UC publishes book on "Catholic Education in Chile: perspectives, contributions and tensions"
August 13 2015
To identify the added value of being educated in Catholic-inspired institutions at the school and university level, and which is expressed, among other variables, in better academic results, greater commitment to the community and parental participation, lower rates of violence among children, and higher education. integral oriented to values and cooperation, was part of the objectives and investigations exposed in the book "Catholic education in Chile, perspectives, contributions and tensions”, presented during a ceremony led by Monsignor Ricardo Ezzati, the rector of the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile Ignacio Sánchez and the academic UC Faculty of Education Lorraine medina.
The ceremony was also attended by Vice Grand Chancellor of the UC Tomás Scherz; the historian of the Pontifical Catholic University sun serrano; the Director of UC editions, Maria Angelica Zegers; the teacher book editor Patricia Imbarak; rectors José Antonio Guzmán, from the Universidad de los Andes, Jorge Baeza, from the Cardenal Silva Henríquez University and Aliro Bórquez from the Catholic University of Temuco; together with the auxiliary bishop of Santiago Monsignor Galo Fernández and Father Cristián Roncagliolo, among other high ecclesial, academic and university authorities.
The new title of the collection Studies in Education CEPPE y UC editions brings together research and reflections from different actors and institutions linked to Catholic education in our country, and offers a comprehensive and systematic framework of concepts and evidence about the values and richness of a faith-based education for the complex world of the XNUMXst century. .
The sixteen articles present address issues such as management for school improvement, religious freedom, profile of a catholic educator, teaching professionalism and the role of parents –among others–, and cover both the school stage and higher education.
The editor of the book, the professor of the Faculty of Education, Patricia Imbarak, explains that "The merit of the texts is expressed in three ways: from the theology of education, or educational doctrine about what the person is and what is expected to be; educational practice, understood as the educational process of faith within the family or in the community of faith and, finally, educational institutions, which seek to train the whole person, in a process where knowledge, culture and faith come together. ”.
The prologue is written by the Chilean Cardinal Monsignor Ricardo Ezzati, who maintains that "Chile, like most Latin American countries, has been involved in profound social and political changes, which call for a definition of what is essential. Particularly, teaching in this new scenario is conceived as a complex and highly contested task. In this context, school and university education is increasingly challenged by the demands of market dynamism and progress, with which the being and the acting of the educational action are put in tension.
In his opening speech, the rector of the UC Ignacio Sánchez declared that for the university, this book represents a relevant contribution to all those who work from the faith in the training of children, adolescents and young people in schools and universities. The authority declared thatIn the current debate on the challenges of Higher Education in Chile, it is necessary to contribute the approaches that arise from our identity as institutions that are part of the Catholic Church.. We do so by declaring our interest and commitment to the formation and education of the heart, mind and soul of our youth. We do it to train citizens at the service of the country, committed to the poorest and most vulnerable in society. It is time to think about and reinforce the idea of a university that collaborates with the evangelization of culture and promotes the values of solidarity, justice, equity and peace”.
Rector Sánchez maintained that a Catholic higher education institution open to society must respond to the call of its pastors from a missionary perspective, which allows the doors of knowledge to be opened with joy to all those who are interested in developing their capacities, without exclusions. For the principal, inclusion must transcend economic growth, social investment and access to public goods. "It is the person and their dignity that must be promoted, favoring their full development, based on the educational proposal that springs from the identity of a Catholic university," he said.
A twist on Catholic education
For the academic of the Faculty of Education UC, Lorraine medina, Catholic education must be an opening with roots and that is not exempt from tensions and diversity of visions typical of today's society. “This openness promotes and values the plurality of cultural expressions with which the church can and should be in tune with the believing message. A call whose theological vision requires an approach in dialogue with his cultural vision of the contemporary world”, he commented.
The teacher maintained that the educational field has the mission to deliver the best learning opportunities to children and young people, for an integral formation of the person, an issue that for institutions with the Catholic seal, both school and higher education, must be an essential part of what is meant by providing a quality education. At the same time, he called for a reversal of the underdeveloped empirical educational research regarding the nature and effectiveness of Catholic education. To disseminate ideas, research, and initiatives born under the eaves of the gaze”.
For her part, the Vice Chancellor for Research, sun serrano, highlighted that the theme of the book “comprises reflections from different domains of knowledge. The doctrinal, theological, epistemological, sociological, historical, legal and pedagogical. (...) It provides contributions in two ways, the intellectual contribution of the works themselves and the contribution of Catholic education to society. And it does so in very specific, embodied experiences, such as the project of the Catholic University or the educational project of Nocedal”, he pointed out, adding that the work presents the relationship that Catholic education and secular society should have, and the relationship between scientific research and faith.
The director of UC Editions, Maria Angelica Zegers, Commented that "A university publishing house, at least as we understand it at Ediciones UC, must first of all be a benchmark in academic matters, but hand in hand with this, make a significant contribution to the community, which is a constitutive part of our reason for being and the mission and public vocation of this university. For the same reason, when this contribution materializes in a collection whose name is "Studies in Education", which brings together the discussion, thought, research and proposals of the highest level on one of the most important and significant issues for society, what is the education of our children and young people, we cannot but feel proud of this alliance with CEPPE and of the work carried out”.
The new UC book is on sale in bookstores in UC editions and in commercial chains.
Check the book launch
Text: Francisco Zabaleta, Faculty of Education UC
