TEACHING
I WISH to point out that in 2John O'Keeffe's article of February 27 on Newman College of Education some Statements may have been misunderstood. What I did say was that while it is true many sisters and lay teachers are doing splendid work in the field of religious education in England there are still instances, not as rare as one would wish, of the kind of advice quoted being given in some of our schools.
I base this not only on my experience at Newman College but on the contacts I have made with students and young people over the past ten years as a priest.
The problem created by such thinking is not that young women become inhibited, as the article suggested, but that they reject the whole content of Catholicism on the grounds that it has nothing to say to them at a time in their lives when serious difficulties arise.
May I say, too, that my remarks were not made in any spirit of carping criticism of the work of teachers, whether they be Sisters or lay teachers.
am only too sensible of the difficulties involved in classroom work.
suggest that the problems remain whether one closes one's eyes to them or looks at them honestly. It seems to me sad enough that young people should reject genuine Christianity. It seems tragic that they should know and reject a mere caricature.
(Fr.) Eamon Clarke Birmingham.