Fairfield College Preparatory School - Hearthstone Yearbook (Fairfield, CT)

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is found, the other is looked for. lt is for this reason that the development of cultured Catholics is of prime importance. A cultured Catholic will always carry in his heart an intelligent apprecia- tion of true beauty wherever it is found: 'gin nature, in human works of art, human character, the majestic liturgy of the Church, or in the ideally beautiful Christ-all reflections of the in- finite beauty of Codg he has learned to select and support only what is good and wholesome in art, music, literature, drama and other forms of entertainment ldirectly quoted from the re- port of the meeting referred to in the opening paragraphl . Refined manners, careful speech and dress will always require painstaking attention, but will serve as a means of expressing one's love for and appreciation of culture. He who embodies these principles in his life and manner of acting can never be in disgrace withlhis fellow com- panions. The Vocationally Prepared Catholic The secondary education of no student can be complete unless he emerges from it prepared to start at once the task of earning his living at some gainful occupation or to continuehis studies or training in higher schoolsg unless he has cul- tivated a sincere respect for family life and a Christian respect for and understanding of the serious responsibilities of parenthood, unless he realizes that the universal obligation to work applies to him no matter what his position in life, and sees that there is a moral beauty in every task that is faithfully carried out. Fortified by these sound teachings, the Catholic student is well-equipped to take his place in society and influence for good all those with whom he will come in contact. The Socially Minded Catholic It is of vital importance that all graduates of Catholic secondary schools recognize the import- ance of the many complex social problems that will confront them during life. They must under- stand the social conditions in their communities and also in the larger units of society. They should at the same time have a knowledge of the basic principles of the Christian social doc- trine expounded in the Encyclicals of the Popes and the Programs of the American Bishops and the effective methods for securing recognition for and application of this Christion social doctrine tfrom the report mentioned above! . Catholic students are also taught to be tolerant towards all their fellow beings regardless of position, race or creed and have a due regard for the rights of all men. The American Catholic Catholic secondary schools must engender in their students a realization that the American form of government has been created for the good of the individual citizen and not the citizen for the good of the state. They must be taught early and often that certain inalienable rights, which man has received from God, form the foundation of the American way of life and can- not in any manner be taken away from him. The Catholic student is made to realize the necessity of expressing through his conduct as well as his speech the truth that the success or failure of American democracy rests with the individual American citizen. When the Catholic student re- ceives his high school diploma, he is ready to make any sacrifice which is necessary to promote the common good of the whole American people and make his country the symbol of democracy and freedom. Conclusion Mighty is the task which has been enjoined upon our Catholic secondary schools of carrying out this seven-fold aim of education, but mighty, too. are the graces and helps which the Cod of wisdom and of truth will always provide for those who carry out his divine commission of going, therefore, teach ye all nations . . . teach- ing them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded youu lMatthew: C. 28, vv. 19-201.

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The Aims of Catholic Secondary Education By Stanley E. Kilty Because the Catholic Church has always been firmly convinced that any complete system of education must be not only a preparation for this life, but also a long-range training ground for the life of the soul after death, her system of ed- ucation embraces the training of all man's facul- ties, mental, physical and spiritual. In order to particularize and simplify this program the Sec- ondary School Department of the Catholic Edu- cational Association at its annual meeting in 1940 set forth these seven aims for Catholic Secondary Schools: the development of intelligent, spiritual- ly-vigorous, physically-vigorous, cultured, voca- tionally-prepared, social-minded and American Catholics. We shall now discuss each aim. The Intelligent Catholic When one speaks of an educated person, the thought of an intelligent individual flashes across the mind. The Catholic student not only receives the fund of secular knowledge, which it is ex- pected every high school student should possess, but is taught, in addition, the fundamental truths of Catholic doctrine and practise, he is taught that his religion must effect his attitude and ap- proach to every problem he may confront in his personal or social life. The pursuit of knowledge will be a prime factor in his life, while material wealth and personal comfort will always be re- garded by him as of secondary importance. No problem whether large or small will cause the intelligent Catholic to despair, but will be solved by intelligent methods and standards. He will reap the rewards of a training in such funda- mental virtues of the mind as concentration, ac- curacy, logicality, clearness of thought and ex- pression, thoroughness and persistence The Spiritually-Vigorous Catholic The development of the spiritually-vigorous Catholic has always been regarded by all as one 1 of the principal aims of Catholic Secondary edu- cation. The Catholic boy and girl is taught to realize that all moral obligations depend upon God as their source and sanction, Christian prin- ciple and not mere instinct, feeling or passion must be their guide through life. In this way they will face with true Christian faith the constant dangers, which are threatening the life of the body and the soul, they will welcome the trials of life which harden human character and prove manis worth during the period of probation on earth, they will model their lives as closely as possible on the lives of Jesus Christ, His Blessed Mother and the Saints. Finally, the spiritually- vigorous Catholic will always bear in mind his utter dependence on supernatural aid, and will seek this help through prayer, the Sacraments and good works. The Physically- Vigorous Catholic One of the least heralded, but most important aims of Catholic education is the development of the healthy Catholic, one who never forgets that the body is the partner of man's immortal soul, destined one day to reside in heaven, and who, consequently, protects himself and others against accident and disease. Such a person will always refuse to cater to every urge and desire of the body for satisfaction, he will at times deny the body certain lawful pleasures in order to retain mastery over the lower appetites of his fallen nature. The healthy Catholic will try to keep the body a fit instrument of the soul by tak- ing the proper amount and kind of exercise and recreation. The title, physically-vigorous Catho- lic is one that is hard won, but a title well worth the struggle. The Cultured Catholic An educated person and a cultured person are terms which should be synonymous. Where one

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