09/02/01
School DAZE again
There are few of us who can’t dredge up a childhood emotion or
a feeling or a warm memory of “going back to school,” 40, 50 or
even more years after the fact. I suspect more than a few of those
memories are linked to the adult reality of NOT having three months
off in the summer.
But such is the life of a grownup.
This is The Catholic New World’s annual “back to school” edition.
But as you peruse its pages (all 40 of them; it’s a big issue),
I think you’ll find more than stories about books and classes,
or reading, writing and ’rithmetic.
Because at the core of what Catholic children should be learning
is a sense of faith and value.
That’s accomplished in many ways. Parents, certainly, are at the
core. Which is why The Catholic New World is full of articles
that should support and encourage parents: Cardinal George inextricably
links education and faith in his Page 3 column; stories challenging
society’s sometimes pervasive sense of racism; the joy and dedication
of long-time Catholic school teachers; columns on developing a
sense of spirituality to pass along to our families, and more.
We’re proud to partner again this year with the Office for Catholic
Schools by including in our pages Faith & Education. The section
will appear four times this year and will be distributed to students
in many archdiocesan schools. After all, Catholic schools and
religious education programs are designed to pass along the values
and practices inherent in that faith.
In our pages this week we’re happy to have a special interview
with Nick Wolsonovich, new superintendent of Catholic schools,
in which he reaffirms the faith-and-values-based education the
church offers.
But there also are articles about how our faith encourages a sense
of service to others, from a police chaplain’s story to pilots
helping deliver those who require medical care.
You’ll also find our regular features: news updates from around
the world, stories out of Vatican City, happenings and events
in Around the Archdiocese (Page 34), and much more.
And about those back-to-school memories. The one that flitted
across my consciousness writing this was dashing into the first-grade
room at Hazel Avenue School (yes, I’m a Public!) on a warm fall
day to realize for the first time that I was expected to learn,
not just play.
Ouch. But it wasn’t the last time.
Tom Sheridan
Editor and General Manager
Send your comments to Tom
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