Catholic Textbook Project, the premiere publisher of history and social studies textbooks for Catholic schools, featured prominently at the 2016 Midwest Conference on Catholic Liberal Arts Education held June 13-14 at Holy Name School in Escanaba, MI, and sponsored by the Diocese of Marquette.
Michael Van Hecke, M.Ed., president and publisher of the Catholic Textbook Project, who is also president and founder of The Institute for Catholic Liberal Education and headmaster of St. Augustine Academy in Ventura, CA, delivered a rousing, well-appreciated talk entitled “Recovering the Catholic Historical Imagination.”
Drawing a distinction between social studies and history, Van Hecke explained that “Social Studies is a look at societies, communities, events, economics and geography. It seeks to let children know about these things. History is about the story that intertwines through all of these things.”
Van Hecke’s talk echoed the principles used in producing the unique history textbooks for which the publishing company he founded is known. Catholic Textbook Project history books present accurate, well-researched historic facts, events, and geography using a story-like, journalistic writing style. The pages are well laid-out and are as engaging as the writing style. Excellent content, written and laid out in an engaging style. In short, these history textbooks grab student interest and capture their imagination so that students remember and learn about, and from, history.
Pulling an example from history to illustrate the power of engaging the imagination in learning the facts of history, Van Hecke pointed to Churchill and what influenced his own significant impact on history. It was a poem, an epic poem about Horatius at the Bridge, an ultimate exercise in grit and courage.
“Winston Churchill, not the greatest student, memorized the famous epic poem which included this story of Horatius,” Van Hecke said. “This act of hard work (memorization) on Churchill’s part made him know—it shone a light on his own abilities and courage. The rest, as they say, is history. He may have been lost to nothingness had not this story of history, this poem, spurred him on to his own degree of grit and courage which, ultimately, helped save our modern world.”
To learn more about Catholic Textbook Project’s History/Social Studies textbook series for grades 5-12, which is now used in Catholic schools in more than 60 dioceses nationwide, and in pockets of English-speaking schools worldwide, go to www.CatholicTextbookProject.com.
To learn more about the Midwest Conference on Catholic Liberal Arts, or to obtain a recording of the talks, contact Mark Salisbury at msalisbury@dioceseofmarquette.org.
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About Catholic Textbook Project. Founded by a headmaster who was unable to find good history/social studies textbooks for his students, Michael Van Hecke, M.Ed., culled a select group of scholars, professors, educators, editors and award-winning book designers and launched Catholic Textbook Project (a 501c3 nonprofit). For more information or to explore the textbooks, or what others say about these textbooks, go to http://www.CatholicTextbookProject.com.