In the mid-90's, during an episode of the highly acclaimed TV police drama, Homicide*, Officer Frank Pembleton (played by Andre Braugher, SICP class of '80) is talking to a nun. In the course of their conversation, Officer Pembleton says that, in his Catholic grammar school, the nuns taught him how to behave and what to think, and he felt perfectly safe. After graduation, he went to Saint Ignatius High School, and the Jesuits taught him to think for himself...and he hasn't felt safe since.
That was a great line and it touched on what is essential to a Jesuit education. The great Saint Ignatius math teacher, Pat O'Mara attended both St. Ignatius and Loyola U. Those who knew Pat would agree that he could be quite outspoken when he felt an issue needed to be addressed. More than once I heard Pat say he learned that from the Jesuits. The Jesuits had taught him to think for himself, and they also taught him to have the courage to speak out for a just cause.
St. Ignatius de Loyola formed the Society of Jesus to educate young men to be able to go out into the world to propagate and defend the faith. In doing so, they played a major role in the counter-reformation that stemmed the tide of Protestantism in 16th-century Europe. To me, what characterized a Jesuit education was an emphasis on knowledge and critical thinking. At Loyola U, we were inundated with philosophy courses...24 hours of mostly Saint Thomas...and I was a psych major with a math minor.
It may be counterintuitive, but life is easier when someone else does our thinking for us. (We see that regularly in politics, but don't get me started.) Thinking for oneself correctly requires intelligence and knowledge and a large dose of humility. Few things are more difficult for the intelligent person than to recognize and admit to an error. A favorite saying of mine, from the Jillian Luzzi Compilation of Great Quotes, says, "Your absolute certainty that you are always right absolutely prevents you from knowing when you are wrong."
When I started teaching at Saint Ignatius, I was often chided by teachers at other Catholic high schools who told me how easy I had it teaching only "smart" kids. (Actually, it wasn’t always that easy.) I'd usually smile, agree and turn away. I didn't argue, and I didn't disagree, but that was, and as far as I know still is, the mission of the Jesuits...to train the brightest students, giving them a strong moral compass so they can be good leaders. When I look at the achievements of so many of our alumni, I feel that we do a pretty good job.
(*Regarding the Homicide series, not only did Andre Braugher graduate from St. Ignatius, but one of the show's writers, James Yoshimura, was from the Ignatius class of '68. While the drama was set in Baltimore, it seems more than a coincidence that Saint Ignatius and the Jesuits were mentioned.)
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Reflection #33 (Only 1043 to go!): Odds-and-Ends
This past Friday, March 2, I was at the Ignatius Law Luncheon, an event that I always enjoy. Frank Raispis and I represented the old-timers among Ignatius personnel. According to John Tracy, he's getting pretty close to joining our ranks. (Welcome, John! Ahh, the golden years. You’ll love it. Bring a lot of Advil with you.)
I was able to chat with so many folks, mostly former students...too many to name, but always up-lifting to hear about their lives. There were several who were running for “judgeships”. (I hope that’s the right word.) I highly recommend that any Ignatians who are in the law profession come to the Law Luncheon, at least to check it out, and see what the association has to offer.
Going to these events with Raispis is always fun/interesting. There were actually people lined up to say, "Hi!" to him. I'm proud to call him my friend. At the same time, it gives me the sense of what it must be like to be invisible. To use an old line, if Frank were standing on the balcony next to the Pope, I'm pretty sure a lot of people would be saying, "Who's that guy standing next to Frank?"
During Father Caruso's short talk, he encouraged the group to come to "Gloriam 2012", this year's fund-raiser. Happily, yesterday the notice came out announcing that the event is sold out.
That brings me to my second point. (or is it my 3rd?) In my last blog, I pointed out two reunions that centered around the years that these alumni were students. However, besides the Law Association, there are at least two other groups of Ignatians who are connected professionally. There is also the Business Society which has their luncheon in November (tentatively November 2nd this year) and the women’s society which is a professional networking group.
These subsets of alumni give everyone an opportunity to stay involved with, and even take advantage of, the school community. If anyone is interested in getting more information about any of the groups, or what other groups might be available, contact Sean MacCready, the Alumni Director at Ignatius.
Finally, my wife prompted me to write the following item...much against my better judgment:
I trust that you all know that the Pythagorean Theorem says, "In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides."
In the pre-Columbian days of North America, the native Americans had their own version of that famous theorem. Based on the legend from one of the tribes, three Indian women were about to give birth. It was believed that if a baby was born on the pelt of an animal, the child would grow to possess the good qualities of that animal.
When the first woman's time had come, her husband went out into the wilds and slew a mountain lion, and, on that skin, a baby boy was born. When the second wife's time had come, her husband slew a mountain tiger, and his wife had a son.
When the third woman's time came, her husband slew a mountain hippopotamus and brought back its skin. On that skin, twin sons were born.
The Indians came to understand that “The squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides (Get it? The square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides.) That’s all for now folks; I’ll be here all week. Oh, ya! I apologize in advance to all Native Americans for the last item, and for all of the times that I told that story in class. ”.
I was able to chat with so many folks, mostly former students...too many to name, but always up-lifting to hear about their lives. There were several who were running for “judgeships”. (I hope that’s the right word.) I highly recommend that any Ignatians who are in the law profession come to the Law Luncheon, at least to check it out, and see what the association has to offer.
Going to these events with Raispis is always fun/interesting. There were actually people lined up to say, "Hi!" to him. I'm proud to call him my friend. At the same time, it gives me the sense of what it must be like to be invisible. To use an old line, if Frank were standing on the balcony next to the Pope, I'm pretty sure a lot of people would be saying, "Who's that guy standing next to Frank?"
During Father Caruso's short talk, he encouraged the group to come to "Gloriam 2012", this year's fund-raiser. Happily, yesterday the notice came out announcing that the event is sold out.
That brings me to my second point. (or is it my 3rd?) In my last blog, I pointed out two reunions that centered around the years that these alumni were students. However, besides the Law Association, there are at least two other groups of Ignatians who are connected professionally. There is also the Business Society which has their luncheon in November (tentatively November 2nd this year) and the women’s society which is a professional networking group.
These subsets of alumni give everyone an opportunity to stay involved with, and even take advantage of, the school community. If anyone is interested in getting more information about any of the groups, or what other groups might be available, contact Sean MacCready, the Alumni Director at Ignatius.
Finally, my wife prompted me to write the following item...much against my better judgment:
I trust that you all know that the Pythagorean Theorem says, "In a right triangle, the square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides."
In the pre-Columbian days of North America, the native Americans had their own version of that famous theorem. Based on the legend from one of the tribes, three Indian women were about to give birth. It was believed that if a baby was born on the pelt of an animal, the child would grow to possess the good qualities of that animal.
When the first woman's time had come, her husband went out into the wilds and slew a mountain lion, and, on that skin, a baby boy was born. When the second wife's time had come, her husband slew a mountain tiger, and his wife had a son.
When the third woman's time came, her husband slew a mountain hippopotamus and brought back its skin. On that skin, twin sons were born.
The Indians came to understand that “The squaw of the hippopotamus is equal to the sons of the squaws of the other two hides (Get it? The square of the hypotenuse equals the sum of the squares of the other two sides.) That’s all for now folks; I’ll be here all week. Oh, ya! I apologize in advance to all Native Americans for the last item, and for all of the times that I told that story in class. ”.
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