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| My vision of Catholic education | ||
THE EDITOR: As a very satisfied and successful product of Catholic education in Trinidad ( St Joseph 's Boys' RC and St Mary's College), I take issue with your editorial “Making Catholic Education More Catholic”. I fail to see how teaching students to excel, and as a result, to be successful in their careers (and so become "economically successful"), or to "secure top SAT scores" is somehow not "Catholic" education. Or, what's not "Catholic" about "focussing on academics" or on producing competitive students? Not giving opportunities for education to poor children, or neglecting students with learning difficulties, or not preparing students to succeed in a competitive world, is simply poor education. It has nothing to do with "Catholic" or non-denominational education. And on this matter, I would like to point out to the writer of the editorial that the Catholic schools as I knew them (including St Mary's College, the most elite secondary school in my time) did indeed include students from all levels of society, from intact families and “broken” families and all races. Catholic schools successfully prepared students from all those backgrounds for the most competitive exams and scholarships. Catholic secondary schools also had classes to deal specifically with students with learning difficulties. And that was decades before the current much ballyhooed programme here in the USA of “No child left behind”. Apart from their emphasis on excellence, one distinguishing characteristic of Catholic schools has been their insistence on student responsibility. I see no reference to this feature in the editorial. Perhaps it would be useful to include this most Catholic element in the writer's vision of a “Catholic Education”. Good "Catholic" education is good education. There's no need to make such a complex undertaking more difficult by adding those allusions to the Bible, allusions that are better applied to another realm of the Church's mission. Louis Sellier, lmsell@comcast.net |
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| We need to be 'champions of justice' | ||
DEAR EDITOR: I have always been happy that the local Church decided to become more vocal in this country by establishing the Social Justice Commission and the work of this commission must be commended. However, I believe that the rest of us as individuals have not taken up the responsibility and pursued justice actively. Many of us have left this job to commissions, trade unions and NGOs and have forgotten that we need to become “Champions of Justice” as well. I have become deeply concerned and disturbed by the many events that are taking place at present. My heart laments for and fully supports those in Cedros who have taken up the struggle against “development” in order to preserve their community. I also comprehend the struggle of trade unions and other activists who have been left with no choice but to draw up petitions and call for boycotts to address the issue of increasing food prices that are suffocating and impoverishing the people of this nation. In addition, I also feel sad for those of us who remain oblivious and indifferent. As Christians, we too need to take up the struggle for justice. We cannot be solely concerned with the well-being of our personal lives and our parishes but support those in the wider society who may not actively follow our faith but who may suffer at the hands of money makers. Jesus Christ too was a “Champion of Justice” who was vocal when necessary. Let us follow in his footsteps. Akilah Riley, St John the Baptist RC, San Juan |
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FROM THE EDITORS | |
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