"For a writer, the Jesuits' stress on Socratic thinking was a gift. Question seeks answer, answer sparks new questions, yielding synthesis as the wheel of learning turns. Picture cerebral basketball coach Kevin Trower, a layperson teaching Latin, pacing the floor with furrowed brow, book in hand on Caesar's Gallic wars. Alea iacta est. The die is cast! What does this tell us? Think, boys! Think!"
"The priests encouraged us to be men for others, with responsibility to those on the margins, emulating Jesus. Francis, the first Jesuit pope, emphasized embracing dignity of the dispossessed, clashing with a creed of wealth as virtue."
"Think of yourself in five years, Jason, he said. What difference will football make? Koch entreated me to pray for a closeness with Jesus. He blessed me when we finished. I left feeling clean, a burden lifted."
In 1965, a student at a Jesuit high school in New Orleans quit the football team after realizing he didn't enjoy it, despite initial guilt over abandoning the commitment. The school fostered intellectual growth through Socratic dialogue, encouraging students to question and think critically. Teachers like Kevin Trower exemplified this approach, pushing students to analyze and synthesize information. The Jesuit philosophy emphasized becoming "men for others," instilling responsibility toward marginalized people and emulating Jesus's values. A religion teacher, Father Pat Koch, provided spiritual guidance during personal struggles, helping the student find peace through prayer and reflection. This educational foundation, combining rigorous thinking with ethical service, profoundly influenced the student's spiritual journey and worldview regarding human dignity and social responsibility.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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