tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41051462178094007912024-03-07T05:39:16.876-06:00Love2Learn Momentslove2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-72752265423593655652009-06-06T18:16:00.002-05:002009-06-06T18:19:37.891-05:00#60 No Conflict Between Religion and ScienceGod is the author of ALL truth. The same God who is the God of our Faith, the God of the Bible, is the creator of the universe and everything in it. Because of this, there can be no true conflict between faith and reason or between science and religion.<br /><br />The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth... because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God." (#159)<br /><br />Pope John Paul II had this to say about the relationship between science and religion:<br /><br />"Science can purify religion from error and superstition; religion can purify science from idolatry and false absolutes."love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-50900300832511515882009-06-06T18:13:00.002-05:002009-06-06T18:16:26.366-05:00#59 Dangerous vs. OffensiveResponding to our complex and often problematic culture can be a tough thing for parents! In judging movies, for example, we're often tempted to think that a "clean" movie - one that's free of sex, violence and bad language - is a good movie. Period.<br /><br />The problem with this is that it's a superficial way of judging something's value. By all means, cleanness can be a good thing, but it's not everything, and we Christians are seriously interested in the "heart of the matter".<br /><br />I find it helpful to distinguish between "dangerous" and "offensive".<br /><br />Some things are dangerous AND offensive. These are easy and obvious for us to avoid.<br /><br />Some things can be offensive, but not dangerous, and will require further discernment to determine whether they're worthwhile.<br /><br />The most dangerous thing in the end, though, is the thing which is dangerous, but not offensive. It's the sort of thing that can sneak in because we don't even recognize our vulnerability. So don't forget to look below the surface.love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-11459776541254056672009-06-06T18:09:00.002-05:002009-06-06T18:13:14.614-05:00#58 Become a LearnerOne of the most valuable things you can do for your children's education is to become a learner yourself, even if it means spending a little less time directly educating your children. This will offer many benefits to you and your family:<br /><br />Your children will learn from what you learn - even in the casual format of dinner table conversations about what you're learning.<br /><br />You'll show them how much you value education and help them see that it's not just something for school age kids.<br /><br />It will help you become more enthusiastic about learning in general and their learning in particular. Enthusiasm is contagious! And they will enjoy learning more if they do it with you.<br /><br />It helps to build a learning environment. For example, if you're reading instead of watching the news or listening to the radio, your house will be quieter and more inviting for others to study in.<br /><br />The Catechism says: "One is entitled to think that the future of humanity is in the hands of those who are capable of providing the generations to come with reasons for life and optimism." (1917)love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-18091689435468888722009-06-06T18:06:00.001-05:002009-06-06T18:09:26.081-05:00#57 Be Not Afraid!Confidence in the faith is a joyful and contagious thing. It helps us get through tough times in which we are overcome by fear of the world and its evils. We need to prepare our children to go out and reclaim our culture. But how can we do this in the face of the threats that face us and them? <br /><br />Cardinal Ratzinger suggests that we need to cultivate the virtue of hope...<br /><br /><blockquote>To have Christian hope means to know about evil and yet to go out to meet the future with confidence. The core of faith rests upon accepting being loved by God, and therefore to believe is to say Yes, not only to him, but to creation, to creatures, above all, to men, to try to see the image of God in each person and thereby to become a lover. That's not easy, but the basic Yes, the conviction that God has created men, that he stands behind them, that they aren't simply negative, gives love a reference point that enables it to ground hope on the basis of faith.</blockquote> (<span style="font-style:italic;">Salt of the Earth</span>)love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-83976910251416173382008-12-18T09:50:00.002-06:002008-12-18T09:54:11.497-06:00#56 Unleashing the Christmas SpiritChristmas is a perfect time to "unleash" the joy of Christianity and to share it with others who can't help but be affected by it. We can share this joy with our children and others even through the simplest traditions of Christmas.<br /><br />Cardinal Ratzinger said:<br /><br /><blockquote>Even a custom like Christmas baking ... has its roots in the Church's Advent liturgy, which makes its own the glorious words of the Old Testament... 'In that day, the mountains will drip with sweetness, and the rivers will flow with milk and honey.' People of old found in such words the embodiment of their hopes for a world redeemed....<br /><br />Perhaps the right way to celebrate Advent is to let the signs of God's love that we receive in this period penetrate our soul, without resistance, without questions and quibbling. Warmed by these signs, we can then receive in full confidence the immeasurable kindess of this child.</blockquote>...<br /><br />(Quoted from <em>The Blessing of Christmas</em> by Cardinal Ratzinger, Ignatius Press)love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-57876365083692776962008-12-18T09:46:00.003-06:002008-12-18T09:50:21.274-06:00#55 Curriculum OverloadOne aspect of homeschooling that many seasoned mothers will caution you about is getting carried away in purchasing curriculum for your children. It's easy to overestimate the importance of the books themselves in your children's education and spend too much money and waste too much time and energy trying to find the perfect fit. The fact is that there won't be a perfect fit.<br /><br />I thought this quote from <a href="http://www.happiness-project.com/">Gretchen Rubin</a>, writing in <em>Real Simple</em> magazine, made a useful distinction about how we choose things...<br /><br /><blockquote>There are two types of decision makers. Satisficers... make a decision once their criteria are met. Maximizers want to make the best possible decision. Even if they see a bicycle of a backpack that meets their requirements, they can't make a decision until they've examined every option. Satisficers tend to be happier than maximizers. Maximizers expend more time and energy reaching decisions, and they're often anxious about their choices. Sometimes good enough is good enough.</blockquote>love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-88951599650616862272008-12-18T09:41:00.002-06:002008-12-18T09:46:25.394-06:00#54 Go Out and Teach All NationsAs Christians, we are called to do our (albeit generally small) part in going out to teach all nations and Catholic education is very much concerned with preparing children to go out and do just that!<br /><br />Archbishop Chaput had this to say:<br /><br /><blockquote>'Go, make disciples of all nations' was the last command Jesus gave to us before returning to His Father. It's a big one. How can simple people like us convert the world? That brings us back to Mary, and to the apostles at Pentecost. They changed the world by letting God change them and work through them. We don't need to be afraid. We need to be confident in the promise made by Christ Himself: 'I am with you always, to the close of the age.'<br /><br />Don't be afraid of the world. The Holy Spirit is on your side. Charles Spurgeon once said, 'The way you defend the Bible is the same way you defend a lion. You just let it loose.'</blockquote><br />Quoted from <em>Living the Catholic Faith: Discovering the Basics</em> by Archbishop Charles Chaput of Denver.love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-19481267689057101902008-12-18T09:38:00.003-06:002009-05-12T10:29:05.502-05:00#53 Challenges of the TeacherIn education, the role of the teacher in guiding children and helping them draw out ideas and connect them with other ideas is generally more important than the materials used. A good teacher can help her students learn the truth even from a messy or problematic book. My mom once taught a CCD class in which she was "required" to teach with some problematic materials. Apparently it didn't phase her at all. She simply explained the materials in that book and followed it up with what the Church actually teaches.<br /><br />Teaching is always going to require a certain amount of creativity and making distinctions on the fly. After all, even with the most ideal curricula, children will ask difficult and challenging questions. While this challenge may seem intimidating, humility and faithfulness will get you through. Work on learning how to learn and developing the Christian attitudes necessary for leading your children to the truth. With God's grace, these little things will go a long way.love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-5594661964954379142008-08-11T20:48:00.001-05:002008-08-11T20:50:34.274-05:00Cultivation (#52)There are certain aspects of education, like initiative, diligence, enthusiasm, humility, self-motivation and a love of learning, that need to be cultivated rather than taught. Keep in mind that cultivating often means simply preserving by not disrupting or losing patience with good things.<br /><br />Here are some ways to be a good cultivator - to be used in the right season; and within reason, of course:<br /><br />Foster initiative, even though it can be messy or disruptive.<br /><br />Model good attitudes and virtues. <br /><br />Allow small children to help you when they ask – even if they aren’t *very* helpful.<br /><br />Provide children with opportunities for success - especially if they are struggling with something.<br /><br />Beware of unreasonable expectations.<br /><br />Avoid condescending materials and attitudes.<br /><br />Remember that patience is a key virtue in this regard and, finally, don't forget to ask for God’s grace!love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-19886459916569479452008-08-11T20:46:00.002-05:002008-08-13T09:37:45.891-05:00The Balance Between Formation and Information (#51)Though a solid educational philosophy requires an appropriate balance between formation - or who we become through education - and information - or what we actually learn, it is sometimes tempting to abandon one for the sake of the other. This is a serious mistake! Cardinal Ratzinger explains how this error led to the collapse of religious education in recent years:<br /><br />“What is our catechesis doing? What is our school system doing at a time when religious instruction is widespread? I think that it was an error not to pass on more content. Our religion instructors rightly repudiated the idea that religious instruction is only information, and they rightly said that it is something else, that it is more, that the point is to learn life itself, that more has to be conveyed. But that led to the attempt to make people like this style of life, while information and content were neglected.” (Cardinal Ratzinger, <em>Salt of the Earth</em>)love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-72384911359958344942008-08-11T20:44:00.001-05:002008-08-11T20:46:20.320-05:00Docility (#50)In his book <em>Authenticity</em>, Fr. Thomas Dubay explains the traditional intellectual virtue of docility: “We are to welcome instruction, yes. But this is not enough. We are to welcome correction as well, being told that we are wrong. This is living the virtue of docility.<br /><br />As the word indicates, docility is the capacity to learn, a willingness to be taught. One is docile when he recognizes his own lack of information and expertise, on the one hand, and the superior knowledge and skills of his teacher, on the other. In this context a synonym more acceptable to modern ears is receptivity…<br /><br />Like other moral virtues, docility lies in a mean between two extremes. One extreme is the more or less arrogant refusal to accept the thoughts of another. The other is an exaggerated credulity that has lost a sense of proper discrimination and healthy criticism.”love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-65828296808180778412008-08-11T20:42:00.001-05:002008-08-11T20:44:08.502-05:00What Students Need (#49)Fr. James Schall had the following to say about what qualities are necessary in a student in order to learn… <br /><br />“...To be a student requires a certain modicum of humility.<br /><br />Yet to be a student also requires a certain amount of faith in oneself, a certain self-insight that makes a person realize that he can learn something that seems unlearnable in the beginning. This trust in the teacher also implies that the student, if he has trouble understanding, makes this known to the teacher… A student does a teacher a favor by saying, "I do not understand this". But the student should first really try to understand before speaking. To quote Augustine again, students should ‘consider within themselves whether what has been explained has been said truly.’<br /><br />The student ought to have the virtue of docility. He owes the teacher his capacity of being taught. We must allow ourselves to be taught. We can actually refuse this openness of our own free wills.” (Fr. James Schall, <em>Another Sort of Learning</em>)love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-69756462956439273302008-04-28T17:03:00.003-05:002008-04-28T17:07:41.139-05:00One Who Has Hope Lives Differently (#48)As Catholics, our lives and priorities will be ordered in a different way than if we had no faith. This is a <strong>defining</strong> difference when it comes to education because, not only does it give a good example to our children, but it also prepares us to make everyday decisions about our children's education.<br /><br />Here's what our Holy Father had to say in his encyclical on hope:<br /><br /><blockquote>Only when the future is certain as a positive reality does it become possible to live the present as well. So now we can say: Christianity was not only "good news" - the communication of a hitherto unknown content. In our language we would say: the Christian message was not only "informative" but "performative." That means: the Gospel is not merely a communication of things that can be known - it is one that makes things happen and is life-changing. The dark door of time, of the future, has been thrown open. The one who has hope lives differently; the one who hopes has been granted the gift of a new life.</blockquote>love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-2237345536454701612008-04-28T16:59:00.002-05:002008-04-28T17:02:57.078-05:00Suffering and Hope (#47)It's natural to want to avoid pain, but there's a good reason why we say, "No pain, no gain." In the same way that we don't ban bicycles because children might get hurt, we don't shelter ourselves from love and friendship just because they involve the risk of hurt and disappointment. Pope Benedict XVI said:<br /><br /><blockquote>We can try to limit suffering, to fight against it, but we cannot eliminate it. It is when we attempt to avoid suffering by withdrawing from anything that might involve hurt, when we try to spare ourselves the effort and pain of pursuing truth, love and goodness, that we drift into a life of emptiness, in which there may be almost no pain, but the dark sensation of meaninglessness and abandonment is all the greater. It is not by sidestepping or fleeing from suffering that we are healed, but rather by our capacity for accepting it, maturing through it, and finding meaning through union with Christ, who suffered with infinite love. (<em>Spe Salvi</em>)</blockquote>love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-64297266815547571572008-04-28T16:55:00.001-05:002008-04-28T16:58:16.181-05:00The Strength of Beauty (#46)I love finding wisdom that helps illuminate the positive ways in which we can counter-act the problems in our culture today. Here's what Cardinal Ratzinger had to say about the power that beauty has in drawing us away from what is opposed to God:<br /><br /><blockquote>Thomas says that through the praise of God man ascends to God. Praise itself is a movement, a path; it is more than understanding, knowing and doing - it is an "ascent", a way of reaching him who dwells amid the praises of the angels. Thomas mentioned another factor: this ascent draws man away from what is opposed to God. Anyone who has ever experienced the transforming power of great liturgy, great art, great music, will know this. Thomas adds that the sound of musical praise leads us and others to a sense of reverence. It awakens the inner man... (<em>Feast of Faith: Approaches to a Theology of the Liturgy</em>)</blockquote>love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-37692704332742350572008-04-28T16:50:00.004-05:002008-04-28T16:55:32.488-05:00Certitude and the Saints (#45)In his recent encyclical on hope, Pope Benedict XVI explained that: <blockquote>...in truly great trials, where I must make a definitive decision to place the truth before my own welfare, career, and possessions, I need the certitude of that true, great hope of which we have spoken here. For this too we need witnesses - martyrs - who have given themselves totally, so as to show us the way - day after day. We need them if we are to prefer goodness to comfort, even in the little choices we face each day - know that this is how we live life to the full;... the capacity to suffer for the sake of truth is the measure of humanity. Yet this capacity to suffer depends on the type and extent of the hope that we bear within us and build upon. The saints were able to make the great journey of human existence in the way that Christ had done before them, because they were brimming with great hope.</blockquote>love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-66983269486960283602008-04-28T16:46:00.002-05:002008-04-28T16:50:49.414-05:00God's Saving Pedagogy (#44)Pope John Paul II explained in his <em><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_let_02021994_families_en.html">Letter to Families</a></em> that: <blockquote>...experience shows what an important role is played by a family living in accordance with the moral norm, so that the individual born and raised in it will be able to set out without hesitation on the road of the good, which is always written in his heart.</blockquote>This is another great reminder of what a powerful impact that "Who we are" has upon the education of our children - especially in the long term. The Holy Father further elaborated: <blockquote>Through Christ all education, within the family and outside of it, becomes part of God's own saving pedagogy, which is addressed to individuals and families and culminates in the paschal mystery of the Lord's death and resurrection. The "heart" of our redemption is the starting point of every process of Christian education, which is likewise always an education to a full humanity.</blockquote>love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-4016596698887144032008-02-22T07:44:00.002-06:002008-02-22T07:47:07.201-06:00Lent for Families (#43)The season of Lent can be a wonderful time for families to grow closer to each other and to Christ. Here are a few simple ideas that we use in our own family.<br /><br />Place pictures of the Stations of the Cross around your house. Show your children how to walk their wayu around and identify each station, followed by a prayer or a song verse.<br /><br />When your child makes a sacrifice or does a good deed, have them place a dry bean in a jar. This can be a great way to encourage them to help out a younger sibling or volunteer to do a chore. At Easter, you can replace the dry beans with colorful jelly beans to symbolize how Jesus takes our small sacrifices and makes them into something much better.<br /><br />Finally, work on a spirit of generosity and simplicity. Eat simpler and donate the money saved to the needy. It's also a great time to donate toys, books and clothing to those in need.love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-21198283547740861292008-02-22T07:42:00.001-06:002008-02-22T07:44:30.297-06:00It's All in the Presentation (#42)It’s amazing how different children are from each other – even siblings being raised and educated by the same parents are astoundingly different. This fact is particularly obvious when they learn a subject like Math.<br /><br />Some children take to a Math book like a duck to water. Just give them a quiet space, answer their questions, and they’re doing great. Others do much better when a new topic is presented for them out loud, like in a classroom setting.<br /><br />Some simply find math to be tedious and work better when they are allowed to reward themselves with a little break after so many problems. <br /><br />Some have to work their way carefully through every single problem math problem before they grasp a concept, while others get bogged down by problems that are too easy – they’re happier when they have something they can sink their teeth into.<br /><br />Younger children sometimes have a hard time working on math in only an abstract way and absorb the material easier when they can “play” their way through the problems and then go back to working on them in a written format.love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-25015231825605837102008-02-22T07:40:00.003-06:002008-02-22T07:42:17.273-06:00The Delight of Simplicity (#41)One night, my six year old daughter was playing with a wooden tower toy that had a ramp for little cars to roll down. Though she couldn’t find the cars, she did find a handful of dice and discovered that they slid down the ramp in a satisfying way.<br /><br />Trouble soon came in the form of her four year old brother, who wanted to play too. They were soon squabbling quite loudly over who had how many dice and who took whose dice from whom. The chaos was rather aggravating and I promptly took away all of the dice except one for each of them and braced myself for the protests that were sure to follow.<br /><br />But they never came. The change was like a light switch – all they really needed was just one each and the room was suddenly filled with giggles and squeals of delight as they took turns with the toy.<br /><br />Not all of our family squabbles end so easily, but it was a great illustration for me of the beauty and delight of simplicity.love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-8096572326299925502008-02-22T07:39:00.003-06:002008-02-22T09:13:39.699-06:00Colorful Learning for All Ages (#40)When the Vatican Collection went on display a few years ago, we visited the exhibit with a wonderful docent who knew all kinds of stories and symbolism behind the artifacts and really made the exhibit come alive. She was obviously well-read and when she started explaining a piece, she generally captured the attention of all those in the room. I was amazed and delighted to discover that when people asked her where to learn more about these things, she suggested that they turn to children's books.<br /><br />What a wonderful idea! There are loads of beautiful picture books, simple biographies and even coloring books available today that adults and children can learn from together. If you're just starting out homeschooling your very young children, this is a great place to start. Children have a great capacity to enjoy such stories which gently introduce them to the realms of history, science, religion and much more.<br /><br />For those with a broad age range, match some of these fun books up with your older children’s school studies and let everyone get involved!love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-32055356704972384872008-02-22T07:37:00.003-06:002008-02-22T07:39:08.737-06:00Break the Conventions, Keep the Commandments (#39)I find that in balancing my obligations as a homeschool mother, I need to make distinctions between what I can be flexible and open about and what is non-negotiable. <br /><br />Not only do such distinctions relieve stress when things don't go as planned (and in a family this is a common occurrence!), but they also free me to give my children the chance to make some choices in their day and in their education - which can be a good thing for both of us!<br /><br />G. K. Chesterton offers a helpful and humorous perspective:<br /><br />"A man's minor actions and arrangements ought to be free, flexible, creative; the things that should be unchangeable are his principles, his ideals. But with us, the reverse is true; our views change constantly, but our lunch does not change. Now, I should like men to have strong and rooted conceptions, but as for their lunch, let them have it sometimes in the garden, sometimes in bed, sometimes on the roof, sometimes in the top of a tree. Let them argue from the same first principles, but let them do it in a bed, or a boat or a balloon."love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-2714183794218728582008-02-22T07:37:00.001-06:002008-02-22T07:37:49.431-06:00Helping Your Children Love Learning (#38)There's nothing quite like the interest and involvement of parents to help motivate children to WANT to learn. Here are a few ideas to try out with your own families.<br /><br />Go outside and look at the stars together. Learn the names of a few of the constellations.<br /><br />Children love "real" things. Let them help you with real jobs and house projects.<br /><br />Take them to the beach, forest, pond or desert and have everyone draw pictures of what they find.<br /><br />Spend time with other families who love learning.<br /><br />Pop a batch of popcorn and sit down to a family read-aloud.<br /><br />Plan ahead for an art museum trip by introducing each child to a beautiful painting they can search for once you arrive.<br /><br />Go on an adventure walk in your own neighborhood. Bring water bottles and magnifying glasses!<br /><br />Choose a country and find recipes native to that place. Invite several friends to do the same, and get together for a day of ethnic cooking.<br /><br />Most importantly, let your children see that you love learning too.love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-64723666541224724452007-12-10T16:32:00.000-06:002007-12-10T16:34:29.223-06:00History and Hope (#37)We know that life experience tends to develop wisdom. History allows us to tap into the "life experience" of humanity even as we would listen to and learn from the wisdom of a grandparent or older friend.<br /><br />Studying history provides perspective in understanding the world today. Those who don't study history can conclude that things used to be great but that it's all a hopeless mess now. This overly-pessimistic attitude often leads to a sense of complacency rather than a willingness to cooperate in our own small way with God's plan. The truth is that mankind has battled with (and sometimes lost to) great evil since the Fall.<br /><br />History helps us to avoid the mistakes of others, to recognize errors in thinking that are not-at-all-new and to have real hope that God raises up ordinary men and women in every generation to be saints and heroes who work to counteract evil and help bring God's love to the world.love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4105146217809400791.post-54651380669960058322007-12-10T16:28:00.000-06:002007-12-10T16:37:26.947-06:00Old and New (#36)Pope Pius XI, in his encyclical <em><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xi_enc_31121929_divini-illius-magistri_en.html">On Christian Education</a></em>, helps us connect our studies of today with what we have received from our Catholic heritage:<br /><br /><blockquote>These noble traditions of the past require that the youth committed to Catholic schools be fully instructed in the letters and sciences in accordance with the exigencies of the times. They also demand that the doctrine imparted be deep and solid, especially in sound philosophy, avoiding the muddled superficiality of those "who perhaps would have found the necessary, had they not gone in search of the superfluous." In this connection Christian teachers should keep in mind what Leo XIII says...:<br />"Greater stress must be laid on the employment of apt and solid methods of teaching, and... on bringing into full conformity with the Catholic faith, what is taught in literature, in the sciences, and above all in philosophy, on which depends in great part the right orientation of the other branches of knowledge."</blockquote>love2learnmomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10548471887979257624noreply@blogger.com0