From the Director

Science has transformed our lives and the way we educate. The universe, our bodies, our selves are more fascinating and sometimes more troubling than they have ever been. In education, science and the mathematics that serves it have become one of the most important and demanding parts of the curriculum.

Since science speaks so forcefully on matters that form our ideas of religion and humanity, Catholic schools must carefully think out how they approach the subject with their students, and what impact it has on the rest of the curriculum. Religion teachers may be able to avoid the questions that science raises, but our students who have both science and religion classes cannot.

In this issue of Beyond the Test, we reflect on the Catholic way to approach the study of science. Dr. Paul Keough points out that Catholics want to avoid extremes in their reaction to science; I discuss important goals that are missing in contemporary approaches to science education; Leslie Mitros comments on her unique situation as a mathematician heading a classical school; and our Featured Resource introduces J. Henri Fabre, the great observer and scientific contemplator of the insect world.

The science portion of a young person’s education should be an opportunity for a close encounter with God’s creation. We hope this issue gives you ideas for how that can be.

In Christ,

Andrew Seeley, Ph.D.
Director, The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education