IHM Conference - Why Should I Study That?

Deacon Eugene McGuirk speech was entitled "Why Should I Study That? I’ll Never Use It Again!"

As described in the conference brochure, "This talk covers the philosophical view that Catholic education is not mere job training, but is primarily Salvation training. Sentence diagramming, Algebra, and Latin may not seem important, and may seem to be skills that will never be used again in the ‘real world,’ but, as Mr. Myiagi told Daniel-san,
“not everything is as seems.”

Deacon McGuirk began by referencing the push-up, in coaching basketball he did not use it as punishment but as a strengthener. Although push-ups are never used during the game, they help you PLAY the game better.

Making several references to The Karate Kid, which I now have to rent to show my kids, he quoted the line, "not everything is as it seems." Relating that repetitive training creates a reflexive muscle, the Deacon then connected this to school subjects that teach students how to think and develop their own reasoning power.

Some notes -

Logic, writing, literature - to see connections, conceptualization and reasoning - higher order

Creates good problem solving skills

Algebra - think abstractly, find what's missing, find known rules in new ways,

Correlations, causations

Geometry is relational, a problem solving skill, ordered precise, proof of correctness, deductive reasoning.

Statistics from College Board research studies and Verbal test scores of students who have studied foreign languages.

Spanish or Italian - scored higher

French/ German - scored higher than above

Latin - scored the highest on average.

Latin trains for memory, discipline, concentration, systematic work and habits of critical thinking

All great info to remind our students of when they will undoubtedly ask, "Why do I have to learn this?!"

Which reminded me of some videos I've bookmarked under WHY STUDY LATIN?

Helpful visuals, and studies


Longer and not as visually stimulating, but good points to consider!


"Wax on, wax off" with these methods behind the madness.