Work

I'm a school chaplain in Mayfield Community School.  My work there has a number of different aspects:

  • Some of what I do is teach religion to all year groups.  Not the easiest thing in the world to try & get teenagers to look at the world in a different way.
  • Another part of what I do is to try and promote a particular ethos.  What does this mean?  I try to promote a particular way of being.  A particular way of behaving towards those around you.
  • Finally, part of what I do is pastoral counselling. I work on a one to one basis with students and help them to try and work out difficulties in their lives.

What's on my mind at work recently?

  • With one group I've started teaching some basics of Judaism.  Just the basics.  I hope that they will learn  to respect other traditions - and also to learn the religion upon which Christianity was founded.
  • With another group I've started teaching Islam.  Again the basics.  Cork is now a multi-cultural city and hosts three mosques (as far as I'm aware).  It is good for the students to understand other religions and cultures.  Besides, Islam is interesting!
  • And with my Transition Year students (about 16-17 years old) I'm doing  a section looking at some basic ideas in psychology.  Think in terms of types of intelligence, perception, and concepts.
  • On top of all this there is a constant need to address the issues facing students.  Low self-esteem, bullying, agression, deprivation.  Trying to study, to increase my understanding is always required.  



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