The Place of Science in Catholic
Homeschooling
Science as a Life-Long Discipline
Scientists & Catholicism
Well-known Catholic Scientists:
• Robert Grosseteste (1175-1253) – Optics, Astronomy
• Albertus Magnus (1206-1280) – Natural Philosophy
• Roger Bacon (1214-1294) – Scientific Method, Optics
• Nicole Oresme (1323-1382) – Optics (refraction)
• Nicolaus Copernicus (1473-1543) – Astronomy
• Galileo Galilei (1564-1642) – Astronomy
• Antoine Lavoisier (1743-1794) – Chemistry
• Gregor Mendel (1822-1884) – Biology, Genetics
• Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) – Chemistry, Microbiology
• Alexander Fleming (1881-1955) – Biologist, Penicillin
• Erwin Schrodinger (1887-1961) – Physicist, Quantum Mechanics
• George Lemaitre (1894-1966) – Physicist, Big Bang Theory
Science & Catholicism: Historical
• Where did science come from?
• Why did science arise in the West?
Faith & Reason
• “…it is impossible for the truth of faith to be contrary to
principles known by natural reason.” (Summa contra gentiles,
I,7)
• “…there is a profound and indissoluble unity between the
knowledge of reason and the knowledge of faith.” (Fides et
Ratio, 16)
• “There is […] no reason for competition of any kind between
reason and faith: each contains the other, and each has its
own scope for action.” (Fides et Ratio, 17)
Evolution/Cosmology
• What does the Church teach in regards to
Evolution and Cosmology?
–
–
Indeed, the theory of natural evolution, understood in a sense that does not exclude divine causality,
is not in principle opposed to the truth about the creation of the visible world, as presented in the
Book of Genesis. (JPII, Gen Aud 1/29/86)
It can therefore be said that, from the viewpoint of the doctrine of the faith, there are no difficulties
in explaining the origin of man in regard to the body, by means of the theory of evolution.
[…]However, the doctrine of faith invariably affirms that man's spiritual soul is created directly by
God. (JPII, Gen Aud 4/16/86)
• De Fide requirements:
–
–
Divine Causality & creation ex nihilo
Existence & special creation of each individual human soul
Why the conflict?
•
•
•
•
•
Or: When Science becomes “Scientism”
Science has its own “scope of action.” (Fides et Ratio)
Science, properly speaking, derives from “Natural Philosophy”
Natural – what is observable, measurable, quantifiable
Natural science does not have the tools to make judgments
about ethics or metaphysics
Science as Classical
• 7 “Liberal Arts”
– Trivium
• Grammar, Logic, Rhetoric
• Development of language skills, communication
– Quadrivium
• Arithmetic, Geometry, Music, Astronomy
• Development of the analytic mind
– Preparation for the study of philosophy (“Queen of the
Sciences”)
• Natural Philosophy
Natural Science
Science as Ignatian
• Cura personalis
– “Jesuit education is a call to human excellence, to the fullest possible
development of all human qualities. It is a call to critical thinking and
disciplined studies, a call to develop the whole person, head and heart,
intellect and feelings.”
• Science as education of the whole person
– Know the facts
– Know the process
• Be prepared: Science for Apologetics
–
–
–
–
Pro-life
Bio-ethics
Evolution
Faith & Reason
Why teach science?
• Practical Issues
– Students should be capable of reading and
understanding basic scientific documents
– Capable of separating scientific fact and fiction
and be able to calm fears of unknown
– College Admission
• Examples
– Higgs-boson particle
– Spring tornado outbreak & recent flooding with
possible relation to climate change
How to Teach Science?
• Science is probably the most daunting subject
to teach as a homeschooling parent
• How do students experience lab?
• How do you teach a subject that you struggled
through in high school yourself?
• How do you teach the bioethical and moral
issues?
Options for Teaching Science
• A solid high school textbook with good index
• Enroll in a home school with course plan &
exam support, and access to science experts
• Community College course
• Virtual/Online classes
• Parent trade-off or use DAD
• Co-op
• Tutor!!!!!!!!
Church Teaching
• Incredibly important for students to
understand the place of the Church in science
• Bring in Church teaching as is needed
• Look to encyclicals and the Catechism
• Be careful of some of the Protestant authors
as they can tend to put science at odds with
Christianity, when it doesn’t need to be
What to Teach?
• What to look for in a college preparatory
science curriculum
– “College prep” is a term loosely used
– Touch on topics that they will see again in college,
but not go into depth on all
– Ensures students that go on to the sciences will be
prepared, but also allows breadth of topics for
students that won’t see science again
– Be prepared for SAT II subject tests.
Biology Topics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Cells & Cell Structure
Photosynthesis & Cellular Respiration
Intro to Genetics
Intro to Scientific Classification
Human Anatomy
Theory of Evolution
Optional: Ecology
Honors/AP – More on physiology (processes),
biochem, detailed classification of organisms
Chemistry Topics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Atoms and Atomic Structure
The Periodic Table
Bonding
Chemical Names, Formulas
Chemical Equations
Stoichiometry
States of Matter & Gas Behavior
Solutions
Acids, Bases, & Salts
Honors/AP – Electro Chem, Organic Chem, Nuclear
Chem
Physics Topics
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mechanics & Dynamics
Intro to Fluid Dynamics
Gravity & Orbits
Wave motion
Intro to Electricity
Intro to Magnetism
Optics
Optional: Thermodynamics
Honors/AP: Rotational Dynamics, Fluid dynamics,
Electric Current and Magnetic Fields, Electromagnetic
induction, Electric Flux and Gauss’ Law, Capacitors,
Interference, Diffraction
Teaching Lab
• Ideally uses REAL “ingredients” in a REAL lab.
– Community college lab course
• Second to this, is REAL “ingredients” in a
group/class setting.
– Co-op
• Real “ingredients” in your kitchen!
– Home Science Tools excellent resource
• Virtual Lab is nothing to be ashamed of…
Preparing for High School
• Biology these days concentrates a bit more on
the biochem concepts
• A solid physical science course in 8th or 9th
grade can really be beneficial
– Scientific measurement
– Chemistry
– Physics
• Co-requisite of Algebra 1
College Entrance Requirements
•
•
•
•
Schools vary from 1-3 years.
Almost all require Biology
Most require Chemistry
Almost all want to see you take the best
curriculum available to you
• Any “college prep” course should prepare
students adequately for the SAT II subject tests
• AP exams can be taken w/o being enrolled in a
specific “AP course”.
Q&A