« Life-Long Openness to Growth » is not only about learning itself but also about knowing how to learn.

Par Karina Zapata-Roche
Juil 3rd, 2017

The world today offers enormous possibilities to both younger and older generations. Through advances in technology, many have quick and easy access to new and updated learning materials. There are few or no barriers to accessing valuable learning materials to improve personal and professional skills.

Unfortunately, not everyone enjoys learning once they have finished school. This skill of being open to change and continuous learning is one that Jesuit Education has been fostering among its students throughout many years.  Life-long openness to growth is not only about learning itself but also about knowing how to learn. Students are encouraged to develop useful learning skills and to foster the desire of a personal and professional life-long learning process.  

The ability to learn how to learn in a practical, efficient, enjoyable and continuous way is another fantastic characteristic of Jesuit Education.  

Does your school embody this characteristic? Can you think of a particular moment in your school when this characteristic was reflected?

Here we share some excellent quotes gathered from the document “Characteristics of Jesuit Education” written by the International Commission on the Apostolate of Jesuit Education (ICAJE), which might help you to identify whether ‘life-long openness to growth’ represents the Ignatian character of your school.

Since education is a life-long process, Jesuit education tries to instill a joy in learning and a desire to learn that will remain beyond the days in school.  “Perhaps even more important than the formation we give them is the capacity and concern to continue their own formation; this is what we must instill in them.  It is important to learn; but it is much more important to learn how to learn, to desire to go on learning all through life”. 20 Characteristics of Jesuit Education

 

(47) Personal relationships with students will help the adult members of the educational community to be open to change, to continue to learn; thus, they will be more effective in their own work. This is especially important today, given the rapid change in culture and the difficulty that adults can have in understanding and interpreting correctly the cultural pressures that affect young people. Characteristics of Jesuit Education

 

(48) Jesuit education recognizes that intellectual, affective, and spiritual growth continue throughout life; the adult members of the educational community are encouraged to continue to mature in these areas, and programs of ongoing formation are provided to assist in this growth. 21 Characteristics of Jesuit Education” 

Are you ready to show the world what best makes your school Ignatian?  Join the Mannequin Challenge! a viral internet video style where people remain frozen in action like mannequins while a moving camera documents the scene.Mannequin Challenge

To find out more see the Magis Mannequin Challenge Invitation or email Ciara at cbeuster@educatemagis.org