From the Director

This month’s edition of Beyond the Test focuses on the things that make Catholic schools unique.  According to the great Catholic sociologist, Christopher Dawson, all education involves passing on culture. 

...Culture is inseparable from education, since education is...the process by which culture is handed on by the society and acquired by the individual.

Dawson’s work, The Crisis of Western Education, has been an important inspiration for the work of the Institute.  So our feature article gives some indication of the specifically Catholic culture our schools transmit.   In our guest article, Dr. Curtis Hancock explains that Catholic schools are much more than secular schools with a religion class; every subject is part of an education in true freedom.  The Resource Center introduces Dr. Hancock’s excellent book, Recovering a Catholic Philosophy of Education.  Finally, our Featured School article looks at the faculty development program that makes Holy Family Academy in New Hampshire a living Catholic community.

Recently, I spent a long weekend with dedicated educators studying some of the problems that face public education (see Programs, News and Events).  Their biggest difficulty lies in being unable to set before themselves some concrete vision of the good they are trying to pass on.  For some, the greatest value they can share with students is tolerance, which means learning not to care so much about what you believe that make others feel uncomfortable.  As Catholic educators, we have so much that is worth caring about to share with our students.  Let us thank God that He has called us to share in His great work.           

The Institute is dedicated to helping Catholic educators succeed in their vital task.   So, please feel free to contact us ‑ your questions and suggestions can help us to improve our service.  And please forward this newsletter to people you know who are involved in Catholic education.

In Christ, Andrew Seeley, Ph.D.