GERMANY, fma. It can be hard work to educate children, but if we work as a team with God, it becomes a wonderful task, Pope Benedict XVI tells us. The Introductory Course in Education is concerned with this wonderful task and how parents can carry it out with more joy and greater skill. A few days ago a flyer became available with the dates for the courses in 2012, and in a few days’ time a special home page will appear in the internet. In the last few days the initiators, Tanja and Stefan Loriz, together with their children, have collated thousands of leaflets and visiting cards; the first pile has already been distributed in Kindergartens and Schoenstatt Centres, the first press release has been made … and the project “Introductory Course in Education for Parents” is ready for the virtual and real Tent of Covenant Culture in the Family Area – a project that originated and continues to grow on the way to 2014.
The defiant phase, sleeping times, pocket money, mobile phone, computer, going out with friends – parents face a huge educational challenge.
The subject of children and the education of children in the Introductory Course in Education has been removed from the context of being a problem and placed in that of joy in strengthening life, and leading to growth, development and originality. The intention is to show that the education of children is not a theory or set of problems alienated from life, but a fulfilling task. It is founded on the experience of success and a pedagogy that has grown from the joy of educating people to become strong, free personalities.
In three modules dealing with specific ages, which can be booked separately or together, the team composed of couples who are qualified family trainers, with the support of other specialists in the subject, pass on the fundamentals of education tailored to the stages in development of very young children, school age children and teenagers (puberty).
Based on Fr Kentenich’s pedagogy and applied to the education of children in the family
The Introductory Course in Education is based on the pedagogical concept of Fr Joseph Kentenich, one of the great educators of our times. The basic elements include conveying the pedagogical foundations for each age group, complemented by qualified observations of actual everyday educational situations, as well as discussions between the couples on their own and with other couples. Parallel to the programme for the parents, there is a programme for the children.
The testimonies of parents who have taken part in the Introductory Course in Education confirms the concept: “The good experiences we had with the two previous courses has inspired us to join in this one as well,” one couple wrote. “The desire to learn new things and to share our experiences with other parents” motivated others to take part – and their expectations were fully met. “It did us good to reflect on our own actions, to experience affirmation and positive reinforcement, and to reflect on new approaches.”
A very special copyright
The new leaflets designed by Franziska Jehle in conjunction with the design for the Academy for Family Pedagogy include a new FatherSaying (also to be found separately on a special visiting card). “We have to be the authors of life in others” – a saying that Tanja and Stefan Loriz, and all who have the Introductory Course in Education at heart, really love. We are concerned with life and the wonderful task of being authors of new life in teamwork with God, and with him helping to develop that life in the most precious gift God has given us: a child.
Dates and Venues in 2012:
Course I – young child: 4-6 May 2012, Schoenstatt auf’m Berg, Memholz near Kempten
Course 2 – school child: 15-17 June 2012, Schoenstatt Centre, Aulendorf
Course 3 – Teenagers: 16-18 November 2012, Schoenstatt auf’m Berg, Memholz near Kempten
New website to appear shortly: www.grundkurs-erziehung.de
Information and application, leaflets: Tanja and Stefan Loriz, familie.loriz@gmx.de
Translation: Mary Cole, Manchester, England
