Archbishop: character formation should be priority in RC schools

The safe space which Catholic schools can provide is one of the “biggest assets” in “tackling crime and violence in the medium to long term”, Archbishop Charles Jason Gordon said.

Speaking at the Association of Principals of Catholic Schools Termly Conference November 15 at the St Charles Borromeo RC Church, Tunapuna, Archbishop Gordon said the present was much more difficult than when he and the principals grew up. Children today are facing a different level of pressure and temptations; they are experiencing anxiety and depression etc.

In the changing time, young and old are “searching for foundations and moorings” amidst the turmoil. He told principals: “What this means is the last safe space that a child might ever have…is in the school because the parents themselves are not holding things together very well…”

As the parish priest in Gonzales for four years, he had interactions with gang members. They were school dropouts and failed academically. “They were all put to stand in the doorway; they were all ridiculed and they had learning difficulties. As I spoke to them that was what I recognised and school was terrible,” Archbishop Gordon said.

They learned to use their intelligence for “bad things” and punishment only caused them to lead others astray.

Asking what the one thing the child needed and missed desperately, the principals responded in unison, “Love”. He suggested the way to make a dent on the crime and violence was to focus on the children in their schools today.

“If the children of this generation receive enough love somewhere, to find themselves, inside of themselves they know they are loved and they count, and they can grow to every way that God intends for them to grow,” Archbishop Gordon said.

Social media, and electronic devices replacing parenting have negatively impacted children’s social skills and ability to interact with others. He asked rhetorically, “If a child does not know what love is at 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, what will happen with the next generation?”

He told principals that RC schools had to teach children how to love and how to relate. He added, “And you can’t relate and love without learning how to listen and….by learning how to listen not just with our ear but with the ear of our heart.”  From listening comes discernment, relating to what God is asking.

Archbishop Gordon said the “hidden curriculum” (manners, etiquette etc.) has become more important today and Catholic educators “have a mission” ahead of them. He disclosed that he had a meeting with principals, vice-principals, and deans of some boys’ secondary schools to “pray through” and deeply reflect on what was happening in schools.

Archbishop Gordon announced, “There are things that we want to do to help you to move this forward, this curriculum we want to bring to you.” It will be introduced in a few schools and then others. “You have to see that your job as principal is to help the whole school become a community of relationships…Treating people right, talking to them right and we are expecting every child to speak, and to act and to love and to live with a certain measure of love for each other,” he advised.

Archbishop Gordon said, “Character formation has to be seen at the top of the agenda right now.” He asked principals to meet with their leadership staff to assess the quality of relationships and what can be done to improve so every child feels love and respect.

—LPG