In what ways do Jewish and Muslim faith schools in Britain play a role in promoting and contributing to community cohesion? What 21st-century skills around intercultural understanding do they foster? This book examines the nuances of faith in school settings and draws on a case study of Jewish and Muslim faith schools. The authors show how these…

This book attempts to get to the heart of debates about religious upbringing and autonomy and the place of faith schools within a liberal society. Contributions are drawn from scholars with research interests in philosophy of education and a range of faith traditions, working in the UK and internationally. They pose key questions such as: (1) What…

Discusses the significance of Thomas Merton's life and work for education. Describes Merton as a Trappist monk who originally sought spiritual self-containment through monastic life only to reemerge to participate in the world through his writings. Suggests that Merton's contribution to education is the idea of orienting education along spiritual…

This publication completes the series that focuses on the five groups of persons involved in the educational "ministry" of the Catholic school. Based on a survey of pastors and diocesan and archdiocesan superintendents of concerns related to the pastor and his role within the school community, this essay discusses seven areas of pastoral concern…

Outlines the program of Bethany Baptist Academy, a fundamentalist religious K-12 school in the Midwest. The school socializes the students to think and behave according to the dictates of its religious doctrine. (MD)

This publication features highlights of the major findings made by delegates to a meeting of the National Congress of Catholic Schools, held in Washington, D.C. in November, 1991. Divided into three chapters, the first chapter provides background information and explains the process by which the National Congress of Catholic Schools acts. The…

This booklet examines the need for school evaluation in the Catholic elementary school, the basic steps in the evaluation procedure, relevant evaluation criteria, and various evaluation instruments. The document suggests that regular school evaluation is needed to facilitate improvement, to provide a means of accountability, to foster community…

Ontario requirements for religious exercises in publicly funded elementary and secondary schools are more like those of England and Scotland than like those of most other Canadian provinces. Ontario regulations insist on religious exercises at the opening of the school day, the exercises to consist of "the reading of the Scriptures or other…

In recent years a growing number of state boards of education have established mechanisms to ensure dialog between public school policymakers and their nonpublic school counterparts. Outlines the methods used in four states: Florida, Louisiana, New York, and Ohio. (MD)

The First Amendment supports one of the boldest and most successful experiments in religious liberty in human history. The challenge for 21st Century America is to sustain this extraordinary arrangement and expand its principles more fairly and justly to each and every citizen. Public schools are the principal institution charged with enabling…

Reviews recent research on brain development from the time of birth through the development of complex intellectual functioning. Contends that brain hemisphere functions have a significant impact on learning and behavior. Recommends that religious educators should learn how to use knowledge about cognitive development to encourage religious…

Courts will uphold school observances of religious holidays only if they are integrated into a secular curriculum designed to teach students about cultural traditions. The court-approved policy of the Sioux Falls (South Dakota) school board, which permits religious celebrations in a broader curricular context, is described. (TE)

This paper examines four issues related to religion and the public schools: (1) released-time education; (2) variations in interpretation of court decisions; (3) teacher attitudes toward religious instruction; and (4) freedom of religious expression. Released-time education programs were held to be constitutional in "Zorach v. Clauson."…

This policy paper focuses on religious challenges to the public school curriculum, specifically those involving claims that public schools are prompting "secular humanism"--an allegedly antitheistic creed that places human reason above divine guidance. While some courts have recognized that "secular humanism" may be considered…

Analyses the effect of religious schools on the moral education of English secondary school students. Derives four scales to measure students' general religious attitudes, specific Catholic beliefs, specific Jewish beliefs, and secular morality. Concludes that religious schools produce stronger, more uniform attitudes toward religion and morality…