SEOUL (UCAN) -- Amid individualism, materialism and competition, some education experts say the holistic approach a Catholic high school for girls has followed almost 50 years is what Korean society needs today and in years to come.

Sister Elisabeth Choi Hae-young, the keynote speaker of a Nov. 15 symposium in Seoul marking the 50th anniversary of the Sacred Heart Girls' High School run by the Society of the Sacred Heart.

Presenters at the Nov. 15 symposium titled "Sacred Heart Opening the Future: Thinking of 100 Years of Korean Sacred Heart Education" reviewed the past half-century of Sacred Heart Girls' High School in Seoul and envisioned its next 50 years. About 300 educators, alumni, clergy, Religious and civil servants attended the event.

Bartholomew Gahng Tae-joong told them secularism and materialism dominate Korean society much as they did in France in the early 1800s, when Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat founded the first Society of the Sacred Heart school.

"As most schools cling to making a 'winner' who can enter a university rather than cultivating a whole person, the school's holistic education proves its validity," said the education professor of Chungang University in Seoul.

Other presenters emphasized the importance of the school's stress on justice, community and solidarity with society's vulnerable members.

In her keynote speech, Sister Elisabeth Choi Hae-young said the Christian-based holistic education at the school, run by her Society of the Sacred Heart, reflects the congregation's spirit.

Sister Choi, chairperson of the school's board of directors, pointed out that said the congregation's most recent plenary assembly, held in Peru earlier this year, focused on dialogue among cultures, religions and generations. It also devoted attention to the youth, peace and protection of the environment.

The educator-nun acknowledged the school had responded to changes in society, but suggested it still needs to be more open and contribute more to the local community.

"The school could build a social welfare center, supported by the government, for the residents around here," Sister Choi clarified in an interview afterwards. "In it, we could share our congregation members' know-how."

The Society of the Sacred Heart runs study rooms for poor residents in urban and rural areas, group homes for runaway girls, and counseling offices for soldiers and ordinary people in 5 dioceses, she explained.

"Such experience makes alternative education possible here, to complement the current school education," she added.

The congregation had 56 members and seven novices in Korea at the end of 2007, she said.

John Seong Baig-young, another presenter on the symposium panel, proposed that special education on peace, ecology, social justice and community life should accompany a student's intellectual development.

"The school needs to cultivate teachers as specialists who can profoundly teach those issues," said Seong, a teacher on the Sacred Heart staff.

He asked the congregation to provide its teachers with more information about research on holistic education in practice and training in ways of communicating with the local community. Teachers, he added, also need a chance for alternative education, which they cannot afford on their own.

The principal of the school, Sister Gratia Kim Sook-hee, said her school teaches Christianity by helping its students develop their spirituality and personality, without proselytizing.

If a school focuses merely on students' capability to enter a university, it is no more than a private educational institution, Sister Kim told UCA News. At the other extreme, if a school only focuses on personality, it would be just another "alternative school".

"Our school has to show we can do both at the same time," she said.

Sacred Heart Girls' High School has 56 teachers and 914 students.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology put the total number of high schools in South Korea at 2,190 this year. Of them, 941 are private, including 180 schools run by organizations affiliated to religions in the country. The government also recognizes 21 alternative high schools and eight alternative middle schools, with about 5,000 students between them.

Sister Kim said her congregation originally opened a women's middle school in 1957 and founded the high school only in 1960. However, they decided to celebrate the 50th anniversaries jointly this year.

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