many appropriate social and cultural activities while also providing relaxation and creativity.
How can our school be better?
I believe that it important and definitely understandable to why a Catholic school is structure in the ways that it is. We take religion classes, we dress in uniforms, and we even participate in a weekly mass. Catholic schools are truly great, but one thing that comes to mind in is a lack of individual creativity and exploration. In school there is no expression of who you are as you are just in the mixture with everyone else. I think in order to break this habit there would have to be a launch in new classes that pertain more to an individuals qualities and personalities. These classes would introduce new and different industries that would allow a student to learn more about what their plans for the future may inhabit. By opening up a new series of classes students would be able to learn more about themselves and also would have an opportunity to put their personality and skills to great work. Students will grow to become confident in who they are and also for their plans in the future.
ReplyDeleteThe first reason I like going to a catholic school is because people are able to talk about their preferences and beliefs in an accepting community. Granted some people will take this to extremes or on the opposite end and flinch whenever the word “God” is uttered.
The second reason is because the teachers can relate to you better because they do not need to stick to the common core curriculum, they can slow down on some parts to make sure every student fully understands the text. This is important to me personally because I am going to be an elementary teacher, and I wish to teach in a catholic school.
The third reason is because no matter how bad this school may seem, there is always someone looking out for you, whether it be a friend, teacher or God.
I believe that the school is a great place to go if you are looking for a good education and a friendly atmosphere. This is all well and good, but there is always going to be something that someone doesn’t like, no matter what you do. I believe that what this school really needs is for the teachers to start to realize and understand that yes, we may be teenagers, but we are on our way into the real world in as many as four short years. They need to start to understand that we are no longer children and should not be talked down to with a condescending tone all the time. This is something that a lot of adults do to teenagers and it is one of the most frustrating things to have to deal with. Of course, we do not know everything. But if there is another suggestion or way about it, do not just scoff down on it immediately because I am seventeen. Teenagers go from having to ask to go to the bathroom to having to make life choices in a few short months. There needs to be a gradual change between the two, rather than an ice cold shower. Some adults do treat teenagers like adults, and it is one of the most gratifying things to be a part of. It is easier to respect someone who shows you respect as a human being, not act as if you are a whiny child.
I really like your third reason for liking a Catholic School environment. I think that your "way to make it better" is very important, but I also feel as if no matter where you go to school this may be a problem. Also, I think that the ones who do speak to students in this way may not see what they are doing which is also and issue. The maturity level of many students is a huge factor for the way the vast majority of us are treated which may be something to consider when getting upset about how a teacher acts.
DeleteI completely agree with your entire argument about making the school better. This is a good school with good people, but sometimes some teachers really do need to understand that we are not in elementary school. Some do a good job with it and others do not. I agree it is annoying when it happens.
DeleteYour third reason is extremely uplifting, and wholly accurate, in my opinion. We're always in someone's loving care here.
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ReplyDeleteThree Reasons Why I Think My Catholic School is Awesome:
ReplyDeleteWe go to mass every week, and always are involved in some type of prayer.
We have the freedom to discuss faith freely, with our own religion and others.
ECC offers a unique small town and small school school atmosphere.
One thing that could make ECC Better:
Something I frequently think about that could make my school better is a more diverse range of classes. Many of the classes currently offered are of course essential, but also very common amongst almost all schools. I would like to see more classes focused on a specific type of degree. Classes that may really draw in more students would be a machine shop class, or a music theory class, or acting class, or maybe multiple classes that combine certain aspects of the same field of study. For example, music students could take a class that focuses on playing an instrument and musical theory, or engineering students could take a class that teaches about a verity of engineering types to help them decide upon a major. A broader range of major specific classes could really help me, and I'm sure they could really help others as well. These classes would also make ECC a better Catholic School and maybe even more appealing to new students. This system of classes could be integrated into almost every subject in some way. It would really be a great improvement.
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ReplyDeleteI love my catholic school because
ReplyDeleteI have the opportunity to go and participate at mass with my entire school every week.
I am able talk to my teachers and classmates freely about Jesus Christ as well as pray whenever I need to.
The small class sizes allow more individual time with a teacher and allows our school to be more like a family.
I think our school is doing a great job teaching the students about the meaning and importance of the sacraments and the importance of service to others along with many other topics. By doing the Pay it Forward projects and ECHO hours I believe students have the ability to understand the importance of helping others. Something that I believe would make our school better is the more in depth study of the Bible as well as explaining the mass and why it is so important. Throughout the years, I have learned a great deal about the sacraments and it seems as though we are learning either the same or similar material each year. The Bible is the most important book and by studying it, I believe students will have a better understanding of Christ. By studying the Bible students can also find the meaning of the mass. Many students do not understand what is really happening at the mass and they become bored. If the mass was explained to the students piece by piece, I believe that more people would be excited about mass and participate more. I never used to fully grasp was happening at the mass until I went to Deacon Herald's talk about explaining the mass. Of course no one can fully grasp the miracle of the mass, but he explained where each part of the mass came from the Bible. He then explained the meaning of each part. At our Catholic school, students go to mass each week, but I think that students can benefit from it as more if the they were given an explanation of the mass and what the responses truly mean. In freshmen theology we studied the Old Testament in the Bible and I believe a continuation of studying the Bible would truly deepen the faith and understanding of the students. God gave us the Bible and I feel that if it is not used as much as it should be, than much information can be lost. A person that knows the Bible and their faith can then share the good news with others and can stand up for their faith of need be. I am extremely blessed to be enrolled in a Catholic school and I am thankful for everything that it has taught me, not only academically, but spiritually. Every school can be improved in some way, but I believe that I am provided with and excellent education here at ECC and I have grown in my faith greatly. I would not have wanted to be at any other school.
I too enjoy being able to speak freely about our faith, it truly does radiate a feeling of safety in the school environment. Good use of recent faith-related events!
Delete1- I love going to a Catholic school because it allows me to live out my faith without living in fear of being segregated because of my faith. It allows you to really live your faith.
ReplyDelete2- I love attending a Catholic school because I feel that the teachers around me truly want me to succeed in all aspects of life, but especially in my education.
3- Lastly, I love attending a Catholic school because I get to go to mass at least once a school week. It really allows me to grow in faith.
If there was one thing that I could suggest to make my wonderful school just that much better, it would be suggesting that our school should have more student-led clubs and discussions. For me, school is fun at times, but constantly having to listen to lectures from teachers with minimal student discussion causes school to be rather monotonous and boring. I think that our school could look back to the early times of education, times where philosophy and question and answering sessions were the preferred method of learning. It would make school so much less predictable and also much more exciting. School can definitely be fun I just think we need to take some extra steps to make it both educational and exciting. If you are having fun, it makes it much simpler to pay attention, which in turn makes learning much easier. That is the one suggestion I think our school could take into consideration.
Mass is an important part of our lives, so I agree, being able to go during the school week is truly a blessing. It gives us all the little boost we need to keeps chugging along on our faith journies.
DeleteLogan, I agree that learning should be fun. It becomes difficult to focus on learning when there is a lost interest in becoming engaged in the materials. Providing little exciting educational additions for the students to participate in could introduce a spark in better learning.
DeleteI'm thankful that we have uniforms we can wear most days of the school year, mostly due to the fact that I'm somewhat slothful when it comes to dressing.
ReplyDeleteI'm extremely thankful for our personalized classroom experience, with less students and more interactive teachers, I feel we get a more specialized education.
Another element of our school I am thankful for is our faith incorporation, it makes the day less stressful for most and instills a feeling of safety in the learning environment.
Though I realize my opinion on how the school could better itself is not wholly unique, I feel I need to reinstate what so many already agree on. The purpose of the uniform, from what I understand, is so that every student may be equal while simultaneously looking presentable. This is a fine concept, but the other restrictions that come with the dress code seem to be a bit extreme, even from the standpoint of one who doesn't often struggle with these ideas. As previously mentioned, I personally put little effort into my appearance and plan to keep it that way, so the thought of having to shave my face everyday instills a sort of secondhand irritation within me. So what if a guy has a bit of facial hair? Unless he's hiding something in there, I see no need to fuss over such a minute detail that has nothing to do with education. I fail to understand how facial hair, wearing a certain kind of jewelry, and donning certain types of makeup hinder anyone's ability to learn or be successful. Enforcing rules for the sake of being equal and studious is one matter, but taking away someone's individuality is another entirely. Yes, I realize it sounds a bit overdramatic, but implore anyone to think of the world beyond St. Marys. People have discovered countless ways to succeed despite how non-traditional they might dress or look, so, just because it is not the way of our area does not mean it is not a way.
Alicia, I do agree with you that taking these features to extreme standards is a bit much. As humans I believe we have a right to express ourselves in ways that we believe are necessary, but yet not over dramatic.
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