Theology of Catholic Pedagogical Theory: What it Means to Teach at a Catholic School

“When did you first encounter Jesus?” I didn’t ask it; one of my ninth graders asked it. And she didn’t ask me this question; she asked it to the whole class. Every fifth day or so we play a game; I ask my students to stop taking notes and to stop worrying about tests and grades; they need to just be still with themselves and with each other. Practice sharing and listening. Practice Loving and being Loved by each other. On a basic level, we are making affective that which we have been studying in the vacuum of the classroom. We are practicing the Authentic Self…not just studying it.                 “When did you first encounter Jesus?” she asked the class. It is the question I always wanted to hear in this “game”, but would never ask it myself. It is the one question that has to come from a student for the ensuing conversation to be genuine. All I can do is create the space where they feel free to ask th...

“At the beginning of the year I tell my students that I am not there to convert them or to force them to believe anything in particular. It's True. I am essentially a systematic theologian which means I present everything in a logical and rational manner. I tell students that my goal is for them to leave the class understanding what Catholics believe and why they believe it. If they are a believer, my class bolsters their Faith. If they are not a believer, my class, at least, gives them some knowledge of the reasons and logic behind Catholicism. At the same time, I challenge my students to contemplate what it means to Love and to be Loved, perfectly, and to consider the idea that Jesus Christ is the best way for us to encounter that Love. I listen to their questions and I read their reflections without judgement, but I also guide them to logical conclusions that the Love they seek cannot be found in the material Truth around them. I actually works.” I wrote this message to a ...

                Right now, I am facilitating another online class on teaching in Catholic schools. As a reminder, the class is not about pedagogy or educational theory as much as it is about the rudiments of Catholic Faith. The first question we ask participants to reflect on is how their own Faith life has developed. Essentially, we ask participants to share if they have succeeded in living out their Faith or if there have been struggles. Nearly everyone shares their personal struggles with Faith.                 It is foolish to assume that anyone has a perfect Faith life. Everyone encounters suffering and struggle in their lifetime, and often those struggles make it difficult to believe there is a God who cares for us. But my participants (Catholic school teachers) who recall their early formation in Faith and prayer are the ones wh...