Help
With Your Rule
Educating Our Children -'Inspire', not just 'Reason'
"For man is not a mere thinking machine set in motion by the processes of logic, and dominated by cool, calculating reason. He is a living entity, a being that feels and acts as well as thinks. As such, he is impelled to action by impressions of various kinds, by emotions, by ideals, by visions, by faith, by facts, by persons. Abstract argumentation may make some impression upon the intellect but it will not stir the depths which are the source of the real life of his soul."
Fr Franz de Hovre, "Catholicism in Education", New York, Benzinger Brothers, 1934, p335
posted by Holly at 10:20 AM
1 Comments:
I'm in the process of pondering Catholic education, so these posts I place are ideas I find intriguing.
For this one, many things strike me. Given that education of the whole person aims at restoring the internal order God intended for persons at creation - where reason and will reign supreme over passion, and good is known and chosen - this quote suggests a methodology.
In desiring the primacy of reason and will, the means are not merely just 'logic' based, not focused only upon 'instruction' in truth and arguments (although this has it's place, nonetheless).
What this quote suggests is that our methods of teaching our children ought to encompass the whole person - seeking to inspire. To enlist the aid of the imagination and emotion and the social nature of our persons. Some ideas about how to do this?
Hhmmm - I think good stories of the faith in action - using the imagination and memory, but also appealing to the emotions, to a sense of 'ideals'... Perhaps also the presentation of good models which place within the child a desire to emulate and learn... The involvement of a person's creativity in tackling life, in responding to life...
We watched an old show last night "The Men of Boys Town" with Fr Flannaghan (sp?). It was totally inspiring. My husband and I, both teachers, were also influenced: the high ideals of Fr F, his passion for accepting and loving each boy in Boystown, his commitment to trust in God despite serious financial crises which threatened a shut down, his resolve to keep plugging away -- a beautiful way of inspiring his students. He truly inspired them , affirmed them, trusted them instead of being suspicious, gentle and affirming treatment - Wow. What a model.
My children soaked it in. This movie, drawing my children and husband and myself into the beauty of values and mission and purpose within faith - much more important than the spelling lesson. I think it's a 'hierarchy' thing - a 'priority' thing. Perhaps there are similar '5 Ps' in relation to educating our children too?
Post a Comment
<< Home