ARGENTINA, Osvaldo Martín. The 2011 Pedagogical Conference with the motto “Present Problems and Challenges in Education” took place on October 1st and 2nd, in New Schoenstatt, Florencio Varela. This is in the Buenos Aires province.
A great number of teachers, rectors and principals from Kentenich institutions filled Casa Solaz de María (House of Mary’s Solace). In addition to the participants from Argentina – from the provinces of Tucumán, Corrientes, Córdoba, Mendoza, Salta and Buenos Aires (Rauch, Adrogué, La Plata) – invited guests from Ecuador, Uruguay, and Chile were also present.
Prophetic Educator
Excellent speakers enriched the conference. The conference began with Martha de Iglesia’s dissertation. She is an expert on Logotherapy. She spoke on the possibility of building critical thinking in light of the adolescent’s use of communication means.
Afterwards, Fr. Angel Strada, postulator for Father Kentenich’s beatification cause – he has lived in Germany for 27 years – gave a global vision of the international reality referring to the youth. He also referred to the prophetic educator, who – as someone defined Father Kentenich – lives “with the hand on the pulse of time and the ear at the heart of God.”
Dr. Claudio García Pintos, director of CLAE (Center for Logotherapy and Existential Analysis at the Catholic University of Argentina) and CAVEF (Professor’s Chair Viktor Emil Frankl) expounded on “Aggression and violence in today’s adolescents.”
Professor Dr. Gerardo Suárez, consultor for private and public institutions on education, institutional evaluation and collaborator for the Joseph Kentenich Pedagogical Center, made reference in his presentation on how to educate children who are bored in unauthorized schools and confused families.
On the other hand, Diego Melero, director of the Father Joseph Kentenich polyvalent school in Chile, expounded on “Kentenich pedagogy, an educational response for the 21st Century.”
Challenges for an efficient educational process
A panel coordinated by Dr. Roberto Crouzel, member of the Joseph Kentenich Pedagogical Center, and composed of Drs. José Cassana, Pablo Blanco and architect Juan Bestani, spoke on the insertion of youths in politics.
Likewise, Fr. Alejandro Blanco, professor of Theology, Philosophy and Reglious Sciences – a member of the Schoenstatt Diocesan Priests Federation – spoke on the influence of spirituality in the educational community.
As he did at the beginning of the Conference, Fr. Guillermo Carmona, director of the Joseph Kentenich Pedagogical Center, spoke and his concluding presentation was entitled: “Embrace, accept and apprehend: challenges for an efficient educational process.”
In an atmosphere of cordiality, brotherhood and exchange of ideas, this 2011 Pedagogical Conference developed, and it is the desire of all the members of the Joseph Kentenich Pedagogical Center (CPJK) that it be “a great support for training, association and creative work,” as was stated by Fr. Carmona in his opening statements.
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 10122011
