By Fr. Edgar Andrew Carbon, SDB
Tainan, Taiwan, 2 March 2017 -- This week, the Salesian Technical School in Tainan, Taiwan started its 2nd part of its series of Salesianity formation. The 2nd module started with a presentation of the 2 challenges in our education of the young of the present generation. The 1st challenge is educating the young in this era of Post-Modernism, the age marked by the “collapse of basic institutions (family, religion, governments, education, etc.)” in our society. Then the second challenge is the education of the “Millenials”, a generation who were born and grew up in an electronics-filled and increasingly online and socially-networked world.
Facing these 2 challenges, the teachers and employees were once again presented a “re-package” version of Don Bosco’s use of REASON in the preventive system. They were reminded that in todays daunting challenges, the use of constant dialogue coupled with reason among the young is still a very valid tool in our educational system. However, they were once again reminded over and over again to learn the “art and spirit of accompaniment” with the young. Allowing the young to be the protagonists in their own chosen world while ensuring a healthy process of discovery: We must be ready to “waste time” with them. The young still need us (Salesian educators) to be interested in their growth and one who is capable of standing next to them. They need someone who can give them a positive contribution without dictating anything.
The sessions, as was done in the 1st semester, are being conducted into small groups, with only 4 to 5 persons. In this way, the session participants foster more interaction among themselves.
