The whole school would gather in the big hall. Because there were so many of us all the pupils used to sit on the floor because there was no room for chairs to accommodate everyone; or even enough time to put the chairs out in rows like a cinema, and then take them away after Assembly.
My job, as a lead pupil, was to organise two other pupils to stand at the door and hand out hymn books to all coming in, and to collect them afterwards.
All the teachers stood/and sat on chairs, on the big stage up front. The hall was used as a theatre when we had plays or concerts.
Every morning at Assembly we waited for the Head Master to come in and walk all the way up front and walk up the stage from the side and stand in the middle of the stage. At that point we would all stand up and sing the hymn for the day. The music teacher played the piano.
After the hymn there was a Bible reading. Then school announcements, then another hymn. And so we left in an orderly fashion to our classrooms. The whole event lasted about 15 minutes.
Every day started with a Christian based assembly.
Now ... ... ...
I wonder how much Christianity is really taught in schools. Not much I am told. In a lot of businesses it is forbidden to talk religion at work. I know it was so when I worked in London; it was frowned upon.
Some youngsters get Christian teaching in church either on Sundays or in preparation for certain events like First Communion, Confirmation or such. However, I read somewhere that in the UK regular church attendance is about 5% of the population.
So I ask myself: Who will teach them?
If there is a generation growing up with little if any Christian education; how will they grow up with Christian values and principles? How will they teach the next generation after them about God and Christianity?
I know of several people who not only have they stopped going to church, or believing altogether, having been brought up as Christians; but they have also not bothered to pass on the Christian beliefs which their parents instilled in them to their off-springs.
Their attitude is that their children will have to make up their own minds on what to believe when they grow up.
For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
ReplyDeleteafter those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
and they shall be my people.
And they shall not teach, each one his neighbor
and each one his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
for they shall all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
Hebrews 8:10-11
I am not sure I understand what you are saying Sandi. Should we not teach our "neighbour, brother" or our children about God?
DeleteGod bless you.
Yes, we should. But there will come a time when only the Lord will teach us. It's coming. So if you feel down while looking at the state of the world, well, there is hope.
DeleteI agree, there is hope. God is still in control, despite that we may think that we are.
DeleteGod bless, Sandi.
Read Willie's response on my post today if you want to be encouraged. Wow...wow. 😊
DeleteThank you so much, Sandi.
DeleteGod bless you.
...teachers are not held in high esteem these days.
ReplyDeleteWe don't value something/someone until it is gone.
DeleteGod bless.
The last sentence says it all, "their children will have to make up their own minds on what to believe when they grow up."
ReplyDeleteDo you agree with that, Bill?
DeleteGod bless.
I've heard people say that and no I don't agree.
DeleteI know of people who believe that, Bill. They were Christian but they themselves have stopped believing and have left the Faith; so as a result they have stopped their children from attending Christian education. They want the children to make up their own minds when they grow up.
DeleteGod bless you.
I find it sad that many do not have a personal relationship with the God of their understanding.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed sad. They don't know God through ignorance because Christianity is not taught at home or at school.
DeleteGod bless, Kathy.
Dearest Victor,
ReplyDeleteAnd that is exactly why our entire world is in decay!
By keeping religion out of schools and by promoting the 'cool' new thing of NOT going to Church anymore, nor having the children baptized and receiving the other sacraments, they OPENED the doors wide to what is now seen all around us. All morals that come with the Christian teaching, seem to be off the table. Crime is up and unrest and, and...
No person will ever escape the final journey and it might look frightening for what destination they have chosen themselves!
It is a LAME excuse to say that children will have to make up their own minds. They will NOT and NEVER if not being guided by a truly loving parent who is living high morals from Christianity and passing it on lovingly.
May God have mercy on this world!
Hugs,
Mariette
You said it so well, Mariette. What else can I add?
DeleteI shall pray for this world and those who do not know God.
God bless.
💞
DeleteI'm afraid the only talk of God in today's schools occurs in a parochial institution. Now I wonder, do they even still exist?
ReplyDeleteEven if today's teachers were tasked with imparting the Word, I fear there would come such an uprising. I don't know what conditions are like in the U.K., but over here many instructors seem to have a distinct left-ist agenda. My granddaughter, for instance, was afraid to contradict her professor for fear of receiving a poor grade.
Christian teaching is still undertaken in Catholic schools here. I can't tell about Anglican schools. In State schools they have religion classes which encompass all religions.
DeleteI would also agree there is (some) leftist leanings in education and also on the news media. Newspapers tend to be leaning right, (mostly).
I lean horizontally after a few drinks.
God bless, Mevely.
There is so much here in this one my friend. When I was in grade school lots of things were Bible oriented. Third Grade Memory tests were mostly taken from the Psalms. Our prayers were Christian and sent over the entire school by a PA system every morning. Yes, you ask a VERY GOOD question here, Who will teach?
ReplyDeleteI am enjoying now one of my favorite characters, Father Ignatius, in Don't Let the Devil Win. Good read.. Lots more to say, but it is CCCOLD here in Florida, below freezing here, very rare...
It saddens me, Jack, that there is a generation, possibly two, growing up with very little or no Christian education. I know of parents who do not know even the basics - who was Moses? What did he do? Who is Jesus? Why is He so important to us.
DeleteSomeone told me that Jesus was a disciple; and did not know a disciple of whom.
With such ignorance how can these parents teach their children? Where will the children get a Christian education from? Most people believe it is not important anyway.
I'm so overjoyed to hear you are reading "Don't Let the Devil Win!" I hope you like it. It details the trials and tribulations of a priest in torment. Could happen to any of us.
I am now (struggling) putting together the final touches of my next Fr Ignatius novel. More news here shortly.
Hope it gets warmer in Florida soon. Here it is cold and damp. Grey and miserable.
God bless you and Sherry.
Yes, getting close to the end. I do enjoy your insights brought out by the priest.
DeleteSWEET!
Thank you, Jack. You are so kind to me.
DeleteGod bless you, Sherry and your family.
God and Christianity is a distant teaching to students that they learned in Sunday School, if they go to one. Proverbs 22:6 (ASV) Train up a child in the way he should go, And even when he is old he will not depart from it.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many churches over here still have Sunday School.
DeleteGod bless, Susan.
One way our church is getting to teach children about Jesus is through a bus ministry. Church members knock on doors and invite kids to Sunday School. A bus picks the kids up and brings them back home again. So many kids have ended up brining their parents to church.
ReplyDeleteIt is so sad that so many people just aren't concerned about their souls!!!
The bus idea is a good one, Happyone. I don't think we have the same in our churches over here. As you say, many people are not concerned about their souls; or their children's.
DeleteGod bless.
It's a sad state of affairs, and i'm not sure that there's much we can do about it but pray and try to reach as many as we can.
ReplyDeletePray, and be a good example to others.
DeleteGod bless, Mimi.
My parents never passed on any of their beliefs to the kids. Mum did want us to go to Sunday School, but I'm pretty sure that was just to get us out of the house AND so that we would be invited to the Sunday School annual picnic.
ReplyDeleteHow about now you are grown up? Have you made your own decision to find out more about God? Who He is and how you fit in into His plan for you?
DeleteGod bless, River.
I am concerned about the things that ARE being taught as well. It seems we are moving away from our fundamentals. These days anything goes without any consequences. Without Christianity and solid biblical foundations, we are treading a slippery slope to destruction. Just my own thoughts. God bless!!!
ReplyDeleteYour thoughts are correct, I think. Yes, we are deliberately denigrating religion, especially Christianity. Many TV programs have people mocking Christianity.
DeleteGod bless, Nells.
I am concerned about the things that ARE being taught as well. It seems we are moving away from our fundamentals. These days anything goes without any consequences. Without Christianity and solid biblical foundations, we are treading a slippery slope to destruction. Just my own thoughts. God bless!!!
ReplyDeleteI don’t know why this published twice????
ReplyDeleteIt is published twice because it is true.
DeleteGod bless.
We neglect the greatest commandment of all if we fail to teach our children about God and His salvation through Christ Jesus. The progressives have long wanted God out of schools and the workplace; they have almost succeeded in making this world the devil's playground. This must stop, Victor, no matter what it takes. God already has the victory, but we must fight the battles here for His kingdom.
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
Let us pray that people will soon wake up and turn to God.
DeleteGod bless you, Martha.