Philosophy

At Mater Dei Education, we aim to provide every student with the tools to think and to articulate those thoughts. Inspired by over two millenia  of classical teaching and learning, our Philosophy programme teachers these tools. An outline of the content covered in the philosophy curriculum is given below.

Philosophy I

Philosophy III

Gaeilge

Gaeilge I

Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam,’ a dúirt an Phiarsach agus tá an ráiteas chomh fíor inniu is a bhí sé inné. Tá fréamhacha doimhne na Gaeilge fite fuaite le hoidhreacht agus cultúr Críostaí na hÉireann. Cuireann fiú na beannachtaí is simplí ar nós ‘Dia duit’ agus ‘Dia linn’ béim ar thionchar urghnách na Críostaíochta ar an nGaeilge agus ar thionchar dochreidte na Gaeilge ar fhoirmiú chreideamh mhuintir na hÉireann ar feadh na gcéadta bliain. Murab ionann agus a macasamhla Béarla, tá áilleacht, ceol agus ord uile a fhréamhacha Laidine sa Ghaeilge. Is í an Ghaeilge croí dosheachanta ár gcultúir, ár n-oidhreachta, ár staire agus ár náisiúin. Is mór an fhreagracht í a labhairt chomh cruinn agus is féidir. Ba mhór an cúnamh é chun líofacht a chothú an Ghaeilge a bheith mar theanga chaidrimh san Acadamh go coitianta. Mar a deirtear, ‘Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste’

Gaeilge II

‘Indiaidh a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin.’ Le linn na bliana seo, leanaimid den obair mhall, shaotharach i dtreo mháistreacht na Gaeilge. Tógtar am, fuinneamh is foighne chun na naisc láidre idir rialacha Laidine agus rialacha na Gaeilge a thuiscint. Ach le tuiscint chumasach ar struchtúr agus ar chomhréir na teanga, eiríonn leis an mac léinn, diaidh ar ndiaidh, le misneach is muinín, teanga a sinsir a labhairt agus a scríobh. I ndeireadh na dála, bíonn an mac léinn in ann Gaeilge labhartha a thuiscint le toil agus bíonn sé réidh le bogadh ar aghaidh go dtí an chéad chéim eile; máistreacht na scríbhneoireachta.

Gaeilge III

De réir mar a éiríonn an mac léinn níos líofa agus níos muiníní sa teanga, feabhsaíonn a chumas scríbhneoireachta. Tá an mháistreacht seo ar an bhfocal scríofa ríthábhachtach do ghrá fadtéarmach na teanga. Ligeann sé freisin don mhac léinn teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an domhan thart timpeall trína theanga dhúchais. Mar fhocal scoir, is buntáiste é a bheith ábalta cuid den mhórfhilíocht sa Ghaeilge a mheabhrú agus a aithris, a fhanfaidh leis an mac léinn go deo.

Gaeilge IV

Is cuid nádúrtha den fhoghlaim teanga é botúin a dhéanamh agus is cinnte go dtagann deacrachtaí chun cinn le linn d’fhoghlaimeoirí a bheith ag iarraidh an teanga a úsáid. Cabhraíonn straitéisí cumarsáide leis na mic léinn a bheith níos éifeachtaí agus iad ag caint, mar go mbíonn siad ag pleanáil na rudaí atá le rá acu. Coinneáiltear súil ar conas atá ag éirí leo agus glactar céimeanna le rudaí a cheartú nuair a thagann fadhbanna chun cinn. Cabhraíonn straitéisí cúitimh leo teacht slán nuair a bhíonn bearnaí ina gcuid eolais a chuirfeadh bac ar an gcumarsáid. Faoi dheireadh na bliana, beidh an mac léinn muiníneach leis an nGaeilge thar aon ábhar eile.

History

History I: The Ancient World

Modern society is shaped and formed by many of the events and systems which emerged in the Ancient World. Even today, the Ancient World influences our customs, laws, and forms of government in innumerable ways. It shapes the form and function of the buildings we live in, the writing we use to communicate on a day-to-day basis and the governments and institutions of western society. These civilisations and the questions they confronted remain as relevant today and teach us a great deal about our own culture. In the Irish context, an understanding of our Celtic and pagan forefathers provides a unique insight into the world and civilisation into which St. Patrick brought the Christian faith. Ancient history not only provides insight into human nature, but also provides a proper context for the most important event in history, the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

History II: The Christian World

The early Christian era and Middle Ages are an organic continuation from the history of the Ancient World. This year’s programme will allow students to deepen their understanding not merely of the period studied but the fascinating periods which follow. This era was pivotal in the history of Ireland when its monks rekindled the flames of learning throughout Europe. By studying the peoples and cultures that shaped Ireland’s past, this year’s programme provides the tools to properly interpret and understand the subsequent centuries of our nation’s history. Students will discover that the historical events and people of the Middle Ages have much to teach us about how to live and flourish in our own contemporary society.

History III: The Renaissance World

The sixteenth to eighteenth century presents a pivotal period in Irish and world history which provides a fundamental understanding of our nation’s past. In this age, students meet and understand the pivotal figures of Anglo-Irish history such as the Hugh O’Neill, Queen Elizabeth I, Sarsfield, and Cromwell; figures who shaped and formed the history of subsequent centuries. The Renaissance and early Modern period continue the transformation and development of Western culture in Europe and help us to understand our own world and culture today. We also encounter the foundations of the modern nation-state and the political structures that we may take for granted as well as the religious ideas that still profoundly impact us today.

History IV: The Modern World

An understanding of modern history is a minimum requirement to make sense of the world around us. In the Irish and European context, the exit of Britain from the EU placed a new focus on the enduring consequences of Ireland’s troubled twentieth century. The Modern History programme places the last two centuries in the context of what has gone before. It is a period where often stark distinctions emerge between good and evil. Yet, it is only by in-depth study of these events and personalities from the past that we can we hope to assimilate the good and reject the evil in our Modern World.

English

The junior cycle English programme provides our students with a fundamental introduction to grammar and writing, as well as  a fascinating mix of works from Irish and international authors and poets. An outline of the content covered in the junior cycle English curriculum is given below.

English I: The Ancient World

The nineteenth century Anglican Archbishop of Dublin and poet, Richard Trench, remarked that ‘grammar is the logic of speech, even as logic is the grammar of reason.’ It is inconceivable to embark on a programme of reading the great books and stories of Western Civilisation without the tools for the journey. This year’s programme, not only provides the student with a solid basis for the subsequent years, but also provides the cornerstone on this all other narrative subjects, writings and discussions are founded. In literature, students encounter the great heroes and characters of the past as real-life personalities whose challenges and travails mirror those of our present time in more ways than we can possibly imagine. Ancient literature forms the foundation for Western literary and intellectual tradition that continues to our own day; it provides much of the essential framework for making sense of people, events, and movements throughout the following centuries.

English II: The Christian World

The great play has a pivotal role in the history and literature of the Western World. Understanding the context, construction and characters of the great plays furthers the students’ in-depth dexterity with the English language in its varied forms of verbal. While building upon the previous foundational work, this year’s programme places an emphasis on appreciation and understanding of different genres, periods and styles of writing across the centuries. The comparative analysis of different works is introduced and develops the individual’s ability to form considered opinions of the works in their historical context and meaning. Finally, the influence of Christian thinking and writing is clearly evident across the works studied, emphasising the enduring influence of the Christian tradition on subsequent Western philosophy and thought.

English III: The Renaissance World

The bridge from grammatical precision to articulate writing and speaking is a gradual transition. This year’s programme is a catalyst to that transition where the foundational preparation of the preceding years is moulded into written and spoken form. Students grow in confidence and maturity of language as they address eternal themes of love and fortitude in the context of the great literary masterpieces. The poetry programme, in particular, offers the students a unique insight into the fascinating metaphysical understanding, bridging the students‘ understanding between the physical reality of God’s creation and the metaphysical reality of His hand in action beyond the visible world.

English IV: The Modern World

Latin 

Latin IV

Continued and consistent use of Latin, or any language for that matter, is important if one hopes to retain and improve upon what has been learned during the previous years of study. This fourth-year course allows students to dive much deeper into primary texts that may have been studied earlier in English translation. By studying works in their original languages these texts take on new meaning as students are able to immerse themselves more fully into the culture and thought of the author.

Mathematics

Science

Art III

The knowledge and appreciation of colour and form assist us in appreciating the wonder of God’s creation. The study of the Renaissance, that great era of discovery and human development, builds our appreciation of the dignity and capacities of man; God’s greatest creation. Students learn about the potential of art to evoke the wonder of creation and the mysteries of the spiritual world. Learning about great works of this period – Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel ceiling, and the work of great masters such as Carravagio, Velazquez, Franz Hals, Rembrant and Vermeer will help us appreciate the critical contribution of the visual arts in the development of human civilisation and culture. This year’s work opens the student to wonder before the beauty and perfection of God’s creation and our part in continuing and echoing His work of Creation. In the words of St John Paul the Great, ‘Through his “artistic creativity” man appears more than ever “in the image of God”.’

Art IV

The Modern era is one of great change in the world of art and culture. Through the birth of Cubism and photography, art was changed forever. Through learning about the game-changing artistic discoveries of Turner and Manet, and the explosion of diverse forms of artistic expression such as performance art, installation, sound based art and conceptual art, students will gain an understanding of the culture they have inherited, and how to engage with it.

As Christians and especially as Catholics, it is critically important to understand this era in which secular culture really began, and in which ideologies such as atheism, fascism and communism impacted world history in such far-reaching and often devastating ways. Students have the opportunity to consider and to understand the art and society of the contemporary world, and this will equip them to engage with and transform the culture, and to become, as John Paul said, the ‘saints of the new millennium.’