As part of a five-year strategic plan, Central Catholic High School has established an interdisciplinary program that provides an exciting opportunity for highly motivated and independent students to do critical inquiry and discovery in the social sciences, the humanities, and the sciences. The program is named for Brother David S. Baginski, FSC, who was a teacher and an administrator at Central for several years. He died in 1996 while serving as principal of Hudson Catholic High School in Jersey City, NJ.
One of the essential goals of the new Baginski Scholars Program is to create opportunities for the students in the program to pursue a deeper understanding of the perennial issues that preoccupy humanity including the composition of an ethical society, and to notice what has been valued and what has been neglected. To this end, 27 sophomore students participated in an insight-filled educational journey to the nation’s capital, 23-24 January 2003. The theme of the trip was “Peace and Conflict Resolution: Its Relevance in These Days.”
In this extraordinary time of world history, we witness new ways of waging war and wanton disregard for human dignity and human rights. We also need new ways to solve old problems resulting from hatred, pride, and misunderstandings. Indeed, with conflicts burning on every permanently inhabited continent, and with the Permanent Members of the United Nations Security Council divided over making war with Iraq, education about peace and conflict resolution-an interdisciplinary endeavor, a Christian mission-is relevant in these days.
The students participated in three colloquium sessions centered on important topics related to peace and conflict resolution. Among the venues visited were the Embassy of the Holy See (Vatican), the U.S. Catholic Conference of Bishops, the U.S. Institute of Peace (shown in photo to right), and the Federation of American Scientists. Br. John Johnston, FSC, director of Lasallian educational programs for the USA/Toronto Region, joined the group during the session at the Bishops Conference. In addition to the serious dimension of the trip, the group enjoyed a fun-filled time at the new International Spy Museum and dinner at the beautiful Lauriol Plaza, a Spanish/Mexican restaurant.
Submitted by Br. Ernest Miller, FSC, Director, David S. Baginski, FSC, Scholars Program
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