This article was contributed by Heather Gossart, NCEA Consultant.
Look for a creative, interactive, inspiring, stimulating and exhausting experience
Whoever said that this generation of kids is going soft never followed a typical Catholic high school student’s schedule of classes at a back-to-school night.
I recently had the opportunity to attend my grandson’s back-to-school night at Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC, in loco parentis for his parents. Oh, let me go, I insisted. I am an old hand at back-to-school nights.
Little did I know the adventure that awaited me.
My first period was Honors Spanish 11. After a warm welcome in Spanish, which I did not understand, our class of parents was introduced to the curriculum. Our precious sons (and grandsons) are not just learning the rote textbook experience of a foreign language, they are reading and writing creative works and conversing wholly in the language during class time. They watch news clips and other media in Spanish and embrace the culture and customs of the Spanish speaking world. No small feat for our sixteen year old who usually communicates with us in a variety of monosyllabic grunts.
Second period saw me huffing and puffing up two flights to Junior Ethics.
This class is dedicated to the study of systems of right and wrong and the formation of character – a journey of working toward becoming the authentic you. Our parent class learned that the discussions in class become so intense that the biggest problem so far is stopping the conversation when the bell rings. Case studies, sexual ethics, ethics applied to real world problems – I think this class should be mandatory for all public officials.
Honors Algebra 11 is another new language for me. The teacher joyfully proclaimed that it was only the second week of school, but they are really rolling. This guy loved math and his enthusiasm was contagious. There did not seem to be math phobia in this class! One of the things that really impressed me throughout the evening was that every single teacher was available before class, during lunch, after school or by appointment. How do these teachers do it? One dedicated young man, who also looked young enough to be a student in his own class, told us with deepest conviction, “If your student fails, then so do I. I am not going to let that happen.” I could have used this kind of teacher when I was taking Algebra.
As I left the classroom, I was delighted to learn that the next period was lunch. I looked forward to those precious 12 minutes of freedom – oops, it was not to be – I had an appointment with the junior counselor to discuss the upcoming standardized college entrance tests. I know these tests are important, but I really was hungry.
Before I knew it, I was in AP biology. This seemed more like a pre-med class, not a college-prep science class. However, this is an excellent Catholic school that seems to believe that there is no limit to the abilities of young people. I admit this class seemed light years away from my high school days of pairing up to dissect a long dead frog. The digital dissection this teacher was describing is engaging, interactive and might eliminate the drama of students swooning at the smell of embalming solution as was my own school-days experience.
The last class of the night was American history. It was worth another two flights of stairs, because finally I was headed to a class where I used to shine. I could nod emphatically and let this teacher know that I, too, was a student of our great American history. Most of all, I would know what was going on. Good bye, Physics, so long, Biology and adios, Spanish!
What a wow way to end the night. In the short time that this master teacher talked about the goals of his American history class, history became alive, and I, not for the first time that evening thought how blessed my grandson and all the young men who attend this exemplary Catholic school are to learn in the environment of faith, morals, and social justice. Add this to my list of mandatory courses for public officials.
Well, the evening was over, I was exhausted, hungry, and my feet hurt. I walked so much I earned a Fitbit badge!
If you ever doubted that Catholic education is alive and well, I am here to tell you that what I saw and heard in this one Catholic high school is repeated each and every day in Catholic schools all over the country. The education that forms, informs and transforms students is infused with faith and hope in a future that they will help to shape.
As I left the campus, I said a silent prayer of thanksgiving for those who accept the awesome responsibility and privilege of teaching in Catholic education. Thank you all and have a great year.
