The Congregation for Catholic Education is currently hosting a 'World Congressâ? in Rome with the theme 'Educating today and tomorrow: a renewing passion.â?
One of the congress' participants spoke to Rome Reports about one of the biggest challenges that Catholic education faces in the United States today: how to keep its identity in an era of nationalized curriculum.
DR. DAN GUERNSEY
The Cardinal Newman Society
'The Common Core is this new set of state standards that's gone in throughout the United States. And they're very secularized, very utilitarian, very much based on college and career. It's possible for Catholic schools to interface with them, but only as part of their much larger vision. FLASH Education is not just about skill development and it's not just about the quantification of abilities to make a buck. It really is about creating fully alive and fully functioning people.â?
The congress is commemorating the 50th anniversary of 'Gravissimum educationis,â? the Second Vatican Council document on Christian education.
He said that Catholic education is particularly important in helping fight some of the major intellectual battles of our time.
DR. DAN GUERNSEY
The Cardinal Newman Society
'This particular generation has a particular challenge in figuring out how to battle relativism. And the good news that can be seen is that you can trust life, you can trust your senses, you can trust your reason, you can trust revelation, and you can put those together in a way that will imbue your life with sense and joy and meaning and allow you to move confidently in a world that seems crazy.â?
Perhaps the biggest goal of the conference is to articulate a vision for Catholic education's role in the world. The 1,000 Catholic educators will have until November 21st to do just that.
ATO
MG
JM
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