Educating Our Young for Eternity

 

 

Meet Brett Salkeld, author of a timely new book, Educating for Eternity: A Teacher's Companion for Making Every Class Catholic.  Prospective families frequently inquire about the Catholic identity of my school. Responders typically highlight the specific Catholic traditions we practice, such as monthly Mass, seasonal confession opportunities, homeroom Rosaries, and, the most often cited numerous "outreach" initiatives. Participating in the sacraments and actively engaging with the Faith in these meaningful ways are integral to a genuine Catholic education. These elements not only contribute to reinforcing and promoting the school’s Catholic identity but, more importantly, play a crucial role in nurturing the hearts, minds, and souls of our students. 

But--Brett Salkeld aptly points out in his book that the visible symbols of a Catholic school’s identity should not be the sole indicators of its mission. Salkeld emphasizes that the essence of a truly Catholic education lies in “how a Catholic worldview shapes academic instruction across all subject areas.”

Initially, this might seem to imply that simply incorporating elements of Catholicism into each subject—like highlighting Catholic scientists in chemistry or discussing Catholic historical figures in social studies—would enhance the school's authenticity as a Catholic institution. However, Salkeld quickly rejects this superficial approach. He challenges Catholic educators to aspire to a much deeper standard. “We need to teach not merely Catholic content,” he asserts, “but teach from within a Catholic context for making sense of all life and learning.” In other words, schools that genuinely embody their Catholic mission should approach education through the lens of a distinctly Christian understanding of humanity, founded on the belief that people exist for God. To this I say, so he has written, so let it be done.

To be continued...