Just wondering.
Should Catholic schools and institutions in Japan refuse Catholic applicants just because they failed the entrance exam?
In a non-Catholic country like Japan, there are a lot of Catholic schools and institutions. Some of them already had good reputation even before the 2nd World War. Catholic presences multiplied after the war, with the ordinary Japanese grappling for anything that could give them meaning after the “tragedy” of realizing the leader was only human after all. And so we find ourselves here in Japan with a lot of Catholic institutions that were actually fruits of the needs of the society after the war -- orphanages, kindergartens, schools and universities. With the boom of Catholics came also the boom of vocations. But that was after the war. Things started dwindling when the economy rose to become the 2nd in the world.
Today, we find our Catholic institutions lacking personnel in both the priestly and religious side. Priests are getting older by the day with the average age per diocese (or even religious and mission congregations) over the 65 mark. Sisters, too, as you see them having only 1 for first profession, 4 for perpetual profession and 10 or more celebrating their 25th or 50th anniversary of religious life! A lot of their school principals and administrators are now lay people, with a number who are not Catholics at all. To add to that, the dwindling number of students, as Japan moves on as an aging society. According to statistics, 40% of Japan will be over 65 in the year 2060! But more than that, the public school system -- including their technical and vocational centers -- are apparently more advanced and systematic compared to the high-tuitioned private institutions.
Which makes us go back to Catholic schools. Their enrollment is one big factor for them to get financial assistance from the government. They also have the name of the school and its reputation to maintain. That, I understand. But to refuse a Catholic applicant just because of grades... that I don’t.
First, they should actually be grateful enough that a Catholic kid comes to their school. With only 0.01% of the population as Catholics, what do you expect to have in your own Catholic school... a bunch of converts? Unfortunately, baptisms have all but become a thing of the past in most Catholic schools here. So when a Catholic kid comes to have interest in their school, they should immediately grab the chance and have that child grow up and be educated in the very atmosphere that he/she was baptized into.
Second... which brings us to the Catholic atmosphere. The impression I get of Catholic schools over here in Japan actually pale in comparison to the many Catholic activities and lessons that the Philippine Catholic institutions have. Of course, the Philippines IS a Catholic country. But for Japanese Catholic schools to shine, they MUST still hold on to the Catholic heritage and principles that their founders (mostly religious missionaries) had in mind. Yet, what do I see. Less and less holy masses. Less and less prayer moments. Less and less moral influence. Less and less Catholic tradition. Short of saying, the Catholic school can just plainly be called a “private” school. The school is tolerant of sweetheart moments (since a lot have become co-ed in recent years). The school does not even bother to talk (or even insist) about Catholic doctrine as regards love and sex, marriage and family, social responsibility, love and respect for life. The school has just become paralyzed in preserving a name, a uniform and a good record in university applicants.
Third, Catholic education must truly be EDUCATION. If they say they cannot accept a kid because of grades, I believe it’s not the problem of the kid. The Catholic school must actually take it upon itself to make it its own problem and help the kid improve. What has happened to the very intention of their founders? Have their founders not gathered the scum of society and made them the best their nations had in their time? I understand if it is a matter of tackling a psychological problem in the kid. But for grades? Yeah, they’re mere numbers anyway.
Fourth, the School Spirit. I just cannot get settled down at the fact that teachers who sit down in school admission panels do not know the very spirituality of the school. They know their own expertise -- they should! -- and they know their own experience in the school. But with spirituality? I doubt. New teachers in the school must even be subjected into after-school seminars about the spirituality and principles of that school’s founder and even of the teachings of the religious congregation running the school. Ah yes, the board of directors! Yes, they must be the first ones to undergo such seminar!
Fifth, they’re obviously few... and they really do not shine. “Let your light shine....” (Mt. 5, 16), so Jesus says to all of us even today. And I am very sure Jesus says the same things to Catholic schools. Let your Catholic light shine on the whole of Japan. Show to Japan you are different. Show to Japan you can form people who can be good citizens. Show to Japan that your graduates do not just gather to drink and be merry but are willing to pay back to the school by supporting financially-challenged kids (like those of international marriages or children of migrants). Let your light shine, Catholic schools! Don’t let the cobwebs of your uncreativity rot and tear your buildings down. Let your light shine, Catholic schools! Don’t let the darkness of a selfish society conquer you.
5 comments:
Fr.bob dito nalang ako may comment kasi nakakahiya sa fb. Hehe. Seriously, I read this twice. For me, catholic schools here in japan should live as model Catholic institution and teaching the students the best of catholic cathechism according to gospel values. There should be a comprehensive formation of faith specially to Christian students almost like the seminarians learned from the seminary. I think in this category some Catholic schools in Japan fell short unfortuntely. With regards to admission through grades, I think these catholic schools should have more heart than pride. At the back of my mind, "although they are catholic schools, some are not functioning as its identity must".
Bakit naman kailangan basehan ang grades father, malaki talaga ang point niyo. Sorry late comment :)
jfox and lendl, that's the point. if this were the Philippines, where there are a lot of Catholic schools to choose from, I will still understand the concept of grades and maintaining standards. But this is non-Catholic Japan. These Catholic schools in Japan must even be happy these kids want to live their being Catholics in a CATHOLIC school and even see how different they are from the other kids. These schools -- not out of favoritism, but out of mission -- must actually be more helpful to uplift the level of these Catholic kids.
Great post!! It is interesting the differences between Catholic schools in different countries. In Canada, our children attended a Catholic school that was connected to the local Catholic church.
Great post!! It is interesting the differences between Catholic schools in different countries. In Canada, our children attended a Catholic school that was connected to the local Catholic church.
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