Sacred Congregation for Education, 1988

Link to the document Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School

John Galvan, the dynamic and thoughtful Director of Schools in the Diocese of San Diego, joins the podcast to discuss this important Vatican document and explore the ways Church teachings are evolving.

STUDY GUIDE & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

The Religious Dimension of Education in a Catholic School: Sacred Congregation for Education (Vatican, 1988)

• Reading Questions:
  • 1: What are the four distinguishing characteristics of Catholic education?
  • 6: The number of non-Catholics in Catholic schools is rising.  Does that mean we should change our education?
  • 9: The authors say that students struggle with truth.  How?  Why?
  • 24: what is a Christian school climate?
  • 26: what is the foundation of the Christian school climate?
  • 28-29: What do the authors argue about the physical space and the facility?
  • 31: The authors identify the change in paradigm of Catholic schools?  What is it?
  • 42-43: Whose responsibility is it to remind parents that they are the primary educators?
  • 63: What is the ultimate goal of student formation?
  • 89: What are the basic elements of a Christian social ethic?
  • 93: What is the value of the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
  • 96: What is tied to the effectiveness of a religion teacher?

• Discussion Questions:
  • 5: The authors say that different regions have different needs.  What is your unique about your school?
  • 10-13: The authors list “radical instability” and “an environment devoid of truly human relationships.”  What is the challenge facing teachers?
  • 25: The authors discuss the “Gospel spirit of love and freedom.”  What does that mean?
  • 31: How does your school function as a community?
  • 34: How does your school bring together faith, culture, and life?
  • 47: Competition is not the favored paradigm for schools.  What is the favorite?  How would that change your approach?
  • 69: What’s the difference between religious instruction and catechesis?
  • 74+: How would this “outline” change religious instruction at your school?
  • 112: What makes a Catholic school truly authentic?

• Reflection Questions:
  • Is your school built on strong relationships?  Can you identify any in need of healing?
  • Looking at the Educational Goals in 100, how would that change your school’s outlook?
  • 51: What are the contact points between culture and religion in your life?
  • List 3-4 quotes that you could pull out from this document to use in your own communication.

Sacred Congregation for Education, 1982

Link to the document Lay Catholics in Schools

Tom McDonald, who has taught religion in Catholic schools for over 15 years, joins the podcast to discuss the impact of lay Catholics.

Tom Schutte, now entering his 25^th year teaching theology at O’Dea High School in Seattle, joins his friend Tom McDonald to add his insight.

STUDY GUIDE & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Lay Catholics in Schools: Witnesses to Faith (Vatican, 1982)

• Reading Questions:
  • 3: Can anyone be a teacher?  What is required?
  • 3: The decrease of Religious men and women has coincided with criticisms of schools.  What are the reasons?
  • 6-7: What is the twofold call to every lay person in the Church?
  • 7-9: What makes the laity exceptionally well-equipped to engage the culture?
  • 12: What are the purposes of the school?
  • 15: Does the document limit the definition of “educator” to teachers?
  • 16: What is the definition of an educator?
  • 19: What are the “tremendous problems” of the world?
  • 22: What is the essential component to any community?
  • 27: What is important if an educator is going to remain successful?
  • 32: Witness comes from words and actions.  What is the result of effective examples?
  • 37: Teaching is not just a profession, but a vocation.  How must teachers live that out?
  • 39: Are all Catholic schools alike?  If not, what sets them apart?
  • 42: Are Catholic teachers expected to simply teach doctrine?
  • 64: What should effective teacher formation look like?
  • 68: Is formation “one and one”?  In other words, should a certification be issued and a teacher be fully formed?
  • 78: What are the two practical suggestions offered to support lay teachers?

• Reflection Questions:
  • Is the lay teacher a ‘vocation’ within the Church?  How would you define/describe it?  How does your school community support this?
  • In paragraphs 20-21, the authors explore the intersection of culture and the Church.  The meaning of culture (popular/secular vs. your school’s culture) is presented.  What are the values in your school which you hope to pass down?
  • In paragraph 65 the authors point out formation in the “social teachings of the church” which follows on the ills of society outlined in paragraph 19.  What are the 7 principles of Catholic social teaching?  Are these fully integrated into your school?  How would they change your school culture?
  • 76: How is the Diocese supporting the vocation of lay teachers?
  • 78: What does the quote “the school is always in the process of being created” mean to you?
  • List 3-4 quotes that you could pull out from this document to use in your own communication.

The Sacred Congregation for Education (Vatican), 1977

Link to the document The Catholic School

Sr. Elizabeth Anne Allen, OP, Director of the Center for Catholic Education at Aquinas College in Nashville, uses the Church documents as the heart of professional development sessions for Catholic educators  and for formation of teacher candidates

STUDY GUIDE & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

The Catholic School (Vatican, 1977)

1. Reading Questions:
   1. What is meant by “salvific mission”? (Paragraph 5)
   2. What is the role/purpose of evangelization? (7 & 8)
   3. How does the church interact with culture? (10)
   4. What is meant by “strong character formation”? (12)
   5. What are the main objections about Catholic schools? (17-23)
   6. What is the general purpose of a school? (26)
   7. How should a school espouse a common vision? (29)
   8. How are the values of a community expressed? (32)
   9. What are the norms of life in a Catholic school? (34)  Which ones are the most important, in your opinion?
   10. Is there value in secular subjects? (40)
   11. What is the most critical factor in a Catholic school? In other words, what sets it apart? (43)
   12. What has made the Christian formation of students so vital in this day and age? (45)
   13. What is the desired outcome of religious instruction? (49)
   14. Where do you find the purpose of Catholic schools? (55)
   15. What is wrong with admitting a majority of full-paying/wealthier students? (58)
   16. What do Catholic schools need to develop among its constituents? (66)
   17. Explain what the authors mean by collaboration, subsidiarity, and solidarity? (70-71)
   18. What is the role of the laity? (79) 
2. Reflection Questions
   1. Have you seen any of the cited objections to Catholic schools at work in your school environment?
   2. How do you balance the need for full-paying students with your school’s purpose?
   3. List 3-4 quotes that you could pull out from this document to use in your own communication.

1976: United States Catholic Conference

Link to the Document To Teach Them

Gwen Byrd, Executive Director for Catholic Education/Superintendent for the Archdiocese of Mobile, one of the longest-serving Catholic school superintendents, explores the impact of this follow up from the US Bishops.

STUDY GUIDE & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

To Teach Them (US Bishops, 1976)

1. Reading Questions
   1. How many Catholic youth are enrolled in formal religious programs?  In schools?  How many are not enrolled?  How do those numbers compare with the present day?
   2. In the fourth paragraph, the document points to reasons why some children are not enrolled.  What are those reasons?
   3. In the second section, the document refers to the threefold purpose of Catholic education as outlined in To Teach As Jesus Did.  What are the three purposes?
   4. In the same paragraph, the document points to teacher formation as crucial to Catholic schools.  On the next page, the document returns to this theme.  Why is teacher selection, evaluation/motivation, and formation so important?
   5. The Bishops offer 5 reasons why they support Catholic schools.
   6. The Bishops discuss the “concerted focus” of schools and point to evidence of lay collaboration.  Give a few examples.
   7. In this section, the Bishops point out the changing role of administrators–many of whom are staffed by lay people.  How has the role of the administrator changed?
   8. Later the in section, the Bishops spotlight the efforts of Catholic schools to educate the Black community.  Why is this so important?
   9. In Section 4, the Bishops contextualize the struggle for governmental support to the United States (as opposed to the entire world).  What is their central argument?

1. Reflection/Discussion Questions
   1. How collaborative is your school community?  Are parents active stakeholders?  Past parents?  Students?  Teachers?
   2. How frequently does your school talk about racism?
   3. Do you believe Catholic schools should serve primarily Catholic students?  Or are they instruments of evangelization?
   4. In Section 3 under the “Pastors and the Community” section, the Bishops argue that Catholic schools serve the entire diocese.  Do you believe your school(s) serve the entire diocese?
   5. List 3-4 quotes that you could pull out from this document to use in your own communication.

1972 Pastoral Message on Catholic Education from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops (the precursor to the USCCB)

Link to a scanned copy of the document, courtesy of ACE Press and At the Heart of the Church: Selected Documents of Catholic Education.  I highly recommend you order the book here.

To order a copy directly from the USCCB, here is the link

Dr. Tom Burnford, the President/CEO of the National Catholic Education Association, explores the impact of this document from the US Bishops.

STUDY GUIDE & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

To Teach As Jesus Did (US Bishops, 1972)

1. Reading Questions
   1. What is the “perennial” task for the Church? (6)
   2. What is the measure of success of education? (8)
   3. What is the threefold purpose of Catholic schools? (14)
   4. Is effective teaching of religion an imparting of knowledge? (18)  How do you teach church doctrine? (84)
   5. How does the emphasis on community mark a departure from the “institutional” paradigm? (21-26)
   6. How does the emphasis on service change the “fortress” mentality? (29)
   7. What changes to the parish school are recommended? (94)
   8. Why are Catholic schools the “best opportunity” to fulfill the Church’s purpose? (101)
   9. How are effective teachers described? (104)
   10. What is the solution to teaching racial tolerance? (109)
   11. What are the roots of the shrinking enrollments? (114-115)
   12. What do the Bishops teach about School Choice? (116)
   13. What are their 10 recommendations for action steps? (120) How relevant are their recommendations today?
   14. What kind of attitude should we avoid? (122)
   15. How do the authors view collaboration? (142)
2. Reflection/Discussion Questions
   1. How well does the threefold purpose of Catholic schools match up to your school’s mission and purpose?
   2. List 3-4 quotes that you could pull out from this document to use in your own communication.

Please read the Declaration on Christian Education (Gravissimum Educationis) before listening to the podcast. 

Sr. John Mary Fleming, OP, the Executive Director of the USCCB Secretariat for Education, explores the impact of Vatican II on Catholic schools.

STUDY GUIDE & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

Declaration on Christian Education (Vatican, 1965)

• Reading Questions
  1. Who has the right to education? (section 1)
  2. What are the purposes of a Christian education? (2)
  3. Who are a child’s primary educators? (3)
  4. Why does the Church have the duty of education? (3)
  5. Does the document take a position regarding school choice? (6)
  6. Explain the role of teachers (8)
  7. Who should support Catholic schools? (9)
• Reflection/Discussion Questions
  1. How does this document change the paradigm from an institution to a community?
  2. List 3-4 quotes that you could pull out from this document to use in your own communication.

Rev. John O’Malley, SJ, the author of What Happened at Vatican II and many other works on Vatican II and church councils, is the first guest and explains the background and context of Vatican II as well as its impact.  Fr. O’Malley was present in Rome during the council and is a valuable resource.

Rev. Oliver Doyle grew up in Ireland during the tumultuous times surrounding Vatican II and speaks to the changes in the church over the past 50+ years.