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The Calling of the Teacher
By Patrick Connor | Published  09/25/2006 | Teaching | Rating:
Teaching in Catholic Schools in Scotland
A Vision of Catholic Education
Catholic schools are at the heart of the Church's mission in the service of society. “ The promotion of the human person is the goal of the Catholic School.”
(The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium)

“Catholic schools work to foster the Christian understanding of the human person as made in the image and likeness of God. We nurture the human wholeness of each pupil to play a full role in society fully human and fully alive for self and others, providing a community in which faith, culture and life are brought into harmony.”
(Religious Dimensions of Education in a Catholic School)

Catholic Education is a spiritual process which is life-affirming and values–based.

" I have come that you might have life, and have it to the full.”(John 10:10)

The Calling of the Teacher
Teaching is both vocation and profession.
" Teaching has an extraordinary moral depth and is one of humanity's excellent and creative activities, for the teacher does not write on inanimate material, but on the very spirits of human beings.”

(The Catholic School on the Threshold of the Third Millennium)

Teachers are:

  • Agents of transformation;
  • Inspirers of wonder;
  • Encouragers of potential;
  • Messengers of meaning;
  • Nurturers of witnesses;
  • Healers of fear,
  • Prophets to the nation,
  • Co-creators with God


The Experience

  • An opportunity to serve in the liberating, challenging mission of the Church in education
  • A life giving professional career with the chance to make a difference, to touch lives and inspire imagination and creativity
  • An understanding of the power of education to draw out the God-given potential of others
  • A sense of belonging to a community rooted in faith with high quality continuing professional development and pastoral care
  • An experience of a learning community founded on love, co-operation, solidarity, truth, justice and the common good
  • A community of colleagues who offer each other support and share learning


The Challenge for you

  • To acknowledge that the person you teach is more important than the subject you teach.
  • To draw out the full human potential of every pupil in an environment of love as a co-creator with God and parents.
  • To be realistic in your expectations of yourself and others and to seek to develop a balanced lifestyle.
  • To live a life that reflects the values and simplicity of the Gospel as proclaimed by the Catholic Church.
  • To engage in continuous professional development to develop yourself and the pupils you teach towards full human potential.


Do you wish to

  • Be a part of this philosophy and vision?
  • Contribute to holistic education and the search for excellence?
  • Belong to a vibrant community and recognise the presence of God?


And are you

  • An aspiring or serving teacher?
  • In sympathy with the vision of Catholic education?
  • Willing to be approved by the Church in terms of “religious belief and character”?
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Comments
  • Comment #1 (Posted by Mrs Lillian Skeldon)
    Rating
    I felt the article fully articulated what it means to be a teacher in a Catholic School.It oulined very clearly the unique opportunities a teacher has at their disposal to make a real difference to each and every child in their care regardless of background, culture or race.I fully support inclusive education and I was particularly inspired to read that the person you teach is more important than the subject. I firmly believe that this is fundamental in our approach to teaching if we have the holistic education of our pupils at heart.
     
  • Comment #2 (Posted by M.McCallum)
    Rating
    I felt this article captured what I hope to be when I become a primary school teacher and has certainly given me plenty of material to use in my interview.
     
  • Comment #3 (Posted by Linda Hyde)
    Rating
    I believe this article really highlited the importance of becoming a teacher. Every teacher serves as a loco-parenti to each child and this article has pin-pointed out unique roles of teachers. I strongly believe in teachers nurturing the human wholeness of every child in order to promote a harmonuous community.This article has really inspired me and added a lot to my knowledge.
     
  • Comment #4 (Posted by William C McLaughlin)
    Rating
    I was inspired by the article. My teaching is always infused with the meaning of God and his Great Creation. As mere mortals we can merely aspire to goodness in His likeness. There is a still a massive job to be done in Good overcoming Evil, and teaching is just one of the tools to be used in this process. The Catholic Church has not lost sight of its Vision and strives through its schools to ensure that pupils have the correct moral values and know that the way of God is the only way to salvation.
     
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