In The Holy See’s Teaching on Catholic Schools (2006), Archbishop Miller states that academic instruction in Catholic schools “…must be authentically Catholic in content and methodology across the entire program of studies.” This means that the Catholic faith needs to be integrated across the curriculum, not just taught in religion classes. Catholic school teachers and leaders have long wondered how to make their teaching authentically Catholic, especially in subjects and topics that do not lend themselves easily to thematic integration with principles of the faith.
In terms of integrating the faith into the academic life of the school, I encourage Catholic school educators to consider not just what is taught, but also why and how students are taught. There are many ways to integrate faith into what is taught, such as through well-designed service-learning projects related to principles of Catholic social teaching, novel studies with themes drawn from the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit or analyzing historical events from the perspective of Catholic virtues. However, education in a Catholic school can also be distinctively Catholic without direct references to religious content when we consider why and how students are learning.
Why do students learn in your Catholic school? If you have been around Catholic schools for a while, you have probably heard some variation of the saying, “We don’t teach because THEY are Catholic, we teach because WE are Catholic.” Educators choose to teach in Catholic schools because they share in the mission of the Church to evangelize while supporting the formation of the whole child. We educate children to enable them to become the next generation of the Church in the world and to put them on the path to sainthood.
To integrate faith throughout the academic experience within the school, it is important that students know and understand why they are learning. They should be able to articulate the school’s mission, as well as their purpose for being in school. We want our students to proclaim that they are children of God, formed in His image and capable of greatness. We want them to feel that they are being prepared to be empowered to go forth and serve the world, bringing the kingdom of God to their communities. When a student asks, “why do I have to learn this?” we can answer that all learning brings them closer to the person whom God created them to be.
The reasons that teachers teach and students learn in our schools should be clearly articulated by the school through the mission statement and regularly emphasized in communications to stakeholders, including students and families. The more clarity and focus on the “why,” the more that faith will be integrated into all that happens within the school, including academics.
Catholic faith is also integrated through the curriculum by how students are taught in Catholic schools. The teaching methods, activities and practices in schools can be considered Catholic when they inspire awe and wonder, emphasize community and affirm the inherent dignity and worth of each child.
When we consider our model, Christ the Teacher, we realize that Jesus taught his disciples through parables and miracles, inspiring awe and wonder in his followers. Indeed, our faith is built upon central mysteries that compel us to continually wonder about God’s greatness. In our schools, students should be invited to experience moments of awe and wonder in their learning as often as possible. This could be through exposure to natural phenomena to introduce new topics, hands-on learning experiences, inquiry or problem-based learning and other approaches that facilitate authentic, real-world learning applications that relate to students’ lives. If students are taught to feel a sense of awe and wonder at interesting math problems, scientific phenomena, or historical events, for example, those feelings will be integrated with their faith in God who created all things.
Our faith is also integrated into the curriculum anytime we are emphasizing that students learn as part of a community. God Himself represents community in the Holy Trinity, so we are called to be part of a community as well. Learning experiences that prioritize cooperation and allow students to feel connected to each other provide a means of integrating this aspect of our faith with the academic life of the school.
Most importantly, faith is integrated into academics when educators teach in a way that affirms the inherent dignity and worth of all students. This means that environments are inclusive and welcoming, and students’ individual learning needs are honored through interventions and support. Integrated Catholic teaching is culturally sustaining and trauma-informed. All children are allowed to be successful, in the image and likeness of their Creator.
Catholic schools are tasked with educating students through an academically rigorous curriculum infused with the Catholic faith. We can accomplish this by focusing not only on what students are taught but also on why and how they are taught in our schools. When all of these elements are attended to, we can be assured that the education we offer is authentically Catholic.
Monica Kowalski, Ph.D., is an associate teaching professor at the University of Notre Dame.
Monica Kowalski, Ph.D.Kowalski.42@nd.edu