Educational Philosophies
Two educational philosophies were in competition at the beginning of the modern era. The first philosophy was the traditional medieval approach of intellectual rigor, of the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. The second one was the result of the influence of the renaissance humanists, with more of an emphasis on the active life and service to society.[1]
The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), a Spanish former soldier that had dedicated himself to missionary work for the Catholic Church. Education is one of the primary missions of the order. Ignatius and several of his early collaborators had been educated at the University of Paris, and the approach of Jesuit education was influenced by their experience at Paris, including aspects of both of the philosophies that had been in competition there:
Two educational philosophies were in competition at the beginning of the modern era. The first philosophy was the traditional medieval approach of intellectual rigor, of the pursuit of knowledge for its own sake. The second one was the result of the influence of the renaissance humanists, with more of an emphasis on the active life and service to society.[1]
The Society of Jesus was founded in 1540 by Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556), a Spanish former soldier that had dedicated himself to missionary work for the Catholic Church. Education is one of the primary missions of the order. Ignatius and several of his early collaborators had been educated at the University of Paris, and the approach of Jesuit education was influenced by their experience at Paris, including aspects of both of the philosophies that had been in competition there:
the Jesuits wanted to preserve the best of the two great educational ideals even in their universities: the intellectual rigor of the scholastic system and the more personalist, societal, and even practical aims of the humanists.[2]
Pietism was a religious and educational movement that sought to revitalize Reformation Christianity. The followers of Pietism believed that Christians should work for the betterment of mankind. Although the term "Pietism" was originally associated with a movement within the Lutheran church in Germany, most of the Reformation churches of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries were influenced by this movement. Philipp Jakob Spener (1635-1705) is considered to be the founder of the movement.[3]
The University of Halle was founded in Germany in 1694. August Francke (1663-1727), a disciple of Spener, taught theology and oriental languages at Halle from 1694 to 1727, and under his influence, Halle became the center of Pietism in Germany.[4] In 1695, Francke founded a charity-supported school for orphan children at Halle. Francke believed that every child should be given the opportunity to be educated regardless of birth or wealth. Those orphans who displayed sufficient ability were encouraged to prepare for the university, and special funds were set aside to provide scholarships for these students.[5]
Christianity Values and Education
Christian humanism is principally nourished today at colleges and universities with an explicitlly Christian orientation.
As Francke attempted to do at Halle, Berea College in Kentucky is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to the underprivileged. Berea, founded in 1855, is distinctive among colleges in that it charges no tuition. The college has a full-participation work-study program where every admitted student is provided the equivalent of a full-tuition scholarship, and the student is required to work at least 10 hours per week in campus and service jobs.[6] From its Identity statement:
The University of Halle was founded in Germany in 1694. August Francke (1663-1727), a disciple of Spener, taught theology and oriental languages at Halle from 1694 to 1727, and under his influence, Halle became the center of Pietism in Germany.[4] In 1695, Francke founded a charity-supported school for orphan children at Halle. Francke believed that every child should be given the opportunity to be educated regardless of birth or wealth. Those orphans who displayed sufficient ability were encouraged to prepare for the university, and special funds were set aside to provide scholarships for these students.[5]
Christianity Values and Education
Christian humanism is principally nourished today at colleges and universities with an explicitlly Christian orientation.
As Francke attempted to do at Halle, Berea College in Kentucky is dedicated to providing educational opportunities to the underprivileged. Berea, founded in 1855, is distinctive among colleges in that it charges no tuition. The college has a full-participation work-study program where every admitted student is provided the equivalent of a full-tuition scholarship, and the student is required to work at least 10 hours per week in campus and service jobs.[6] From its Identity statement:
Berea College’s Christian identity is rooted in the founders’ "gospel of impartial love," an expression of the biblical commandments to love God and to love neighbor as self, and in their commitment to live out this "gospel" in a practical way through lives of service to others. Throughout its history the Berea College community has sought to put these ideals into practice.[7]
Another educational institition that has made a major commitment to have a social impact is the University of Notre Dame, run by the Congregation of Holy Cross. The university rose to prominence under the leadership of Father Theodore Hesburgh, its president from 1952 to 1987. In addition to his work at Notre Dame, Father Hesburgh served in a large number of national public service task forces, including the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights (1957-1972). From the university mission statement:
The University seeks to cultivate in its students not only an appreciation for the great achievements of human beings, but also a disciplined sensibility to the poverty, injustice, and oppression that burden the lives of so many. The aim is to create a sense of human solidarity and concern for the common good that will bear fruit as learning becomes service to justice.[8]
Father Pedro Arrupe, the superior of the Jesuit order from 1965 to 1983, rededicated his order to an emphasis on the call to service and social justice:
Today our prime educational objective must be to form men-and-women-for-others… men and women who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors; men and women completely convinced that love of God which does not issue in justice for others is a farce.[9]
Father Arrupe explicitly links his direction with the traditions of Christian humanism:
Men-and-women-for-others: the paramount objective of Jesuit education- basic, advanced, and continuing- must now be to form such men and women... Only by being a man-or-woman-for-others does one become fully human.[10]
One of the Jesuit universities that has taken to heart Father Arrupe’s call to service is Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, which has included it in its mission statement:
Our mission is the search for truth, the discovery and sharing of knowledge, the fostering of personal and professional excellence, the promotion of a life of faith, and the development of leadership expressed in service to others. All this we pursue for the greater glory of God and the common benefit of the human community.[11]
References:
[1] John W. O’Malley, "The Jesuit Educational Enterprise in Historical Perspective," in Rolando E. Bonachea, ed., Jesuit Higher Education (Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press, 1989), 14-16.
[2] Ibid., 21.
[3] Peter C. Erb, ed., Pietists, Selected Writings (New York: Paulist Press,1983), 2-8.
[4] Ibid., 9.
[5] Levy Seeley, History of Education (New York, American Book Company, 1899), 233-236.
[6] Berea College Website
[7] Berea College Website, Identity
[8] University of Notre Dame Website, Mission
[9] Pedro Arrupe, "Men ans Women for Others" in Kevin S. Burke SJ ed., Pedro Arrupe: Essential Writings (Mariknoll, NY: Orbis Books), 173.
[10] Ibid., 187.
[11] Marquette University Website, Mission
[1] John W. O’Malley, "The Jesuit Educational Enterprise in Historical Perspective," in Rolando E. Bonachea, ed., Jesuit Higher Education (Pittsburgh: Duquesne University Press, 1989), 14-16.
[2] Ibid., 21.
[3] Peter C. Erb, ed., Pietists, Selected Writings (New York: Paulist Press,1983), 2-8.
[4] Ibid., 9.
[5] Levy Seeley, History of Education (New York, American Book Company, 1899), 233-236.
[6] Berea College Website
[7] Berea College Website, Identity
[8] University of Notre Dame Website, Mission
[9] Pedro Arrupe, "Men ans Women for Others" in Kevin S. Burke SJ ed., Pedro Arrupe: Essential Writings (Mariknoll, NY: Orbis Books), 173.
[10] Ibid., 187.
[11] Marquette University Website, Mission
