In Defense of Catholic Schools

As a result of my current course work, I have been asked to develop responses to several arguments against Catholic schools.  Leading up to the Ontario provincial election in October 2007, some of the arguments against Catholic schools were:

Injustice
Historical anomaly
Cost
Discriminatory
The UN ruling
The separation of Church and State

As I ponder these comments, my other readings, my faith, and my role as a Catholic Principal, there is not a doubt in my mind and heart that Catholic schools are still very relevant in Ontario in the 21st century.

As I frame my responses, I am struck by an article by Father James T. Mulligan.  His comments allude to three large but critically important contextual considerations and challenges which affect every Catholic school board in Ontario and consequently every Catholic school principal.

Context # 1 - Paradigm Shift

According to Father Mulligan, a major shift has taken place in the way a significant segment of the non-Catholic Ontario public now perceives the privilege of Catholic education.  We must demonstrate clearly and effectively how our Catholic schools contribute richly to the intellectual, social, cultural and ethical life of the province of Ontario.

Context #2 - Economic and Social Brokenness

In the face of poverty and a so-called jobless recovery, Catholic schools are challenged, in collaboration with their staffs, to make the ideal of a preferential option for the poor a reality in each school. 

Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI have lamented about moral relativism and excessive individualism.  Father Mulligan states that we need to help our students, in age appropriate ways, to recognize these moral vacuums and then present to them the gospel alternative.

Context #3 - A Fragile Church

The clergy abuse that has surfaced over the last 25 years and more recently highlighted in the churches of Antigonish, Ireland and Cornwall has wounded the credibility of the church.  This does not help our work and ministry as Catholic educators.

Father Mulligan alludes to the tension between the small "c" Catholics and large "C" Catholics.  The latter participate in the Sunday Eucharist and the sacramental life of the church and try to live out the Gospel.  The former are baptized but are loosely affiliated with the Eucharist and participation in the life and teaching of the church.  Our challenge is for everyone affiliated with Catholic schools (students, parents, teachers and administrators) to make it our mission to achieve a critical mass of large "C" Catholic educators.

Any comments or views you would like to share would be appreciated.  Please remember that mid-term reports will be distributed this Friday, November 19th to your children.

Holiness in the Man Van

My affinity for our mini-van and the fact that it is the 2010 NHL Edition prompted my wife to call it the "Man Van."  I do love it for many reasons:  Specifically, the smooth ride, the myriad of storage and cup holders, as well as an outlet for my Ipod. 

Well, I can add one more reason as of Saturday, November 6, 2010 from approximately 7:40 am to 7:43 am.  My passenger during this time was none other than Father Frank Morrisey OMI.   He was ordained as an Oblate priest in 1961.  In addition, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, University of St. Paul, in Ottawa, Ontario,  the Executive Coordinator Canadian Canon Law Society and the Consultor for the Pontifical Council for the interpretation of legislative texts to cite a few of his accomplishments.  Today he still enjoys worldwide repute in the field of Canon Law and has been known to offer canonical assistance to dioceses rocked by the sexual abuse scandals. 

Why was he in my van you ask?  He was to present at a course of which I am enrolled.  I got to class early and noticed him in front of the building not knowing that he could not get in through that particular entrance.  I passed him by to the other side and was not really sure who he was at first.  I turned the van around to ask who he was and offered to take him to the appropriate entrance.  He accepted my invitation and introduced himself as Frank.  For a brief three minutes I had the most holy person that I have ever met in my van. 

His presentation revolved around the differentiation between "catholic work" and "the work of Catholics."  He broke down the analysis into legality, values and commitment using canon law.  Have you ever been to a presentation where you could literally sit there and listen all day?  This was one of them.  I was in awe of his presence, knowledge, reverence and common sense.  He cited that the canons are essentially a compromise for over 1 billion Roman Catholics and that "law follows life .....life doesn't follow the law."

A classmate asked him what type of students we should be preparing for post-secondary life.  He cited that they should be individuals who promote faith, justice, peace, integrity of life, critical thinking and care for our ecological resources.

He left us with one thought to ponder.  Do we have public schools that are Catholic or Catholic schools for the public in Ontario?

Looking forward to your thoughts and comments. This Friday, November 12th is a P.A. Day. 

205 Words

How would you capture your life in 205 words?

This weekend's CBS Sunday Morning Show had a segment on obituaries and the people that write them for newspapers.  There was an emotional piece on 9/11 and the obits that the NY Times staff wrote for the few thousand people that died in the Twin Towers that horrifying day. 

The writers that chronicle death for the Times only have a precious 205 words to articulate the life of these people in the newspaper.  One would presume due to economic and space limitations.

Could it be Halloween that provoked me to choose this topic for my blog this week?

Could it be the recent 73rd birthday of my father?

Could it be my impending birthday which brings me one year closer to middle age?

Do you think about your mortality?  How often do you think of the faith, hope and love that you have given, shared and received in your life?

Do you struggle at times to discern if your career defines you more than what you have done for and with your family and friends?

My response is yes to all of the above.  How about you?

I will leave you with scripture from 1 Corinthians 13.


If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.

For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Thank you for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.  Our "Parenting and Technology" session is this Tuesday at 10 am at CtK.  Please check-in at the main office.  All parents are welcome.

Boys are falling behind!

Boys' grade averages are below their female counteparts in secondary school.

Young men are more likely to drop out of secondary school and less likely to graduate university than young women.

Men are now outnumbered in most professional programs including law and medicine.

The average Canadian university campus is 58 per cent female.

Boys are unmotivated and have been brought up in the most recent generation to support their female counterparts.

These are some of the findings cited in a Maclean's article last week. 

As educators, we have been aware of the physiological and emotional differences between male and females.  Females mature physically and emotionally faster than boys and are better able to focus on assigned tasks.  This article corroborates this by citing a recent brain development study.  In short, the brain of a five-year-old boy is roughly equivalent to that of a 31/2-year-old girl.  Hence, girls start school with a very significant academic advantage.  The rest is history!

Our School Improvement Plan has specific goals and strategies that address understanding and identifying the learning styles of boys prior to instruction, implementing differentiated learning, graphic novels and esteem building activities for example. 

Are boys disinterested due to how they have been raised?  Are girls dominating due to physiology and a nurtured sense from their mothers who had to endure and fight decades of discrimination?  Are elementary and secondary schools to blame for feminizing the curriculum to promote girls and keep boys from being discipline problems?

Here is the Maclean's article.

http://oncampus.macleans.ca/education/2010/10/18/are-we-raising-our-boys-to-be-underachieving-men/

Thanks for reading!  Looking forward to your comments.  Parent/Teacher Interviews are this Thursday, October 28th from 6:30 pm to 8 pm. 

21st Century Learning

I was at a 21st Century Learning Conference in Chicago last week.  It was very informative, interesting and daunting quite frankly.

I have the utmost confidence that the education we deliver in our Catholic Learning Community is comprehensive and faith based.  Our wonderful and dedicated teachers by in large deliver the curriculum in an engaging manner that is differentiated to meet the varied needs of our students.  Guided by our gospel values, students crictically, creatively and ethically synthesize information in a collaborative learning environment.

Yes....CtK has many smartboards, several computer labs, wireless technology, multi-media projectors, laptops and interactive clickers.  Yes....our staff uses class portals, wikis, blogs and many different websites to augment the delivery of their instruction.  In fact, this blog is the only one of its kind in our board by an administrator!

That said, this conference confirmed what I already knew.....that schools across this province fall short preparing our students for the 21st Century. Given that we are already ten years into this century, we have some catching up to do.

What does a 21st Century Learning school look like?  Feel free to go to the link below and view a number of such secondary schools in the US.

http://www.bobpearlman.org/Learning21/21stcenturyschools.htm

Thanks for reading.  Looking forward to your comments.

Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center

I was at the United Center this past Saturday where I watched the Detroit Red Wings defeat the Chicago Blackhawks 3-2.  The highlight of the evening took place before the game.  Specifically, the raising of the 2010 Stanley Cup banner in recognition of the Blackhawk's Stanley Cup victory during the 2009-2010 NHL season.  The multimedia pomp and circumstance was impressive.  The ritual of passing the banner from the hockey greats of 1961 who last won the Stanley Cup for Chicago to the players that were on last year's squad was mesmerizing.  However, the pinnacle took place when everyone joined the vocalist and organist in singing the American national anthem.

Say what you want about our friends south of the border.  As a Canadian, I was brought to tears from the baritone vocalist who sang with precision in a big, broad and resonating voice while the Blackhawk fans roared.  You could literally feel the sound waves pass through your body.

Americans faithfully believe in their country and in what the Star Spangled Banner represents. It reinforced my place as a Catholic educator.  Despite the trials and tribulations of Catholic education, I must remain resolute in my dedication to it because of our faith and what it represents to our students. 

The emotional reminder provided by the Americans was timely as we approach Thanksgiving. I give thanks for a wonderful family, outstanding teaching and support staff and a Catholic Learning Community that provides faith, guidance, inspiration and motivation to our students.

Thanks for reading.  Progress Reports will be distributed on the 14th.  Looking forward to your comments.

World Teachers' Day!

Tuesday, October 5th is World Teachers' Day!

Below is an excerpt of what I sent to our staff via email Sunday afternoon.

In recognition of this upcoming World Teachers’ Day, I would just like to thank you for your “level 4” work on a daily basis. Our admin. team could not ask for a better teaching staff.  Your dedication, creativity, thirst for professional learning, collegiality, and leadership has been inspiring to me.

Your consistent care and compassion to our disenfranchised students truly speaks to  Matthew 25:40  - And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’

 As the Principal of CtK, I am very proud of you and the Catholic Learning Community that we continue to nourish by “Doing it Right!”


Please take the time to thank our teaching staff when you get the opportunity.....perhaps through this blog.  They are wonderful people who have truly dedicated their efforts to meeting the needs of your children. 

Looking forward to your comments.  Hope to see you this Tuesday from 10 to 11 am for our first Parent Engagement session called "Helping Your Teen Succeed in High School."  Please sign in at the main office.