A Catholic Perspective on Education

THIS ARTICLE SEEKS to identify some distinctive features of both the complex, multi-faceted and rich Catholic tradition of faith and life and Catholic perspectives on education. Among the many features of Catholic tradition identified, the notions of balance and balanced judgement are given particular attention. Distinctive features of Catholic perspectives on education cannot be read directly and straightforwardly off from the features of Catholic faith and life without reference to its actualization in particular societal contexts. In spite of this, it is possible to make tentative points of a more abstract and general nature For example, Catholic perspectives (i) embody a view about the meaning of human persons and human life, (ii) aspire to holistic influence and (iii) aim at specific religious and moral formation. Broad general points like these require balanced judgements on the part of professional teachers in order to avoid a danger which can be described as temptations of commonality and which arises in relation to the task of interpreting what Catholic education should be taken to mean and imply in a particular context.