Authentic Holistic Education, Wellbeing, and the Future of Catholic Schools in a Changing World

This book addresses the effects of the changed and changing contexts of Catholic Education in the contemporary world. These include the social, educational, and ecclesial contexts. Meaning structures, shaped by these past contexts, have broken down, and the greatest, but often unarticulated context is the anthropological context. The understanding of humanity and the meaning of human existence today is beset by a marked lack of clarity and consistent direction. Catholic Education today exists within contextual fields which are almost unrecognizable from those which existed at the close of the Second World War. Each succeeding decade since has wrought stark and dynamic change socially, educationally, and religiously. As such, Catholic Education today looks for a direction forward and a sense of purpose into the future. This book proposes that the major purpose of contemporary Catholic Education is to provide an educational context that nurtures the true holistic growth of students within its care. The focus upon Christian Humanism in contemporary Papal and Magisterial teaching sets the ground for this developing understanding.

Addresses the purposes of Catholic Schools in today's dramatically changed social, educational, and religious contexts Clarifies the true meaning of Holistic Education in Catholic schools today Explores the relevance of Papal and Magisterial teaching of Christian Humanism

Autorentext

Dr. Graeme Mellor has been an educator for 55 continuous years. He has taught at primary, secondary, and tertiary levels and has served as a school principal, Archdiocesan Director of Religious Education, and as a professional assistant principal. He holds degrees in Arts, a Master’s degree of Letters in History, and a Master’s degree in Religious Education. His doctorate was entitled ‘Reimagining the Catholic School’ and analysed Principals’ responses to the changing social, cultural, and religious contexts of the contemporary Catholic school. Graeme first taught Sacramental Theology at Australian Catholic University (Signadou College) in 1984, and has recently taught Masters’ courses in Catholic Social Teaching, Leadership of Schools of Wellbeing, and the Spirituality of Leadership in Melbourne and Brisbane.

Inhalt

A reflection on the past an exploration.- Contexts and their effects the contemporary breakdown of inherited meaning.- Emerging new meanings for the catholic school the circle of compassion and concern for wellbeing is completed.- New wine and new wineskins christian humanism and new meanings for the catholic school.- Understanding christian humanism rooted in the scriptures and in church tradition and teaching.- Teaching the journey home to wholeness and wellbeing preparing for the essential challenge of the second half of life.- New contexts and consequent meanings for the future catholic schools.- The five essential skills of holistic education the journey home to the true self.- Teaching The Life Skills Necessary For the Journey home teaching life as the core of the contemporary catholic school.