Education forms a very significant activity within the Roman Catholic Church. The cultural and ethical formation of young generations and thus the future of society and the Church depend largely on it. Catholic schools grant the opportunity to base formal education on Christian anthropology and to shape students' personality in the light of the…

Offers brief summaries of contributions made by several of Christopher Columbus's contemporaries, including Nicholas Cusa, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo Buonarroti, Nicholas Copernicus, Johannes Gutenberg, Sir Thomas More, Desiderius Erasmus, and John Colet. Urges modern Catholic educators to learn from these risk takers and visionaries. (DMM)

Reviews the proposals of Paul DeHart Hurd for improving science education in elementary schools, while ensuring that it is compatible with the goals of Catholic education. Suggests relating science to life situations, exploring broad applications of the scientific method, and making science instruction a process of discovery. (DMM)

Describes how the Diocese of Dallas overcame the logistical problems serving as obstacles to the widespread use of the Catholic Television Network in instruction at St. Pius X Elementary School. Looks at equipment needs, fund raising, staff development, technical considerations, and benefits. (DMM)

Many principals want to respond to their faculty's increasing interest in and need for meaningful community prayer. This publication was prepared for the teaching community with selections of prayer forms and programs, and plans for extending the program to spouses and family. Part 1, "Introduction," is comprised of scriptural…

Mary Hatwood Futrell, President, National Education Association; Gorden M. Ambach, President, University of the State of New York; Marian Wright Edelman, President, Children's Defense Fund; Rene C. Gonzalez, Office of Educational Research and Improvement; and Nancy Reagan identify students' noninstructional needs. (DMM)

Urges parents and teachers to face the topic of death realistically and naturally, discussing how and when the subject should be raised with children. Considers forms of grief, age differences in children's understanding, theological explanations, and the importance of helping children name/describe their feelings and allowing them to grieve. (DMM)

Suggests that religion teachers develop mentor-friend relationships with their students, as characterized by being available to students outside of class, sharing oneself in a personal way, expressing interest in the student's life, and sharing faith. Discusses acceptable and unacceptable types of relationships. (DMM)

Discusses various meeting points between student and teacher, focusing on academic, moral, and affective relationships. (DMM)

Addresses the effects of the spread of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) on Catholic schools and communities. Discusses the goals and federally recommended content of AIDS education. Considers ways to include AIDS education in Catholic school curricula. (DMM)

Offers a brief history of Louisiana, highlighting the establishment of Catholic schools by missionaries before the development of public schools. Covers the French and Spanish, and Black Catholics in Louisiana, the Code Noir and the missionary church, the beginning of public schooling, north Louisianan schools, and the civil war. (DMM)

Offers a summary of the first pastoral letter of the black bishops of the United States, "What We Have Seen and Heard." Sees the Catholic schools representing an opportunity for quality education and character development to many in the black community. (DMM)

Urges Catholic schools and parish centers to take an immediate, honest, and proactive response to AIDS education; accept adolescents as a high-risk group presenting unique challenges for AIDS education; and adopt a moral stance rooted in gospel values. Proposes an ongoing agenda for AIDS education. (DMM)

Offers a model for wage negotiation for Catholic school teachers, identifying the negotiators (i.e., the diocesan bishop or his delegate, an officer of the teachers' organization/union, the diocesan superintendent of schools, and four lay persons) and their task (i.e., to negotiate a fair compensation package). (DMM)

This prayer book is intended for Catholic educators who are involved in the ministry of education and as teachers in Catholic schools. Daily prayer services are included, each centering on a particular theme pertinent to the personal and professional lives of ministers and teachers. The first week of themes for the month focus on the concept of…