Catholic school experience

[HolyMotherFuckers]

I’m 21, and attended catholic primary and secondary schools. So I finished year 11 in 2012. Admittedly, not at all that long ago really.

But being on mumsnet has made me realise how little I am aware of my own body. And I think it’s because I went to catholic school. Maybe some things you just learn as you go along, but I don’t really know anything about the ins and outs of ovulation (is that even the same thing as a period. I think so). I couldn’t name all the parts of the vagina, couldn’t tell you about pregnancy or giving birth and the logistics of it. Didn’t even know about after birth until I watched Call the midwife.

In this day and age it’s not really acceptable is it? We can’t keep not discussing human biology because the church things sex, periods and the female body is too taboo to discuss in biology

DH went to Catholic school, finished year 13 in 2004.

when we met in 2008 there was a lot he didn't know. He hates faith schools now, and would never send the DC.

I think some people are being harsh on the OP! I went to a catholic primary and secondary and I genuinely only learnt recently (last 10 years or so) that we do give birth through the same hole we wee from!! And I have A in gcse double science and a science based PhD. I’m not stupid, just was never taught. Having said that as a parent I will make sure my dds know about their bodies. This is more important the gcse biology imo.

You've been failed by your school but it's nothing to do with it being a Catholic one.

Female anatomy us usually part of the biology curriculum.

We watched videos of women giving birth in PSHE and were taught about contraception and how it works.

DD in a Catholic secondary. All of that is fully covered in both science (biology) and personal, social and health education. She also is doing Religion as a subject and all major world religions are taught. It's not faith formation. There are school Masses (once per term) and prayers at assemblies but it is certainly not 'in your face'.

Also OP if you are 21 did your parents not give you any information?

I went to catholic school and was taught in graphic detail about reproductive anatomy, reproductive encoronology, conception, pregnancy, STIs, abortion, contraception, oral sex, anal sex, porn, revenge porn, rape and, masturbation. Starting at the age of 9. This happened in Australia where sex education in schools is considered very important. The problem isn't Catholicism, it's the government- adequate sex education in schools should be mandatory. Knowledge of one's own body and bodily functions should be considered a human right.

I went to both state and catholic primaries then state secondary. I knew nothing about periods/ovulation. I did know that sex made you pregnant but not why or how. I don’t think you can pin it on the catholic faith. I teach in a catholic primary and it’s common practice to get the local nurse in to year 5 and 6 to do a period talk and puberty. We also cover relationships but not sex. They do sex Ed at the catholic secondary.

I went to a catholic convent school and we were thought about everything. Even how to put on a condom (shown on a banana 🍌). Boys and girls together too . This was back in 1998.

Sounds like we went to the same school. The only time it was mentioned is when we had the anti-abortion talk where they gave the little feet badges that raisedbyguineapigs mentions. I've since learnt that it's illegal to do this in UK state schools? Maybe someone could correct me if I'm wrong.

Take a look at this! I'm not surprised you were confused...

www.facebook.com/LovinDublin/videos/1270446326315468/

I went to catholic primary and secular secondary. Primary prepared me for puberty but pretty sure the catholic secondary didn’t have kids putting condoms on polystyrene penises. I think this new pope is amazing however! He’ll revolutionise catholic teachings

OP you were failed by your school and your parents. But I don’t think the school being Catholic is anything to do with it.

Taught *

I went to a Catholic primary and secondary, finished school 1996 and had a great education around sex, anatomy, biology, relationships etc.

Think it’s more to do with your school than what religion it was.

thatwhichwecallarose is that a typo?
I think some people are being harsh on the OP! I went to a catholic primary and secondary and I genuinely only learnt recently (last 10 years or so) that we do give birth through the same hole we wee from!!

We most definitely don’t. Urethra for passing urine, vagina for giving birth from, anus for faeces

Yikes! I went to an all girls catholic secondary school from 1979 to 1986 and we absolutely did learn all about ovulation, periods, childbirth, contraception etc etc. I’m genuinely shocked at how little you were taught.

I teach Science in a Catholic boys school and I can assure you we teach sex education in detail. The students are taught about intercourse, safe sex, female hormones, menstrual cycle, contraception and infertility treatments.
It’s in the National Curriculum!

My daughter went to an independent catholic school and was taught positively about homosexuality, contraception and relationships. I was at school in the 1970’s and had really good sex education at an ordinary primary school.

I went to catholic school over 30 years ago and I knew all about sex and the correct names for my anatomy from a fairly young age, (I knew how babies were made from 9)- this is as much to do with your parents as school.

I went to both a catholic primary and secondary. I had excellent sex education lesson in year 6, I vividly remember we had to life size pictures of a naked woman and man (drawn, not like a photo), and we labelled all the different parts of both. Obviously it was very basic but did touch on consent. More detailed in year 9. Science lessons also discussed the reproduction system.

Yanbu, your school should have done more.

I also went to a Catholic secondary and learned everything I needed to know. It’s on the GCSE biology syllabus which is the same whichever school you go to so surely it was taught? Maybe you just didn’t listen very closely. Basic human biology is the same whether you’re Catholic or not and the Catholic Church has no objection to its members learning about reproduction. In fact, it actively encourages it because if helps you learn about natural family planning, if that’s your bag.

I went to Catholic primary and secondary schools (finished in 2004)

I learnt about ovulation, periods etc in biology and about sex/relationships in PSHE. They said they officially they couldn’t teach us about contraception but they told us about local GUM clinics etc where we could get that information.

I remember learning about Islam and secularism in RE and those that stayed on for sixth form learnt about Buddhism/ meditation in RE.

Basically I think it was your school, rather than a Catholic school thing. DH went to a Catholic all boys school and they all had the classic put a condom on a banana lesson.

Another person who went to both Catholic primary and secondary. We learnt about everything we needed to know, not sure if we learnt more about female biology because it was an all girls school though?

We also spent a lot of time learning about other religions.

DH went to both too, and learnt sweet FA about sexual health. And studied nothing but Mark's Gospel in RE, although he says different religions were touched on maybe one lesson at a time rather than whole terms like we had at our school.

We both left school in 2006, so it does happen and does seem to differ.