I. Purpose and Philosophy
II. Biographical Data
III. Contact Information
IV. General Information Regarding Progress in Rel. Std. 7 & 8
V. Cryptic Student Quotations
VI. A Prayer of St. Ignatius
Purpose and Philosophy 
To nurture and support the faith of those who believe and to provide accurate information to those who may not.
Religious Studies class is required of all students attending McQuaid regardless of their background or previous religious training or formation. Although approached from a profoundly Catholic perspective and orientation, courses in the department are mindful of -- and are open to the insights found in -- other Christian and non-Christian faith traditions. Prior religious instruction may assist a student as he embarks on his work in this area at McQuaid but it should in no way be considered a prerequisite to success. Hard work, diligence, an openness to the subject matter and a strong desire to learn are far more important than any previous training.
Classes are conducted in both an academically rigorous and a faith-filled atmosphere. A student's average in Religious Studies is factored into his cumulative average and is thus important both in terms of honors and with regard to a student's overall academic performance. Parents are encouraged to maintain the same vigilance and oversight regarding their son's progress in Religious Studies as they do with regard to his other courses.
Biographical Data
Mr. Clar is a 1978 graduate of McQuaid Jesuit High School. He holds a BA in English & Religious Studies from Hobart College, an MA from St. Bernard's (Theology), and has done graduate work (Literary Studies) at the University of Rochester.
Mr. Clar has also been named in Who's Who Among American Teachers and is a member of the National Catholic Educational Association. In his abundant free time he teaches in the certification program at St. Bernard's Graduate School of Theology & Ministry.
Prior to joining the faculty at McQuaid, Mr. Clar taught in the Rochester City School District and at the Norman Howard School. He is a former Director of Religious Education at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Brighton and is an active freelance writer. To date he has published over one hundred book reviews, articles and author interviews in numerous diverse and obscure publications in the United States, Canada and Great Britain. "Writing at this level is a lot like teaching Religious Studies: there's no real money in it but it's a lot of fun."
Mr. Clar has been married to his lovely wife, Katherine, since 1986.They are members of Blessed Sacrament Parish.
Contact Information
Mr. Clar teaches all of the Grade 7 & Grade 8 Religious Studies courses as well as two sophomore sections.
He may be contacted:
by phone at 473-1130, voicemail box #310
by email at JClar@mcquaid.org (preferred)
Some Important General Information Regarding Progress in RS 7 & 8:
-
Religious Studies 7 & 8 are production-oriented classes. Seldom is it that a student has difficulty with the concepts and ideas covered. The vast majority of student problems stem from poor organization and/or from a failure to do the nightly homework carefully and completely.
-
If there is one area where most of the grade 7 and grade 8 students fall short it is in a failure to spend time reading and reviewing for tests and quizzes. By and large, many of our students see the words “study” and “review” as neon signs blinking garishly on and off with the message – No Homework.
-
The majority of the written work done in Religious Studies 7 & 8 is done in the student notebook/workbook. The first step for parents concerned about their son’s progress in Mr. Clar’s class is to look through that notebook. Parents should check to see that the pages are completed neatly/legibly and that the responses are framed in complete sentences with supporting evidence where required. No knowledge of the subject matter is necessary to perform such an inspection. Common sense should be enough to guide one in such a perusal.
-
Bear in mind that since Religious Studies meets every-other-day, there will by necessity be fewer grades at the end of the marking period than there may be in your son’s other classes. That being the case, every assessment that he does here is of the utmost importance. Only a few poor grades can have an enormously negative impact on his final marking period average. Consistency is important in any academic class. It is, however, a matter of survival in Religious Studies.
-
Homework in Religious Studies is updated and posted daily on the web (click on the appropriate tab found on the navigation bar at the top of this page). When checking the homework page, please be sure to know on what day (odd or even) in the cycle your son’s Religious Studies class meets. The assignments are listed by year and by odd or even day number within each year. This is a good way for you to stay abreast of your son’s assignments, due dates and the dates for upcoming tests or quizzes.
-
Homework in Religious Studies should be done on the night it is assigned so that the student can see Mr. Clar the following day with any issues or problems. This will also help to avoid missing work due to absence. Students are also expected to make up any quizzes or tests etc. missed due to absence the day they return to school or to see Mr. Clar that day to make alternate arrangements.
Cryptic Student Quotations:
(Proving yet again that context is everything)
I prefer to think that this was at least tangentially related to something we were doing at the time:
"Did you know that you can make a face out of the word, 'boy'?"
This was all my fault. I only announced the price of the new notebooks a mere five or six times in a span of under
two minutes:
"So, how much are the new notebooks?"
After a particularly trying class I muttered about needing an antacid:
"Mr. Clar, does your doctor know you mix all those different medications together?"
A student informed me that his mom and my sister-in-law were in the same "garden" club or group:
"They go up into our attic."
A few wags discussing the security procedures on the class trip to Toronto. (This reminds me of the famous "Trojan Bunny"
scene from Monty Python & The Holy Grail):
"Why can't we just put the tape back on the door after we're back in the room?"
Student response to my question as to whether he might be chewing gum:
"No, this is just a big wad of paper."
Everything we do is done in the spirit of diversity and ecumenism:
"What's up with those 'seventh-day-of-Venice' guys anyhow?"
I overheard this before class began one day. Believing that it is never a good idea to ask a question if you are
fearful of the answer, I let it pass:
"It only happens when I am in the shower."
A paean to cooperative education:
"I only did half my homework because the guy I copied it from only did half of his."
I was thinking deep thoughts one day at my desk ("Argh, matey!") when a student approached me ...
"Excuse me, Mr. Clar, I'm sorry to interrupt your 'pirate-noises', but I have a question."
It's good to know that the essentials of our faith are still strong in the Catholic family :
"My dad says we don't really believe in any of that stuff. When I was a real little, though, we used to have those fish stix things sometimes on Fridays."
Amazed at my ability to provide the derivation of a (to him) obscure phrase, one of my students exclaimed:
"Mr. Clar, you really do need to start watching television."
"Remember, gentlemen, it's a privilege to be at McQuaid. Let's all
treat it as such."
A Prayer of St. Ignatius (for generosity):
"Dearest Lord,
teach me to be generous:
Teach me to serve You
as You deserve;
... to give and not count the cost;
... to fight and not heed the wounds;
... to toil and not seek for rest;
,,, to labor and not ask for reward, save that
of knowing that I am doing Your will.
Amen."
A.M.D.G.