I don't know if it will help you with the new hire, but it might help you know you're on solid ground:

St. Paul says, and I'm paraphrasing, "When I became a man, I gave up childish things, not childlike things."

Thanks so much for your comments. Yes, the pastor is in charge of the school, but I think he will support the assistant principal over me, and just tell us to work together......which means, she tells me what to do. After reading the Directive for Masses with Children from 1973, on which I believe she bases all her convictions, I am not very hopeful........

Does the Directory for Masses with Children itself call for the use of "action hymns"? I will be surprised if that is the case. The Church wants us all to actively participate in the liturgy, including its gestures and postures; the Church doesn't want us to add our own gestures to the liturgy that really aren't part of it. The document itself cautions about making the children's liturgy too different from the liturgy of the whole community: liturgical formation for children is intended to enable them to participate in the Mass of the whole parish. Can you ask the assistant principal to work with you on have the kids really engaged with the words and actions of the Mass itself?

Some of the ideas in the document are not bad: we ought to play up the pageantry of the Mass and express its God-centered meaning. The entrance procession and the offertory procession should both be events worth looking at, or participating in: dignified, attractive, formal. Start with a bare sanctuary and let some of the kids bring in things: candles, flowers, the books, the altar cloth: some things in the entrance procession, some at the offertory. The priest should sing all of the dialogues in the Mass, and the children should learn to give the responses. If the priest doesn't take the time to get involved and lead the kids into the Mass itself, then there will be temptations to substitute foreign material: play-songs and other such fluff.

Some parts of the Mass already lend themselves to call-and-response format: for example, the entrance antiphon and the communion antiphon.

The Responsorial Psalm can be sung straight through without the refrain -- and you can even split it up verse by verse and take turns between a leader and the congregation: that's going to be more engaging than the usual treatment of the R.P.

Teach the kids to sing the Mass ordinary in chant melodies, even with the Greek and Latin texts: they want to exercise their smarts. If you haven't done much chant yourself and need tips on where to find these, just ask!

A few years ago I wrote this http://www.chantcafe.com/2014/10/masses-with-theme.html?m=1

Since then I taught music for two years in a Catholic school, definitely along the lines of "singing the Mass." And learned what I've known everywhere I've tried it: kids and chant are made for each other.

I don't know what a C.R.E. is, but the Ward Method was taking a "whole child" approach since way before The Butterfly Song.

If I'm not mistaken, the whole Ward curriculum is online on our sister website. Check out its majesty.

1) This person doesn't want to listen to you, she wants to fix you. You are benighted in your ignorance, and you don't want the children to enjoy Mass. She wants them to have a positive experience at Mass. You are standing in the way of the children enjoying Mass.
--This is absolutely where she is coming from.

2) You will probably not be able to reason with this person.

3) Rather than appealing to the pastor regarding your interactions with this woman, especially when you are afraid that he will side with her instead of you, perhaps you could ask him: "Father, do you want to substantially change the praxis at school Masses? If so, how so?"

Don't mention her at all. This way, you can honestly say to her that you have asked Fr. So-and-so about the praxis at school Masses, and he has explicitly expressed (a) no desire to change anything or (b) only the desire to change [insert specific thing here].

4) You might try referencing this document ( https://www.catholicnh.org/assets/Documents/Worship/Our-Faith/Music-Ministries/AFPC-Reference-CatholicSchoolMasses.pdf ) that was compiled by the American Federation Pueri Cantores and the NCEA, and was specifically intended to be a comprehensive list of music that American Catholic schoolchildren should learn and use at weekly Mass.

Irishtenor is spot on.
Everything he has said is wise and accurate.

Follow his advice to a 'T'.

You are dealing with (yet another [they are everywhere, like termites]) person who has a preconceived mental and/or experiential paradigm of what constitutes meaningful participation at mass, and, especially, enjoyable participation for children. What doesn't fit this paradigm is not, in her mind, bona fide participation. No matter that your children and your people may be quite happy with what you have given them, it is not valid in this person's mind because it isn't his or her paradigm, which cannot be wrong - even if it differs from any documents that you may cite. Where her paradigm and the documents disagree, it is the documents that will be thought irrelevant. Take the high road and stay on it no matter what.

Follow Irishtenor's advice. This is about as civilised and intelligent as you can muster in this situation.

We will all be praying for you.

I too agree with Irishtenor and Mr. Osborn, but I particularly would second K of S's sentiments. I too have been there. It is frustrating and (I fear) probably hopeless, and the sad result is that I have spent the last 15-plus years working for non-Catholic institutions. Prayers!

I too agree with Irishtenor and Mr. Osborn, but I particularly would second K of S's sentiments. I too have been there. It is frustrating and (I fear) probably hopeless, and the sad result is that I have spent the last 15-plus years working for non-Catholic institutions. Prayers!

Yep! Although I am getting old, I have stated before that when I leave this job I will not ever work in a Catholic parish again. There are still too many crazies running around unrestrained and I no longer want to put up with them. Although, I am good at driving them nuts and otherwise making their lives miserable. It's a gift. LOL.

Yes, I will speak to him eventually and lay it all out. And, it is very possible that we will agree it is best for me to leave. I'm already preparing myself for that, sadly. It will be a big loss for the parish, and the school children, honestly, because there has been so much great work done.

I am attaching a long letter I wrote to the assistant principal to try and explain my position. Her reply was that she had directions for liturgies with children that she will share with me. I would be delighted if she might be willing to learn, but I think she wants just what she wants.

@canadash

If it were my intention to leave under specific circumstances then yes, I would explain to the pastor my position -- as you say, not as a threat, but as an explanation, one that, in most circumstances, I would think he deserves.

In fact, I did that very thing, several years ago. And not long after doing so, I left. That parish now has electronic drums and perceive themselves, I imagine, to be very happy without me.

It is not really the Catholic schools that are "largely responsible,: but rather those clergy who are not giving direction. The schools are suffering under poor leadership if the clergy don't/won't push back.

@mbwittry -- I can't see the letter you attached.

Here is my letter. It is long. If our priests supported those who know what they are doing, this wouldn't be an issue.

I had a children's schola a couple of years ago back east, and they learned the rudiments of chant by using the Chant Workbook in our classes and rehearsals, and they then joined to sing with the adult choir for feast days... right out of the liber... they were all ages from the attached parish school. What wonderful and memorable times those were for all, and I mostly cherished being able to provide truly authentic sacred music as the church desires. I will never forget it.

You said it yourself - the pastor hired her.

He may not be saying it, but his actions show that he's clearly not happy that you are engaging either 1) all aspects of the children, or 2) all of the children - no matter how much success you perceive yourself as having.

My guess would be that it's 2): My own experience is that formal sacred music is engaging for the kids who "get it". But an equal number don't get it, are bored witness by it, and are not timid about saying so. If there are children in the school like this, then the school material needs to cater for them too - but not them exclusively, either. You need to find ways to be Both/And, not Either/Or.

Forget documents. Start managing relationships.

Well, thanks for the comments. We have a very balanced repertoire for all the children.....it is a mix, but I have kept the quality high for the music that is only used at school
Masses as well as parish repertoire. And yes, I have been building a relationship with the person all year, and we have been discussing these topics, so the imformation is a continuation of a conversation we have not been able to have at length. I have already sent the letter; I am convinced it was the right thing to do.

I just read your letter and I have to say your commitment is amazing. Entering all those hymns in by Finale!!! Hats off!!

Please forgive my seemingly conspiratorial air, but I believe that it is an intentional effort by some liberal progressive pastors, school administrators and teachers to drive out and away anything and anyone who is conservative, traditional, classically trained and orthodox in the theology, doctrine, sacred arts and music associated with the historical pre VII Church and its schools. It is the same mind set in public schools and they have pretty much been successful. Thus, one can see the horrid state of their success in the decline of education, morals and ethics. There are exceptions of course, but not many. I'm sorry for being so negative, but people need to wake up and shine the light of day upon and in our schools and churches. If you can, recall what Charles Dickens cautioned us about the two children hiding under the cloak of the Ghost of Christmas present. Of want, hunger, poverty and ignorance, beware them all; but mostly beware ignorance for it is by far the most dangerous. All of what was said above and what has happened to me and others, is precisely why I left the Roman Catholic Church and formed an autonomous monastic order dedicated to the sacred arts and music.

MBWittry, your letter is most amazing! Your commitment is admirable. I wonder if part of the problem is the person to whom you are sending music that you have selected for the school Masses. You are, in effect, dictating her plans. Teachers are very territorial by nature- "My classroom..." is a phrase heard many times a day in the faculty room! I have no idea if this is your case and you seem like a person who knows how to work with people, but it is the one area that was not really detailed in your letter. Perhaps that person is complaining to the person to whom you directed your letter. Some people are too timid to be direct or think it would be un-Christian to approach you, but they will complain to others.

I hope you will persevere and find a solution to your problem and be able to stay. There is nothing so joyful as listening to children whom you have taught praise God in worshipful song.

Mbwittry, that is so true! We can persevere when we feel we are making a positive impact! I miss being in the community of a Catholic school and know God will bless your efforts, although sometimes it takes time to see the fruit of His hand in our lives.

Thank you, Carol! And, thank you A.F. Hawkins for the article. Also, so true! :)

Glad to hear that your dialog is progressing.

In your original post you asked about documents or sources you could cite in your conversations. I think your letter covered most of the important points from relevant documents. Although I agree with your largely negative assessment of the Directory for Masses with Children (DMC), you might be able to use a couple of passages to help broaden and deepen your conversation—especially on the general topic of involving the whole child.

I’m thinking in particular of DMC §2: “recent psychological study has established how profoundly children are formed by the religious experience of infancy and early childhood, because of the special religious receptivity proper to those years.” The question of how to involve the whole child, this suggests, should be ask: What practices will will best nurture this special religious receptivity? Remembering especially the provision of DMC §22: “In all this, it should be kept in mind that external activities will be fruitless and even harmful if they do not serve the internal participation of the children.”

An evaluation of the most common adaptations of liturgy for children from the point of this special religious receptivity is found in an article by Mark Searle, a liturgist who was associate professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame. Searle would be generally classified as a “progressive” in matters of liturgy, but on this subject and some others, those of more traditional bent could find his remarks well worth reflecting on. He was a layman and had children of his own, so his views here are likely to reflect his concrete experience with his own children, and not merely academic liturgical theory.

Some excerpts from the article are attached.

Amen! Thanks for the helpful and encouraging words, dear piers. I am certainly back in the trenches. And, yes I was taken with those same words from the 1973 Directive. It all makes me so sad that the Council moved so far away from the path of origin..........Lots of misguided souls with wonderful intent. I need always to remember to be kind, patient, and loving. In all my working years as a liturgical musician, this may be my greatest challenge yet......and, I have had many, many challenges. Please continue to pray for me, and I will pray for all of you!

Teaching the "whole child": As a mother and a teacher, I agree the theory is right on, and not just for children, for everyone. This is one thing that attracted me to the Catholic Church, it involves the whole person. I found the "outward acts of piety" in Catholic worship very appealing, coming out of a rather staid Lutheran tradition. We are physical beings.

Children, and adults, are harmed, not helped, when denied the beauty, Truth and tradition(s) of our Catholic Faith in catechesis and worship. Children are harmed, not helped, when we fail to teach them to grow up properly but instead encourage childishness. These children end up as the whiny childish college students ubiquitous on our campuses today, and later as whiny childish adults (ubiquitous today in society, to state the obvious).

Children understand the Pauline philosophy of life when it comes to 'childish things' better than anyone else . . . they want to act like adults. That's why girls take care of their dolls and boys like to play "war". That's what the see adults doing. It's ignorant to think that doesn't apply to music as well - to think that children want to do the sort of trite banality passing for 'children's music' nowadays.

On a side note, every time I see the title of this thread, it reminds me of the best television show of the 1990s - you know, the one where Ed O'Neill brags to his wife Katey Sagal about the time he scored four touchdowns in a single game? (Yeah, I've still got growing up to do as well.)