On Faith and Reason

Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth." "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are. - The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 159

Information Night

We will be hosting an Academy Information Night for families interested in enrolling for the 2009-2010 school year. NECA is expanding! Come learn about our school and hear about our exciting plans for next year. Both new and returning families are welcome.

When: Tuesday, April 14, 2009 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Saint Mary School Gymnasium, 18 Central Street, Claremont, New Hampshire

Introducing Dan Willingham

Let me introduce to someone you should know: Daniel Willingham. He is a cognitive scientist who specializes in explaining how his field of study intersects with education. I first discovered his work when doing research on Howard Gardner's popular theory of Multiple Intelligences. Willingham's response was a breath of fresh air in an often over-heated education policy debate. (It also confirms classical teaching methods.)

Willingham can also be found blogging for the Core Knowledge Foundation and in a series of short, must-see videos on YouTube. Parents and students have been sold a pedagogical bill of goods under the banner of "multiple intelligences." One may hope that Daniel Willingham's work will help correct the wide-spread misapplication of Gardner's ideas in classrooms and college-level education programs.

For more on why the theory of Multiple Intelligences actually works against academic achievement, see the first chapter of Charles Murray's recent book Real Education.