Education, when done holistically, attends to three aspects of a child’s development. It involves growth in understanding his or her:
- interior being (subjective knowledge)
- relational being (inter-subjective knowledge)
- world in which we live (objective knowledge)
Here at Sacred Heart, we believe that we are learning about God in each of those areas.
Subjective Learning: Who am I?
- Each one learns about this in prayer, in contemplative moments, in quiet time. The hope is that each child comes to see his or herself in deepest interior moments, as created, known, loved and connected with God.
Inter-subjective Learning: Who am I in relation to those around me?
- The hope is that each child comes to see his or herself in relationship with others and to skillfully navigate the landscape of relationships. Learning about compassion, empathy and generosity are all a part of inter-subjective growth and development. The hope is that each child comes to be able to see and treat each person we encounter as Christ.
Objective Learning: How does the world I inhabit operate?
- The aspiration is that every child comes to know and understand the world around them. Growth in understanding history, geography, science and math are all part of this. Equally an aspect of this is learning how to learn—learning how to inquire, how to read, how to research, how to ask questions, how to analyze, how to think critically and how to think creatively. The hope is that in learning about the world, each child comes to see the wonder of the universe around them and see the hand of God in all that exists and in how all develops.
As I walk around the school, I see growth happening in EACH of these areas. I hope you see growth in them, as well, in your own beautiful children. May the journey of growth in all areas continue with joy!
Sister Glavin
