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Study Questions for [em]To Kill a Mockingbird[/em] by Harper Lee

We are unable to supply an answer key to these study questions. Original thought is looked for in answering many of these questions for which there is no "one right answer". We hope these questions will assist parents in discussing the book with their children. Those who haven't read the book themselves could still discuss these questions and ideas in a general way with their children, have their children discuss it with others who have read the book, or seek summaries of the book online to better understand it.

1. From whose point of view is this story told? Why do you think the author chose this character instead of Jem?

2. How does Jem look on his father early in the book? (give at least one example) Does his view seem to change by the end? If so, how?

3. Who is Mrs. Dubose? Why do the children hate her so? When Atticus realizes how angry Jem is over Mrs. Dubose's comments, he says: "You just hold your head high and be a gentleman. Whatever she says to you, it's your job not to let her make you mad." What does this comment tell you about Atticus's character and how he tried to raise his children? How did the children end up helping Mrs. Dubose?

4. In chapter 11, Atticus and Scout briefly discuss why he feels he must defend Tom Robinson. Atticus says, "The one thing that doesn't abide by majority rule is a person's conscience." Explain what he means by this and how this belief causes conflict for him within the community.

5. How was the Finch's family life different than others they knew? How did other people view the way their father was raising them? What do you think of Atticus Finch as a father?

6. Who was Tom Robinson and how did he find himself on trial for his life? Why did Mayella accuse Tom Robinson of rape? Why did the community overwhelming accept Mayella's accusation? Why was Tom Robinson's case so hopeless? What did it say about the judge that he asked Atticus Finch to represent Tom Robinson?

7. What is the meaning of the title of the book? Why is it a sin to kill a mockingbird? Who is the mockingbird in the book? (Feel free to mention more than one if you think it appropriate). Given this title, what do you think the author would consider to be the most important point of the book?

8. What do you think this book might teach parents about raising children in difficult times and under difficult circumstances?


Extra: Saint Thomas More was a great man who gave his life rather than go against his conscience. Try to rent the movie "A Man for All Seasons" (the 1966 version starring Paul Scofield is better than the later one). Discuss the similarities between Atticus Finch and Saint Thomas More

Study questions by Alicia Van Hecke.
 

 

Study Questions on [em]St. Francis of the Seven Seas[/em]

Discussion/Essay Questions:

We are unable to supply an answer key to these study questions. Original thought is looked for in answering many of these questions for which there is no "one right answer". We hope these questions will assist parents in discussing the book with their children. Those who haven't read the book themselves could still discuss these questions and ideas in a general way with their children, have their children discuss it with others who have read the book, or seek summaries of the book online to better understand it.

1. When the Spanish soldiers came to destroy Castle Xavier, they saved a small part of it for Francis' family. Why?

2. What kind of a person was Francis Xavier during college? What made him change?

3. Who was Ignatius Loyola? What role did he play in Francis' life?

4. How did Francis become a Missionary? When he came to a new land, how did he begin to teach the people about God?

5. How was Francis' faith tesetd while he was doing Missionary work in Japan?

6. Investigating miracles associated with a particular person is an important part of the canonization process. What were some of the miracles (before and after his death) related to St. Francis Xavier?

 

Summer Programs at Catholic Colleges for High Students

Summer programs offered at homeschool-friendly Catholic colleges can give a student a chance to "try before you buy." It is an opportunity to both experience a college: its campus, some faculty, some student helpers, and some classes, plus the opportunity to meet potential future classmates. These programs are not cheap, but can give prospective students great information when making college decisions. They can also be an enriching experience in themselves, and some even offer high-school or college credit.

Ave Maria University

Ave Maria Leadership Camp

Belmont Abbey

Schola Summer Program

Benedictine College 

Benedictine College Youth Conference Catholic summer youth camps with various interest tracks including:

Summer Classical Architecture Program

Journey with Dante - high school summer study abroad program

Catholic University of America

Multiple Pre-College Programs for high school students with tracks including Engineering, Architecture, and Drama.

CUA also offers a limited number of courses  to eligible high-school students through its dual-enrollment program.

Christendom College

Best Week Ever summer program

Collegium Sanctorum Angelorum

The Collegium Summer Week

Franciscan University of Steubenville

Steubenville Youth Conferences – Please note: These youth conferences are NOT an introduction to the college itself but intended to bring participants into a "life-changing encounter with Jesus Christ."

Magdalen College

Two-week Summer Program - offers college credit

St. Vincent College 

Faith and Reason Summer Program

Summer Institute in Rome

Thomas Aquinas College

High School Great Books Program at both its New England and California campuses

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts

High School Great Books Summer Programs

Rome High School Summer Program

University of Dallas

A handful of summer programs including art, music, and "Arete: An Introduction to the Classics."

University of Mary (Bismarck, ND)

Cor Christi ("The Heart of Christ") summer program with two sessions in July. Faith-oriented rather than academic.

Wyoming Catholic College

PEAK Summer Programs: both wilderness and ranch opportunities.

Teen Links

Remodeling in progress!

Links relating to Religious Vocations:

 

Miscellaneous Links:

ChesterTeens

test of whizzywig paste and clean

Maria Rioux began her undergraduate studies at Thomas Aquinas College, where she met her husband, Jean. Jean is a professor and chair of the philosophy department at Benedictine College, where Maria is a theology major slowly completing her degree. They have been blessed with eight children, and are eagerly awaiting the birth of their youngest son in January.


Together they have been home educating their children for the past 19 years. In those early days of homeschooling there were not many resources available. As a consequence, they developed their own curriculum which reflects their love for classical education as well as their affection for Charlotte Mason. It is now available upon request and will soon be available online (no cost) : www.shirreware.com.

Thoughts About Science

Saint Albert the Great (circa 1200 AD) said:
In studying nature we have not to inquire how God the Creator may, as He freely wills, use His creatures to work miracles and thereby show forth His power: we have rather to inquire what Nature with its immanent causes can naturally bring to pass.
From The Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 159:
Faith and science: "Though faith is above reason, there can never be any real discrepancy between faith and reason. Since the same God who reveals mysteries and infuses faith has bestowed the light of reason on the human mind, God cannot deny himself, nor can truth ever contradict truth." "Consequently, methodical research in all branches of knowledge, provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner and does not override moral laws, can never conflict with the faith, because the things of the world and the things of faith derive from the same God. The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led, as it were, by the hand of God in spite of himself, for it is God, the conserver of all things, who made them what they are."
Alexander Graham Bell said:
Leave the beaten track occasionally and dive into the woods. Every time you do so you will be certain to find something that you have never seen before. Follow it up, explore all around it, and before you know it, you will have something worth thinking about to occupy your mind. All really big discoveries are the results of thought.

Thoughts on Literature

From G.K. Chesterton (from Heretics, 1905):
Now, in our time, philosophy or religion, our theory, that is about ultimate things, has been driven out, more or less simultaneously, from two fields which it used to occupy. General ideals used to dominate literature. They have been driven out by the cry of "art for art's sake." General ideals used to dominate politics. They have been driven out by the cry of "efficiency," which may roughly be translated as "politics for politics' sake." Persistently for the last twenty years the ideals of order or liberty have dwindled in our books; the ambitions of wit and eloquence have dwindled in our parliaments. Literature has purposely become less political; politics have purposely become less literary. General theories of the relation of things have thus been extruded from both; and we are in a position to ask, "What have we gained or lost by this extrusion? Is literature better, is politics better, for having discarded the moralist and the philosopher?"
G.K. Chesterton (found in an issue of Gilbert Magazine):
"The highest outcome of an interest in literature is a finer interest in life; and bad literature as well as good may throw a light on life, if we have learnt to know light from darkness."
From C.S. Lewis' Introduction to St. Athanasius "On the Incarnation":
The only palliative is to keep the clean sea breeze of the centuries blowing through our minds, and this can be done only by reading old books. Not, of course, that there is any magic about the past. People were no cleverer then than they are now; they made as many mistakes as we. But not the same mistakes. They will not flatter us in the errors we are already committing; and their own errors, being now open and palpable, will not endanger us. Two heads are better than one, not because either is infallible, but because they are unlikely to go wrong in the same direction. To be sure, the books of the future would be just as good a corrective as the books of the past, but unfortunately we cannot get at them.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen:
Any book which inspires us to lead a better life is a good book.
From a blogpost entitled "Two Traps for the Pious":
This is almost an accidental, automatic fault. It can be overcome, as Fr. Groeschel points out, by reading good literature and opening your eyes to the plight of the poor and intentionally entering into solidarity with the poor by divesting one's self of some of the incidental benefits of a devout life.
From Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Children Learn by Diana Ravitch:
I began this quest with a strong belief that schools are supposed to lay a foundation for love of literature by exposing children incrementally, based on age appropriateness, to the best writings of our common language and, to the extent possible, to the best writings from other cultures. There are so many superb novels, short stories, poems, plays, and essays to choose from that it is impossible for any student to read them all. But this fact makes it all the more important that teachers make the effort to identify the writers and works that will broaden their students' horizons beyond their own immediate circumstances and reveal to them a world of meanings far beyond their own experiences. Great literature is "relevant" not because it echoes the students' race, gender, or social circumstances, but because it speaks directly to the reader across times and cultures. A child who is suffering because of a death in the family is likely to gain more comfort from reading a poem by John Donne or Ben Jonson or Gerard Manley Hopkins than from reading banal teen fiction about a death in the family.

Virtues of a Homeschool Parent

Parents have the first responsibility for the education of their children. They bear witness to this responsibility by creating a home where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, fidelity, and disinterested service are the rule. The home is well suited for education in the virtues. This requires an apprenticeship in self-denial, sound judgment, and self-mastery – the preconditions of all true freedom. … Parents have a grave responsibility to give good example to their children. By knowing how to acknowledge their own failings to their children, parents will be better able to guide and correct them. (The Catechism of the Catholic Church #2223)
What are the “qualifications” of a successful homeschool parent?
We can sum up very quickly what people need to teach their own children. First of all, they have to like them, enjoy their company, their physical presence, their energy, foolishness, and passion. They have to enjoy all their talk and questions, and enjoy equally trying to answer those questions...They have to feel in their own hearts some of their children's wonder, curiosity, and excitement about the world. And they have to have enough confidence in themselves, skepticism about experts, and willingness to be different from most people, to take on themselves the responsibility for their children's learning... [children] need access. They need a chance, sometimes, for honest, serious, unhurried talk; or sometimes, for joking, play, and foolishness; or sometimes, for tenderness, sympathy and comfort." (pg. 28) Homeschooling with Gentleness: A Catholic Discovers Unschooling by Suzie Andres, quoting John Holt
Beware the fallacy of perfection. “Illusions are dangerous people – they have no flaws.” (Sabrina, 1995) Families are human and fallen. Having problems and challenges are a normal part of life. We ask God for the grace to work our way through these challenges and cooperate with his great and boundless love for us. Support is essential. Supportive people will offer perspective, ideas for problem solving, a sense of hope, encouragement to make tough decisions, etc.- especially when serious academic or “family” problems arise. Don’t be afraid to need help. Find trustworthy friends, mentors, tutors or professionals as needed and don’t let pride get in the way. Pray for guidance and for God to bring supportive and helpful people into your life. You need to be willing to cooperate with His grace. Help isn’t just for “problems” – working with mentors or “co-oping” with other parents can be very beneficial and motivating for you and your children.
One is entitled to think that the future of humanity is in the hands of those who are capable of providing the generations to come with reasons for life and optimism. (Gaudium et Spes as quoted in the Catechism of the Catholic Church 1917)
Virtues of a Homeschool Parent: The following are virtues that are not only useful in a practical sense for us to better accomplish our goals as homeschool parents, but also ones which we want to cultivate in our own children; and the power of example is one of the most important ways of doing this. Diligence:
I used the word "diligent" to describe a student. This word (as a Latin verb) is used by Aquinas in his song Adoro Te devote, and it means "love". In order to succeed at acquiring knowledge, the student must LOVE that subject. And that means it would be best for the teacher to also love it, and communicate that love. (G.K.C.'s Favourite)
To love a subject includes having an appreciation of its purpose in the bigger picture even when it doesn’t “delight” in all its particulars. Remember that all learning is for the sake of knowing Christ! The efforts of you and your children plus God’s grace equal amazing things. This quote from St. Francis helps with perspective: “Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” Don’t “close doors” based on perceived limitations – seek other options as necessary – don’t be afraid to go out of ordinary school “conventions” – some of them are created for efficiency in the classroom and are unnecessary in a homeschool setting. Overcoming “roadblocks” –
  • Parents see the big picture and encourage children to persevere.
  • Keep “road-blocks” to a reasonable size.
  • Overcoming “roadblocks” builds confidence and minimizes frustration.
Rigorous vs. Rigid A rigorous education challenges the child at an appropriate level and helps them grow in all important areas. It seeks to develop their talents and important skills while encouraging them to “reach higher” and put in good effort. Being too rigid can throw things off balance. Be more concerned with your child’s needs than meeting your own expectations. (think effective vs. efficient) Children thrive on challenge and responsibility – when success is within reach. Conversely, lack of challenge/boredom can hurt every aspect of development and formation.
Thus the home is the first school of Christian life and "a school for human enrichment." Here one learns endurance and the joy of work, fraternal love, generous - even repeated forgiveness, and above all divine worship in prayer and the offering of one's life. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 1656-1657)
Humility:
Pride is a weakness in the character; it dries up laughter, it drives up wonder, it dries up chivalry and energy. (G.K. Chesterton, Heretics IX)
Humility is the mother of giants. One sees great things from the valley; only small things from the peak. - G. K. Chesterton (Father Brown: The Hammer of God)
Be open to God’s providence and seeking God’s will. Be open to listening to and learning from your children. Children have a fallen nature, but they’re not completely “broken”. One example in our family that always reminds me of this idea happened when my oldest was in 3rd or 4th grade. She found Math very tedious and I tried to help her keep things moving, but it was frustrating for her. One day she came up with an idea. She would take her Math outside, put it on a a folding chair, put on her roller blades and reward herself with a ride up and down the driveway every few problems. It worked, but even if it didn't, it was good to let her try out her very worthwhile idea! Don’t be afraid to “not know” something. You can set a great example to your children by showing how they can seek answers to their questions. Some of your family’s best learning moments may follow these words: “I don’t know – let’s go find out!” Enthusiasm "I myself have little Latin and less Greek. But I know enough Greek to know the meaning of the second syllable of "enthusiasm," and I know it to be the key to this and every other discussion." (G.K. Chesterton The Thing) … The Greek work Theos means "God". "Enthusiasm" literally means "to have God within"! (G.K.C.'s Favourite) Little ones are the most enthusiastic people in the world. Take the time to “catch” their enthusiasm and look at the world in a new way. Appreciate, enjoy and encourage enthusiasm in your children. Cultivate enthusiasm in yourself.
Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 18:3-4)
Patience
Patience is faith in action. Patience is emotional diligence. It's the willingness to suffer inside so that others can grow. It reveals love. It gives birth to understanding. Even as we become aware of our suffering in love, we learn about ourselves and our own weaknesses and motives. (Stephen Covey The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families)
Expect results to take time. Allow children to process, explore and even enjoy a topic (“make it their own”) before testing their knowledge or expecting “feedback”. Related Links: Love2Learn Moments: Teaching and Learning (#30) One of the most unique aspects of homeschooling, and even parenting in general, is how much parents learn and grow in the process

Websites on the Saints

Lives of the Saints - Writings of the Saints Lives of the Saints

Catholic Information Network Saints Page Contains many stories of Saints (including full length books and excerpts) and writings of the Saints.

Patron Saint Index Excellent site with short biographies, pictures and links.

Augustinian Saints and Blesseds

Saint Gianna Saint Gianna Molla was a doctor and mother who gave her life to save the life of her unborn child.

The Christian Catacombs of Rome History, pictures, stories, etc.

St. Maria Goretti Homepage

The Story of Thomas More by John Farrow

Writings of the Saints

The Catechetical Instructions of St. Thomas Aquinas

The Confessions by Saint Augustine

The Confessions of St. Patrick

On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius

The Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola

The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas Aquinas

Writings of the Fathers of the Church


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