The Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral

This winter, we studied the awe-inspiring architecture and engineering of the Gothic cathedrals. We learned about the people who built them and their reasons for doing so. The students became experts at explaining the differences between Romanesque and Gothic styles of architecture.

These magnificent cathedrals are spread throughout Europe, and one of the most famous is Notre Dame in Paris, France.

Tragically, Notre Dame caught fire last month. The fire was accidental, and fortunately no one was hurt. Firemen and firewomen responded bravely and prevented more significant damage.

Yesterday, we talked about the fire during class. The students expressed sympathy for the people of Paris, and they talked about ways that the cathedral might be rebuilt (for example: will wood be used, again, for the roof, or will the next generation of builders decide to use a less flammable material?).

Two classes engaged in a thoughtful discussion about a particularly deep question: People have pledged millions of dollars to rebuild Notre Dame. Meanwhile, there are people struggling (in France and elsewhere) with homelessness, hunger, and poverty. Is it ok to devote millions of dollars to a building, rather than spending the money on people in-need?

I was very impressed with the students' reflections about this question. Deep (and important) thinking, indeed.