Ask the experts
By Michelle Martin
I got to be a rock star the other day, or at least feel a little like one.
After spending about 45 minutes talking to my daughter’s second-grade class about newspaper writing, the kids clustered around me, asking me to autograph the copies of The Catholic New World I handed out. (One thing I’ve learned in years of speaking to classes: Always bring handouts.)
Even better was the way they paid attention while I spoke.
We covered the five W’s (and the H) and how stories get chosen and researched. Then the talk turned to interviewing, the way most reporters get primary-source information.
Then, before giving the kids a chance to interview me, I asked them to be my sources on something they know better than anyone: Going to Catholic elementary school.
Five volunteers stood in a row next to my chair, three boys in white shirts and navy blue pants and two girls in green and blue plaid jumpers. They stood in front of their classmates, shifting their feet, a little excited and a little nervous at being singled out.
It must have been a little bit like they felt on the first day of school this year. When I asked how they felt that first morning, all of them said they were nervous or scared.
“I thought I really wouldn’t like second grade,” said Marty. In front of teachers and friends, he allowed that it hasn’t been as bad as all that.
Caroline, my daughter, was afraid none of her friends would be in her class. She was starting a new school, and had met several students at a summer day camp, but she wanted to be sure at least one of them would be in her class.
Miriam was a returning student, but she was nervous because she didn’t know which teacher she would have.
Mark said he wasn’t happy because school—with its emphasis on sitting still and being quiet—is “boring.” How could it be better?
“By having recess all day,” he said.
Brandon was afraid because, he said, “I was scared I’d get the spelling words wrong.”
“But you’re a great speller!” his teacher interjected.
Then I asked if they knew what was different about going to a Catholic school. They nailed the basics right away.
“Catholic schools, they teach about religion,” Mark said.
“Public schools don’t teach about God,” Miriam added.
“And public schools are usually free,” Caroline noted.
So why, I asked, did their parents choose to spend the money to send them to Catholic school?
“They want us to get smarter,” Brandon said.
“They want us to learn about God and Jesus,” said Mark.
“They make us more religious,” said Miriam.
“They want us to learn prayers and stuff,” said Marty.
Then Mark hit the nail on the head:
“They want us to be more like Jesus.”
That’s it in a nutshell, I thought. I’ve heard Catholic schools that ask their students to imitate the saints, and those that ask the pupils to be “the hands and feet of Jesus.” What it all comes down to is to be more Christ-like, to represent the Body of Christ to everyone they encounter. That encompasses every good thing—every blessed thing—we say we want for our children: to be kind, to be just, to be honest and honorable, to love God.
Hearing that from the mouth of a child felt better than any of the attention they gave me.
Martin is Catholic New World Staff writer.
She can be reached at [email protected].
