Re “Classes reopen, but school is far from normal: superintendent,” BC. Catholic, June 1:

After the COVID-19 pandemic passes, there will likely be those who will argue for the continuation of some form of a hybrid model of education, and some who might even argue for the outright abandonment of brick and mortar classes for the virtual classroom.

The convenience and comfort (not to mention the much vaunted, but not-so-often realized, creative potential of communications technology will likely be cited in one form or another.

As both educators and parents of school-aged children, my wife and I would like to thank Deacon Henk Luyten for hopefully heading off at the pass such arguments by citing the numerous and irreplaceable advantages of face-to-face teaching and learning.

Christ taught God’s word from the Mount, and Socrates taught plenty of enduring words from the marketplace. Technology was not necessary. Human contact, however, was and has remained so for millennia and for multitudes of students and teachers.

It is interesting to note that as online learning progressed during the epidemic, the Ministry of Education saw a gradual provincewide withdrawal of students from the virtual classroom as well as a rise in requests for paper learning packages to be sent home. Screen fatigue was everywhere.

Let us, therefore, not be swayed by the experts of efficiency and the peddlers of technological novelty from providing our students and kids the very best of a Christian education within the loving confines of our Catholic schools.

Peter and Leah Valing
Burnaby


Re “How do we form priests in a pandemic?” B.C. Catholic, June 8: 

After the publication of on COVID-19 and the Seminary of Christ the King, some readers seemed to interpret that this article was about decisions already taken. I just wanted to clarify a few things for the readership.

Firstly, I was asked by the editor whether we had a response to COVID-19 for the coming school year 2020- 21.

Secondly, I simply wished to put forth possibilities that were already in the air. For example, Father Matthew Gerlich, our rector, already spoke about these possibilities in a general way for the Catholic Register.

Finally, because the seminary is connected to the Provincial Advanced Education system, we had to have some sort of reasoned response ready for them as well.

In short, this article was not laying out decisions already made for the opening or closing of school, but describing possibilities present in a very changing pandemic situation. I hope this clarification helps.

Abbot John Braganza, OSB
Westminster Abbey, Mission