Keynote:

Up to Date: Designing High Schools for the Age of Instant

Sr. Carol Cimino, SSJ, Ed.D.National Consultant, William H. Sadlier, Inc.; New York, NY

& Professor, Manhattan College; Riverdale, NY

Sponsored by William H. Sadlier, Inc.

De La Salle Secondary Schools:

Being Faithful to Tradition in the Age of Instants

What We Will Cover:

• The vision of De La Salle• Whom are we teaching today?• A look at high school education today• What are the signs of the times saying?• How do we maintain tradition while steering

change?• Re-examining the De La Salle high school

The Mission:

• Provide a human and Christian education to the young, especially the poor, according to the ministry entrusted to them by the church.

• Touch hearts; teach minds• Prepare students as mature members of

society and the church.

The Vision of the Founder

• A spirituality that:– Has the school as its setting– The teacher and student as its focus– The salvific potential of education as its inspiration

A Whole New Group of Young People:

Why now?

• This generation is a “break” from other generations:– How do we define generations?

• Culture• History• Values• Life outlook• Ethics

CCS N-C

CSCPP Total

Creed 82% 76% 71% 76%

Lit/Sac 73% 65% 60% 70%

Moral 70% 64% 60% 68%

Prayer 73% 65% 58% 70%

ACRE II

Creed 73% 64% 56% 70%

Lit/Sac 72% 61% 56% 69%

Moral 79% 71% 67% 72%

Prayer 82% 74% 68% 79%

Pre-Vatican II (born pre-1941) 60%Vatican II (born 1941-1960) 35%Post-Vatican II (Gen X: born 1960-1980) 26%Post-Post-Vatican II (GenY: born after 1980) 15%

Church Attendance and Generations of Catholics

Pre-Vatican II Generation

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

Elem& High Only elem None

Series1

Do Catholic Schools Make a Difference?

Vatican II/Baby Boomers

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Elem& High Only elem None

Series1Series2

Do Catholic Schools Make a Difference?

Post Vatican II/Gen X

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

Elem & High Elem only None

Series1

Do Catholic Schools Make a Difference?

Post Vatican II/Millennials

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

50%

Elem & High Elem only None

Series1Series2

Do Catholic Schools Make a Difference?

New Standards for Students

• Creativity and Innovation• Communication and collaboration• Research and information fluency• Critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-

making• Digital citizenship• Technology operations and concepts

International Society for Technology in Education 2010

Creativity and Innovation

• Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, processes

• Create original works as a means of personal or group expression

• Use models and simulations to explore complex systems and issues

• Identify trends and forecast possibilities

Communication & Collaboration

• Interact, collaborate with peers• Communicate to multiple audiences using

multiple media• Develop global awareness• Use originality to solve problems

Research & Information Fluency

• Plan strategies to guide inquiry• Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and

ethically use information from a variety of sources• Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools

based on appropriateness to specific tasks• Process data and report results

Critical thinking, problem-solving, decision-making

• Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation

• Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project

• Collect and analyze data to identify solutions and/or make informed decisions

• Use multiple processes and diverse perspectives to explore alternative solutions

Digital citizenship

• Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology

• Exhibit and positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning and productivity

• Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning

• Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship

Technology Operations and Concepts

• Understand and use technology systems• Select and use applications effectively and

productively• Trouble shoot systems and applications• Transfer current knowledge to learning of

new technologies

What other skills?

1. Knowledge of the world2. Knowledge of the economy, politics, cultures3. Ability to speak a foreign language4. Ability to work with other people5. Media literacy6. Entrepreneurship

So, how to build a 21st century student?

• Students should be able to think across disciplines• Students should know how to think critically about

information• Students should be able to apply facts to opinion• Students should understand how the rest of the

world thinks• Students should have “portable skills”

– Critical thinking– Making connections between ideas– Knowing how to learn– Depth over width

What else?

• For graduates of Catholic schools:– A set of ethics consistent with Gospel values– A moral lifestyle– The ability to make good choices– The ability to take personal responsibility– A sense of stewardship– A responsibility to other people– A desire for community

Back to the vision of De La Salle:

• The school is the setting (infrastructure)• The teacher and the student are its focus

(infrastructure)• The salvific potential of education is its

inspiration (ectostructure)

What should be the setting of the school?

• One that has:– Hospitality– Safety– Culture that is:

• Frugal• Simple• Gentle• Small

How about the focus?

• Teachers who understand concepts of mission and ministry

• Students who “opt in” for the mission, the values, the culture

• Students who are known and cared for as individuals

What about inspiration?

• Education as having a salvific potential (whatever that means)

• Understanding of the role of the Holy Spirit• Curriculum that is:

– Developmental– Integrated– Religious– Global

How to Start:

• Pray for discernment• Discuss the need for taking the school to the

next level• Clarify “points of pride”• Agree on “portrait of the graduate”

Look at Infrastructure:

• Use of space• Corporate structure: lines of accountability• Curriculum: integration of values• Delivery of religious services• Staff who are committed• Parents/students• Culture: honorees, target of funds,

acceptance of differences• Schedule, calendar

Look at Ectostructure

• Relationships of the school:– Christian Brothers– Alumni– Benefactors– Board– Parishes, Diocese, Church

Some other Considerations:

• Don’t decree it• Look back; don’t stare• Don’t get stuck on a few individuals• Make sure the board takes the lead in the process• Have a strategic plan in place• Check for mission, core values, non-negotiables• Keep lines of communication open

Finally….

“God who guides all thingsWith wisdom and serenityAnd whose way it is not toForce the inclinations of persons,Willed to commit me to the development of the Schools. He did this in an imperceptible manner and Over a long period of time, so that one commitmentLed to another in a way that I did not foresee inThe beginning.”

Memoir of De La Salle

Think:

• What happens to “we’ve always done it this way”?• What aspects do we need to examine? • What do we need to keep?• What do we need to jettison?• How will we answer these questions in light of

fidelity to mission?

Back to the mandates:

1. Education for formation in Faith

• Integration of the school’s core values and the teachings of the Catholic Church

• Knowledge of the tenets of the Catholic church

• Understanding of personal responsibility• Example of faculty/staff of adult Christianity

2. Provide an integral, quality education

• Connect the dots• Maintain non-negotiables• Provide education for this generation of

students, not the last• Give direction on the need for

lifelong learning• Make sure it’s applicable

3. Educate in a family spirit

• This is a generation in search of community• Look at a Newman model of Church• Know as we are known• Involve family; understand the wants and

needs of parents• Make all welcome

4. Education for Service, Justice, Peace, and the Integrity of Creation

• Communication of the purpose of education• What is just vs. What is fair• We are born to serve• Understanding of stewardship

5. Education for adaptation and change

• Understanding the power and inevitability of change

• Look back, but don’t stare• Take bold steps• Honor vision, but respect plans

Consider:

• Do we acknowledge:– Social constructs– Communication platforms– The need to connect learning?

• Employers and colleges do not look for proficiency in a traditional curriculum (e.g. The Apprentice)

Consider:

• How should we study post-graduation success?• How will we inform their opinions?• How much do our students know about the

economy, globalism, the impact of emerging economies, tribalism, etc.?

• How has the content of our curriculum changed?• How will we engage our students in the Church? In

social justice?

Consider Further….

• What kinds of leadership will we need?• Do our students understand:

– The global economy? – Personal finances? – Politics?– The way the government works?– Social issues

Consider even further…

• What is the first thing we need to do?• What is the second thing we need to do?• What is the third thing we need to do?• How will we do these things?• How will we bring others along?

Use the Gifts of the Magi:

• We don’t know who, how many• Read the signs of the times• Actually began the journey• Assumed Jesus wanted to be found• Showed up• Went back a different way.