Job Discussion Forums

Jetgirly · Joined: 17 Jul 2004 Posts: 741

So my Canadian university sent me to a prepa in Guadalajara that is apparently Catholic. I am a die-hard atheist but didn't think it would be a big deal because I didn't think it would be too significant in my twelve hours of teaching weekly. However, several of my students have asked me if I'm Catholic. I have no idea how to answer. Do you think I could be removed from my teaching job if it is discovered I am not Catholic? Nobody told me that I HAD to be Catholic before I arrived, but I'm worried that the students might tell their parents that their new teacher isn't Catholic and it could get back to administration, who might ask me to either say I'm Catholic or leave. Could it come to that point? Honestly, I don't care if I stay or go, but I have signed a lease on an apartment that relies on the income I am supposed to be generating and I wouldn't want to leave my housemate in a lurch.

EDIT: My re-reading suggests that I have been too delicate in my words. Basically, I am not willing to lie and say I'm Catholic. I would never discuss religion in class, but if a student comes up to me after class and asks me about my beliefs, I'm kind of on the spot. IF it becomes an issue, my options are essentially stay despite my atheism or leave the school because of it. Lieing isn't really an option.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

The issue has come up for me frequently lately...here's my experience.

There's a Catholic all-boys school in DF run by Opus Dei (hard core Catholic if you're unfamiliar). One of my concerns in connecting teachers to this school was the issue of religious belief. Turns out it was no concern at all. The school works from Roman Catholic doctrine, but doesn't care so much at all about a teacher's beliefs, according to the HR director and the teachers working there. The only thing they do care about is what you bring up in class or around the students. Don't talk about divorce, don't talk about abortion, don't brand a 666 tatoo on your head. Pretty straight forward actually, considering you wouldn't really discuss this stuff around public school kids of the same age (elementary).

Now, your school may have a different view, but my thoughts are that if Opus Dei doesn't care - and these are the hardest hardcore of cores in the Catholic church, why should yours?

Samantha · Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Posts: 2038 Location: Mexican Riviera

In my area it's important to most Catholic schools that the teachers be Catholic. Stands to reason, maybe because I am Catholic.

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

I wouldn't lie. I agree with the advice to tell the students that that's private and you prefer not to discuss it in class.

GueroPaz · Joined: 07 Sep 2007 Posts: 216 Location: Thailand or Mexico

You were recruited/sponsored through a university, and you are only doing this for a fairly short time. It may never come up, and as stated, you can say it is private and personal in your country, and we don't ask or answer those questions, even in countries where it is customarily discussed.

If a problem arises where an important administrator presents it, pass the buck. ask them to call Canada and speak to your university dean, chancellor, department head, personell dept., cultural exchange coordinator. Then excuse yourself and go back to work.

Don't ask, don't tell. If they keep asking personal questions, ask them 98 public and personal questions.

thelmadatter · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:03 pm Post subject: religion

I am Wiccan, so this has been something of an issue with me even though I work at a secular institution.

I have two default comments. If I feel secure enough with someone (be they students or not) I say that I am Wiccan. Of course I get a blank stare. But if they push me to explain, esp. students, I simply tell them to look it up in Wikipedia. (I doubt any of them have). As my beliefs forbid prostelitizing (sp?), this works out well.

If I think my being Wiccan could have negative effects, I simply say that I was raised Lutheran and I do not attend church anymore. If they ask why, I shrug my shoulders.

In both cases, I am not lying, but I weave out of harm's way too.

MELEE · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:32 pm Post subject:

For me it depends on the person I'm talking too. I never say I'm Catholic, but some people assume I am. I attend mass frequently because there is always someone being baptised, confirmed, presented, married, communioned and what not. During mass I sit and stand with the rest of the people, but never kneel, never cross myself, and pretend I don't know the words to any of the songs (though it's been 10 years, I'd have to be a brick not to know them). Nobody has ever questioned it. The only time I'm really uncomfortable is at Christmas Eve because at the end of mass everyone goes up to kiss the baby--they actually close the doors of the church and the only way out is in the front on the side and there's a huge crush of people so you have to go through the line to get out.

When people I barely know ask my religion, I say I'm Methodist. This is my parent's religion, and I'm safe because there's no Methodist church in my town. They often go on to ask what that is, I tell them it's protestant, basically the same, but without the saints, and that it's mild--not like those pushy protestants here (there is a largish Jehova's Witnesses population, and some Mormons). That usually sends people away happily.
People I'm close to know that I'm really Unitarian Universalist--but for me that's way too complicated to explain to market vendors and people I will never really know.
I would talk to students here about religion, but not in class, we have precious little class time and that's for their ENGLISH learning. If they wanted to come see me in my office--I have 5 office hours a day after all, I'd happily talk to them about anything. But my students are in university, not prepa, and part of the university experience is to learn about differences.

Gary Denness · Guest

Personally, if I were in a position where a school head was bigoted enough to discriminate, I would just lie through my teeth and be satisfied with the knowledge they have a heathen in their midst. I have heard of one scholl in DF where it would be a problem for the elderly school owner, but I can't imagine it's something that comes up often.
If you ask me Mexicans are by and large more tolerant than religiously inclined people back home in the UK.

Long live the Flying Spaghetti Monster! May he touch you all with his noodly appendage.

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

I once worked in a Catholic Uni in rural Poland. Pretty much everyone had me pegged within a week or so. It's no big deal- besides, you should always be true to yourself.

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

I work at a language school and this does come up. I tell students that I don't really have any religious leanings but respect everyone for their beliefs and am interested in learning about all religions. All of this is true and it leads to interesting discussions. However, most of my students are adults and they are also interested in other beliefs.

dixie · Joined: 23 Apr 2006 Posts: 644 Location: D.F

hlamb · Joined: 09 Dec 2003 Posts: 431 Location: Canada

Prof.Gringo · Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 10:38 pm Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Which school, is this?

As far as I know, the only Opus Dei run school in this city is the one I'm referring to. In that case, you must have have interviewed with Peter...an atheist, and I sincerely doubt you talked religion with him. I've been party to three interviews and none involved either a shrink or a priest. The guy talks numbers and quarts... Laughing

I was interviewed myself by a non-Opus Dei Catholic group for a teaching job in 2003 and when religion came up, I told them I was a 'lapsed Catholic' (atheist in other words). Job was mine anyway until I turned it down and recommended a Baptist, who got the job.

Unless...there's another Opus Dei school here? If so, I'd be interested in knowing who they are...