Gerber Institute for Catholic Studies » Education

Warren St. John to speak at Newman

Jamey Findling — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:22:25 +0000

The Gerber Institute for Catholic Studies at Newman University presents author Warren St. John on Monday, September 19, 2011, at 7:00 p.m. in the DeMattias Performance Hall on the Newman campus. Mr. St. John is the author of the national bestseller Outcasts United, the “stunning real-life story of an inspiring group of refugees and a woman who, with tough love and fiery determination, changes an entire community for the better” (back cover). During the lecture, which is free and open to the public, Mr. St. John will recount the story of the Fugees soccer team and will take questions from the audience. A reception and book signing will follow the talk. For more information about this event or to reserve a free ticket guaranteeing your seat, please visit the Eventbrite page at http://bitly.com/stjohnspeaker.

Lecture by Edward J. Miller

Jamey Findling — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:22:21 +0000

Feb. 23, 2011 — We enjoyed Prof. Miller’s remarks last night about John Henry Newman and what it means to have — and to be — an “alma mater.” The phrase “alma mater” is not usually translated, having gained enough of its own currency in English to no longer need it. Most people know it means something like “the college I went to/graduated from.” But, while our language is certainly enriched by the importation of foreign words and phrases, there is almost always something lost in translation, so to speak. Had I been asked, I would have known that “mater” means “mother.” But I didn’t know that “alma” means “nourishing.” One’s “alma mater” is thus the mother that intellectually and spiritually nourishes one. What a beautiful image!

In his talk, Prof. Miller graciously shared some personal reflections on his own alma mater, the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium, where he earned his doctorate. He then offered some insight into Cardinal Newman’s relationship with what he considered his alma mater, Trinity College at Oxford, a place that Newman recalled much later as having “never been unkind” to him, even as he was shunned by the rest of Oxford for his conversion to Catholicism. Finally, Prof. Miller brought us some insights (based in part on unpublished end-of-year reports which Newman was obliged to submit annually to the bishops) about how Newman sought to ensure that the institution he founded, the Catholic University of Ireland in Dublin, would continue this tradition of nourishing its students’ minds and souls.

The presentation was accompanied by numerous pictures — of Louvain, of Oxford, of the Catholic University in Ireland — some of which brought back fond memories for those who attended the beatification of Cardinal Newman last September. We only wish more members of the Newman community could have attended this special Newman Week event. For those who did attend, feel free to add your comments below!

Edward J. Miller to speak during Cardinal Newman Week

Jamey Findling — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 20:45:33 +0000

As part of the Cardinal Newman Week events, Edward J. Miller, Ph.D., S.T.D., will give a presentation titled “On Being an Alma Mater: Newman’s Experience and Ours.” The talk will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 22, in the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center.

Dr. Miller, Professor of Religious Studies at Gwynedd-Mercy College (Pennsylvania), has published his theological research in numerous books, including Newman: Doctor of the Church (Oxford, 2007), Discourse and Context: An Interdisciplinary Study of John Henry Newman (Carbondale, 1993), Critical Essays on John Henry Newman (Victoria BC, 1992), and John Henry Newman on the Idea of Church (Shepherdstown, 1987).

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit the Gerber Institute’s website at www.gerberinstitute.org.

Alfie Kohn to speak on education

Jamey Findling — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 21:47:36 +0000

ALFIE KOHN

DON’T BEAT THEM, JOIN THEM:

Exploring the Value of Cooperation in a Society Addicted to Winning

The Gerber Institute for Catholic Studies is pleased to announce that Alfie Kohn will be speaking in Wichita, Kansas, on Saturday, April 16, 2011, from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. at Kapaun Mount Carmel High School, 8506 East Central Avenue, Wichita, Kansas. Kohn’s talk will deal with his influential ideas on teaching and parenting as they relate to the Gerber Institute’s ongoing theme of reconciling differences.

EVENT DETAILS

Doors will open at 8:15 a.m., with complimentary coffee and bagels available before the presentation.

Break-out sessions and a pizza lunch will follow the talk ($5 for lunch, payable at the door).

The break-out sessions will be facilitated by Newman University professors on a variety of topics:

-Elementary Education, by Karen Rogers

-Secondary Education, by Steve Dunn

-Higher Education, by Steve Poulter

-Parenting, by Marguerite Regan

Alfie Kohn

Alfie Kohn is the author of twelve books on education, parenting, and human behavior, including PUNISHED BY REWARDS (1993), BEYOND DISCIPLINE(1996), THE SCHOOLS OUR CHILDREN DESERVE (1999), UNCONDITIONAL PARENTING (2005), THE HOMEWORK MYTH (2006), and FEEL-BAD EDUCATION (due out this spring). He has written for most of the leading education periodicals and has appeared twice on “Oprah.” Time magazine described him as “perhaps the country’s most outspoken critic of education’s fixation on grades [and] test scores.” Kohn works with educators and parents across the country and speaks regularly at national conferences. He lives (actually) in the Boston area and (virtually) at www.alfiekohn.org.