THOUGHTS FROM OUR HEAD OF SCHOOL JOSEPH VORBACH:
Earlier this week I was engaged in a conversation with a few colleagues that started with a reference to a recent Wall Street Journal editorial on the unique value of Catholic education. The June 1, 2018 editorial made its way around Catholic education circles because of its focus on the positive impact of a Catholic education, rooted in the focus on self-discipline.
It got me thinking about what it is I believe is meant by "self-discipline" as used by those who conducted the study referenced in the WSJ editorial, and, indeed, what I hope students learn well while at Bishop O'Connell:
- Respect yourself - take care of yourself, don't do things that are self destructive
- Respect others - think in terms of seeing the face of God in others and trying to be the face of God for them
- Honor your parents and their commitment to your education
- Make the most of the talents God gave you...for the greater societal good.
- Develop the trait of humility (Micah 6:8 - Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God)
I am grateful for the blessing of a team here at Bishop O'Connell that is committed to the development of the whole person in every student. They understand the unique mission and the great transformative potential of Catholic education and they desire to make a positive difference in the lives of the young people they encounter. We know our students face great challenges as they develop their self-discipline, and it is therefore a great responsibility for us to be alert to those challenges, their changing nature, and to whatever best practices we can avail ourselves of to combat them.
During this current school year, we are actually engaged in a self-study, a methodical examination of how we are doing at accomplishing our mission. This is done in advance of a Fall 2019 re-accreditation visit from our accrediting body, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), a component of the company Advanc-ED. The self-study might be thought of as an audit of our collective self-discipline as an institution. It incorporates a wide array of data and allows us to calibrate our strategies for continuous improvement.