School Chaplain

jupiter00

I,m not sure if this is the correct forum to post this question. I have a child in first year and they have a new chaplain in their school. He is good at reminding them that he is there to help them if need be. He has sent out a brochure that each child will be able to meet him individually during the year. Does the chaplain arrange this for them or is it up to the students to go and see him? I just wondered how ohter schools arrange this or is there a particular 'system' as my child is in first year. Thanks in advance

homer911

I've never known a school chaplain to pro-actively organise meetings with students - they are available if you want to speak to them, and good ones make it their business to get to know as many of the students as possible, so that they have no hesitation in approaching them if they need to.

The chaplain in my children's school would know most/all of the approx 800 children by name (yes, I know that sounds ridiculous, but its true), and the kids think he is wonderful - he really knows how to connect with them and is not afraid to make a fool of himself for Christ!

qrrgprgua

Any meeting with Chaplain and Child and only take place in view of others.

DO NOT ALLOW your child unsupervised meetings. The Chaplain could be a great guy, but any meeting should take place in an office in view of others, Glass walls meeting rooms are the best, Or just walking in playground.. Never alone behind closed doors.

Same as bringing your child to doctor parent is present.

Its ok for Chaplain to be available to help, Confess/Council it just needs to be open.

Same for Boy scouts,Gaa, girl guides .. 99.99% of people are decent we just can't leave children to the temptation of the 00.01% who take advantage sadly, and in all walks.

UB Dude

Hi,
Often School Chaplains will do the 'rounds' with first years. Introducing themselves to the individual classes and, depending on the school/chaplain, might ask them to visit the office individually. This can be done as a sort of ice-breaker, to insure the first one-to-one meeting, a thing that a child might not ever have initiated before. Having found the office, they should feel more comfortable about visiting or arranging meetings again - should they feel the need to have a private chat. Every Chaplains office has glass on the door, where the Chaplain can be clearly seen and the seating is arranged so that the child is both closest to the door and that there are no obstructions.

Hope this clarifies things,
Regards
B.

jupiter00

Thank you for your replies and yes you have all picked up on my concern about one to one meetings proposed by this new chaplain this year. I must admit now that we are very concerned and have been in touch with the Principal last week and basically he says if that is what the chaplain wants to organise well thats what he is going to do! Also the chaplain has given out forms to be filled in in a free class the first year group had which asked for information that the school had sice last Sept 2011 and I was annoyed about this but the principal didn't ask him what he wanted this info for and doesn't want to either and said to me it must be for his own personal use. Now I don't know how to proceed if this is his attitude. Where could I get advice on how to proceed as I don't want to lose the head but I do need to know how to respond to this?

Peregrinus

Couple of points:

The chaplain may be asking for information which the school already has because the school isn't passing the information on to him. What exactly is the relationship between the chaplain and the school? If he's not on staff there may be data protection considerations which mean that he doesn't have access to the school's records and information (and a good thing too).

As for the one-to-one meetings, if your concern is child abuse I understand that. But your concern shouldn't focus on the chaplain alone; most abuse victims are abused by people other than clerics and, sad to say, teachers are another group with above-average representation in the ranks of convicted abusers. You should be asking the school what protocols and procedures they have in place to protect children from anyone who may have access to the school. A focus on the chaplain is understandable, but your child needs more than that.

Your child can always decline to meet the chaplain, or you can decline on your child's behalf. The chaplain should (and probably will) respect that.

georgieporgy

Have you considered going along to meet the chaplain yourself? There is always a chance he may be one of the 99% of chaplains who are not child abusers and might in fact be doing the job he is supposed to do.

Having said that, I applaud you for being watchful. I happen to think schools are the most dangerous places to send our kids, nothing to do with sex abuse, just the stuff they fill their heads with.

BrianCalgary

I am an assistant chaplain at a school in Calgary. The Chaplain is an employee of the school and I am with an outside organisation invited into the school to help.

Neither of us would ever meet with a student in a closed room. We only initiate a chat with a student if we sense that the student may want one or is need of an ear. NB. It is a High School (14-18yr olds). I think teh Chaplain in your school is stepping outside by seeking info on each student. Asking for a meeting would be OK in my books as long as it was optional and soley to introduce him/herself as a safe place to go for help.

I do have a question though, in Ireland who supplies the chaplains? Are they employees of the school or the local parish....?

Plowman

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jupiter00

As regards the school it is a VEC community school (secondary). The chaplain is a priest in the parish and is a staff member of the school also receiving a salary from the Dept of Ed as far as I know. The principal did say he had access to school files I spoke to him on the phone and he didn't know why the chaplain needed the kids to fill in further information and wasn't inclined to ask. Does this mean he has no juristiction over the chaplain (who is appointed by a Board of Management)? I attended a Vocatioal school back in the day and it was 'non denominational' as we had a catholic priest but also the Church of Ireland students had classes from their reverend too. Perhaps VECs are different today and it looks like we are 'priviledged' to have a priest as chaplain or at least that is what was suggested on the open evening. I don't know if I want to phone the principal again really. I'd like to know where his responsibilites lie first. I'll think further on this one.

Plowman

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Gregor Samsa

Plowman wrote: »

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Actually, school Chaplains are specifically funded by the State in Community and Comprehensive schools. The funding for it is even legally protected by a clause in the Deeds of Trust, unlike Guidance Counsellors and other teachers or staff. There's been some recent reporting on the matter:

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0323/chaplains.html

Plowman

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jupiter00

Yes I thought I was right,Phutyle where could I find out what 'control' the principal has over the school chaplain as he doesn't seem to want to ask the chaplain anything on my behalf or he's just fobbing me off. I don't want to 'ruffle feathers' as my child is in first year...............if I was sure of the principals responsibilities it would be better for me before I approach him. I suppose the Principal is frustrating me more than anything else.

prinz

We had a school chaplain in my school. Again it was always advertised as a service available, 'my door is always open' kind of thing. One to one meetings were never pre-arranged or organised on our behalf nor was any information solicited directly for the chaplain's use. The student would have to make the first move for any such meeting. In five years of secondary I don't ever recall speaking to him on a one-to-one basis, other than maybe a passing 'hi, how are you?' etc as he wandered the corridors from time to time.