Compulsory staff Mass attendance

[Mmmmmcoffee]

This is new to me, wondered if anyone had experience of this.
I work in a faith school and happily follow the bit in my contract about 'upholding the Catholic ethos of the school'. Attend Mass with the pupils when required etc. I'm not Catholic but did attend a Church school of another denomination and have absolutely no issue with the existence of faith schools.
There's an INSET day next year and half the morning is a mandatory staff Mass in the Church attached to the school. Not sure why this seems an unreasonable expectation. TAs are normally only required to attend statutory training in Safeguarding etc and that is usually done as a Twilight.
It just seems odd that they are making it compulsory for all staff, one third of whom are not Catholic.

I suppose it is Diocese and Parish driven policy. It's no big deal but I see it as hypocrisy to insist all staff attend to demonstrate their upholding of the ethos if you have to pay them to do it. An empty gesture in front of the Parish.

We have the liturgies and the prayers before every meeting too.

Well go the Head and offer to take it unpaid then

It is a chance for the staff's spirtual development, to pray for guidance and support over the year ahead, as is totally appropriate in a Catholic school.

THe Welfare contract also has the clause about upholding the ethos, exactly the same as the TA one, so why isn't it compulsory for them?
Possibly giving this way too much thought, though! It's a lovely school to work in so I will just suck it up, get my claim in and enjoy the biscuits afterwards

Not sure why the wee humphy face, Balfe? It's a new thing that has come out the blue with no notice or explanation. I have said I would attend unpaid if it was an invitation and that is what faith means to me - an invitation to God, not a paid demand.

I genuinely don't know how you manage to work in a Cathplic school if that's your POV.

What, that the pathway to God should be freely chosen and not forced?

As the childrens' faith journey is couched in exactly those terms, as a choice.

Eggandchipsfortea93 :

Take a book, or have a laugh with a friend.
That really would be rude and disrespectful

Yes, you're right I suppose. Quite a lot less rude and disrespectful than demanding compulsory attendance at a church service in the circumstances described by OP, though. No?

Or maybe a lowly TA is less deserving of politeness and respect than a bonkers catholic headteacher? You think?

This is what you agreed to with "upholding the Catholic ethos of the school "
It's part of the deal. And inset days are part of your contract are they not?

They probably think it will be a good team bonding day. A school o uses to work at let us have the am of the inset to sort classrooms but at 11.30 insisted on the whole staff being bused an hour away to play rounders and eat a picnic as team building. No-one wanted to be there as we all had so much to do but we had to suck it up and go.
I think you'll have to do the same.

Missy, they are a paid extra.
I wouldn't read a book at Mass, or chat. I find a sense of peace and contemplation at Church and I have already said I choose to attend non compulsory events, including Mass, associated with the life of the school. They are important to the children and our school community and are valuable and special because of that.
My own primary school was very High Church and we possibly spent even more time than I do now attending Church as it was next door. I do not dislike Mass. I do dislike a peremptory summons to it.

I asked if anyone had experience of this. Thank you to everyone who has been polite and reasonable in informing me that they have, whether they agree with it or not.

You really are a special snowflake.

You work in a Catholic school where the majority of the staff are Catholic. You have been given the arrangements for the first day back at work and unsurprisingly, they are not worded like a party invitation. It is time for the staff's spiritual development and this is valued as much as any curricular input (and quite rightly so) in Catholic schools.

Go and work in a non denominational school if this bothers you so much. Newsflash- Catholic schools go to Mass!

Now let's just imagine this was a state funded Islamic school. Daily Mail headline anyone?

Religion and education should not go together. You have a point.

And you are really quite astoundingly rude, Balfe. To reiterate: it is not the first day back at work, I attend Mass in my working hours (paid) and outside of them (unpaid) to support the children and the school because I recognise the value of doing so. I do expect an invitation to extend the remit of the faith support, yes. An invitation and an explanation. I don't think that make me any kind of 'snowflake', just someone who has an equal value and engagement in the school community.
Like I said, extracurricular faith events have not been compulsory before. If that policy has changed then inform me when and why.
If you are going to persist in not actually reading what I have written then I shan't be engaging with you further.

Moussemoose, I'd expect the same courtesy of explanation from an Islamic school tbh. I'd be a hypocrite if I said faith and education should be completely separate, as I don't necessarily think they should be. My DC go to a faith school, I was brought up in a faith and attended a faith primary. I have no quarrel with that, just the compulsory out of normal working hours ( bolded because some people don't seem able to read that bit properly) attendance for something we would most likely do anyway. It's authoritarian and has no worth in demonstrating that we support the ethos, because we are not being given a choice. It's a false representation, as they feel they have to pay us to do it, or we won't do it.

It's part of your job and you have to do it, if you object then why do you work at a Catholic school? I wouldn't want to do it which is why I've never applied for a teaching job at an RC school.

I genuinely don't know how you manage to work in a Catholic school if you are so pernickety.

You are being paid = working hours.

I DO NOT OBJECT TO GOING TO MASS

Is that clear enough? Doubts assuaged that I am an atheist Ringer who has infiltrated a faith school for their own ends?

Ok then, how do you feel about people pretending to uphold the faith ethos of a school but only actually going to an extracurricular church event because they are being paid?
Is that acceptable to you? Because as the Governor of a faith school for 8 years it wouldn't be to me.

They aren't 'pretending' to do anything. They are upholding the ethos of the school as is part of their contract, and therefore they're being paid.

Arghhh faith makes no difference to how good a teacher you are. Indoctrinating children is just plain old wrong.

Forcing children and staff to engage in religious ceremonies is wrong. If the nearest/ best school in your area is a faith school then this is not a 'choice' for staff or students.

We've a fair mix round here, MousseMoose. I chose a school for my DC with a less favourable OFSTED and results because the faith element was important to me. The nondenominational school was in catchment but it wasn't what I wanted. I do take your point though, as I know this varies enormously round the country.

It's not compulsory as you are not contracted for INSET days. You can just not go and brazen it out. Nothing they can do about it.