Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Parish Bulletin Article: "Beauty in the Word": 11-25-18

            I just finished reading one of the best books about education in my life: “Beauty in the Word—Rethinking the Foundations of Education” by Stratford Caldecott.  I would highly recommend reading this book for all of you teachers, and our teachers at St. Thomas Aquinas has a copy on the way for their homework J.
One of the inspirations that I received while reading this was the focus on an “old school” word—transcendentals—unity, truth, goodness and beauty.  Each of these is ways to go beyond academics at (home)school, but honing into the depth of serving our children to grow as a whole person.
I also enjoyed some of the deepness with some theology and philosophy that can regenerate how teaching can be founded on God within every academic type: math, history, science, reading, grammar, psychology, etc. 
Finally, Caldecott’s climax for education was the liturgy (Mass) which opens harmony in both our academics and spiritual lives.  For instance, when you come to Mass, you can see, hear, smell, touch and feel that can offer experiences with your five senses that show who we are as people.  
At the same time, within the place of a Church building is full of school subjects that are synchronized.  Our building was built with math, floor plans, architecture and materials to help us worship God.  As we come to Mass in a beautiful building, it is full of art: statutes, banners, stained glass windows, Stations of the Cross and proclaim music and singing to offer praise to God.  We also listen to history during our readings, hear the bells (which were made) and hopefully the homily.  Finally, think of how much science is behind the scenes when we see the candles, lights, bread and wine, heat/cool air condition!
I hope and pray that each Mass is an experience with you, to pray, learn and think.
Thus, within this amazing book, we can learn how our Mass is the rock, the foundation of God, that should also support education to serve the generations of God’s sons and daughters at (home)school.
God Bless! 


            

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