Founders Week Reading Reflection (Vern)

Vern Chao
5 February, 2017
World History II

Founders Week Reading

In chapter one of Founders Week, students learn the significance of the two original sisters of Notre Dame, Julie Billiart and Francoise Blin de Bourdon. There is many new knowledge that the first chapter teaches its audience such as “primitive spirit,” historical lessons from the French Revolution, and the small biographies of who specifically are the Sisters.

There is an appealing quote from the text that reads, “From the beginning, the spirituality of the SND – what Francoise and Julie called their “primitive spirit” – expressed itself in characteristic ways, among them respect for all individuals regardless of age, gender, disability or social class; a strong preference for providing education to those who were most vulnerable due to poverty or neglect; and a commitment to active engagement with a world in need.” This is a strong quote from the text and its message is continueing its practices today here in 2017.

In terms of historical teachings of the French Revolution, the reading also mentions the history of French economic reformations. In the second paragraph under the headline Francois, the text states, “Several unsuccessful attempts had been made to reform the French taxation system, for example, a system which had long been held hostage by the privileged few who benefitted from it and placed an increasingly unfair burden on the people with the least to give.” This quote resonates with today's time as well because most of the American society are financially poor compared to those few above.

Another lesson from the reading is how discrimination was practiced in its time and students today still witness similar aftermaths. Under one of the last paragraphs under the Francois heading, the text states, "Women should be free, de Merici believed, to choose virginity without disengaging from the world. Odd as it may sound to 21st Century readers, this idea really was revolutionary at the time. Women’s sexuality, in European and most other cultures of the 16th Century, was closely controlled by men. It was simply unacceptable for a sexually mature woman to choose to remain inactive in the bedroom and still be active in the world, moving freely under the gaze of the very men who were not permitted to have her.” This quote is clear to me and it reminds me of one of my high school senior classes. The quote is focusing on the limitations and dislike towards women from men. The quote also teaches society about the social construct that can ultimately hurt or help others.