Knowledge, Faith, and Service

The Counter-Cultural Value of Catholic

Education: Knowledge, FaiTH, and Service

BY: KerrY MarTin, PHS dean oF STudieS

In a recent issue of Pioneer Press, a newsletter sent to current PHS families, Mr. Joe Sciuto, our Head of School here at Providence, shared the discussions he and several other Presidents and Heads of Catholic Schools had regarding the value of a Catholic Education. Mr. Sciuto pointed out the tangible sense of community here at Providence as a major draw, in addition to our strong academic and co-curricular programs. January 31st –February 6th marked this year’s Catholic Schools’ Week and I too found myself reflecting on what makes a Catholic Education special, unique, and superior. The theme of Catholic Schools’ Week this year focused on three facets of Catholic education that are at the core of who we are: knowledge, faith, and service. It struck me that the unique strength of the Catholic education we offer here at PHS resides in the fact that knowledge is not an end in and of itself. We are called by our faith to use our knowledge in service of others. As providence would have it, I came across an article by Richard Weissbourd, senior lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, which confirmed the value of that combination and I felt immediately compelled to share it. In his article, “College Admission 2.0: Service Over Self,” Weissbourd discussed the consensus among the consortium of college admissions deans and guidance counselors he hosted. The consensus of these deans from the Ivy Leagues, published in their report, “Turning the Tide,” is that the absurdly competitive college admissions process has turned high school students into stressed-out, brag-sheet obsessed mercenaries fighting for the highest GPA possible, regardless of the cost to their own personal well-being. Weissbourd summarized their conclusion in this way: “Yes, academic engagement matters…[but] so does meaningful ethical engagement.” The article and the report referenced go on to list the major recommendations that came from the meeting, including the importance of students “immers[ing] themselves in an experience that is meaningful to them over a sustained period of time and whether they learn about themselves; the perspectives of others…and their responsibilities toward their communities.” As you might imagine, I cracked a rather smug grin at this point in the article, thinking of our Christian Service program and Senior

Project initiative. What this consortium of Ivy League admissions deans and other stakeholders had come to realize is that what our world needs most right now is educated young people who are motivated not just to achieve, but also to serve. Among the other recommendations was an appeal to high schools to enable their students to choose “opportunities based on their individual interests and passions.” When I read that line, my buttons almost burst with pride. While we here at Providence are always looking to grow and improve and innovate, we are also already doing so many things right. We mean what we say on our banners that we want our students to Find Out What Inspires You! We are already ahead of the curve when it comes to challenging students to reflect on who they are and who they want to be, to seek authentic connections outside of themselves, and to serve the poor and vulnerable. Richard Weissman’s article affirms that the tide of education is, I am so relieved to say, shifting away from “listing high numbers of extracurricular activities [and] loading up on Advanced Placement courses” to “emphasizing that quality matters over quantity.” We here at Providence stress the importance of the fit of a college and university, not the brand name or reputation. Just as we want our students to feel that yes, “You Belong Here”, we want them to have that same feeling when they walk on the college and university campuses they move on to. Richard Weissbourd imparts sage advice to parents who are approaching the college admissions process as well. He writes that parents should approach the process as a chance “to understand their children more deeply, to uncover with them what makes them thrive, and to support them,” rather than “trying to shoehorn their kids into high-status colleges.” These words of wisdom speak to the core of who we are and what we do here at Providence. It was heartening to read that key players in prestigious Ivy League colleges and universities are urging that schools and parents “join together to elevate and embody a healthier set of values” that will “powerfully hold up, expect, and honor in young people a more ethical and meaningful way of life.” As I read this clarion call I found myself thinking, ‘where have they been’? It seems the rest of the educational world is finally catching up to us Pioneers! I’m sure many of you have seen similar articles popping up in your newsfeed and newsstands. One I highly recommend is “Why Elite-College Admissions Need an Overhaul” from The Atlantic. What these articles portend is a transformation of the college admissions system that would align much more with what we already say and do here at Providence. I, for one, welcome the change and am proud that we have remained faithful to our mission and steadfast in our core values despite society’s obsession with AP scores and soaring GPAs. We strive for excellence, surely, but on our own terms and in step with our individual students’ needs and potential. We have always stood firm in our philosophy that we work in partnership with parents in the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual growth of their children. We are more than a school; we are a community. We are in this together, bound by our commitment to knowledge, faith, and service.