Describes grade 5-8 school project designed to collect, preserve, prepare, and observe small items under a microscope. The project aimed to demonstrate the scientific method, as well as to teach students to search for their own questions and answers. Includes listing of materials and projects procedures. (Contains eight references.) (NB)

Reviews statistics on the illiteracy problem in Guatemala. Offers a personal account of an immersion trip to the country with a group of American Catholic youth ministers. Describes the work of the Society for the Development of the Integrated Guatemalan Family. Discusses Guatemala's social problems and educational needs. (PAA)

Reviews global statistics on illiteracy. Highlights to objectives of UNESCO's International Literacy Year. Discusses the trend toward intergenerational or family literacy programs in the U.S., as exemplified by Head Start, Even Start, and the parent-children literacy efforts of Sharon Darling. (DMM)

Describes the experience of Catholic schools with National Diffusion Network programs: Early Prevention of School Failure; Project READ:S, which trains teachers in all disciplines to reinforce reading skills; BASIC: Primary Education Program, which provides diagnostic testing and hands-on activities for kindergarten children; and Pegasus Pace.…

Describes the involvement of 12 high schools in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in a collaborative marketing program designed to increase public awareness of Catholic high school education, enlarge the pool of potential students, and increase enrollments at each school. Reviews the research, planning, and implementation phases of the project. (DMM)

Describes the commitment to total education in the Archdiocese of St. Louis, Missouri, indicating that the Catholic school principal, director of religious education, youth minister, and liturgist are all part of a collaborative team working with the pastor to achieve parish goals. Describes strategies undertaken as part of the change in…

Summarizes the platform of action from the National Congress on Catholic Schools for the 21st century held in November 1991. Highlights the beliefs underpinning the recommendations and provides directional statements regarding Catholic schools and their relationship to Catholic identity, leadership, society, school governance and finance,…

Describes the instructional approach and philosophy of the Loyola Institute for Ministry Extension (LIMEX) in New Orleans, offering master's degrees and certificates in religious education. Focuses on the use of intentional learning communities of 8 to 17 students working communally and LIMEX's definitions of "good learning" and…

Explains the Apple Core Project, which connects participating Catholic schools/dioceses via the CONNECT telecommunications service. Describes electronic mail and forum features, including a special forum dedicated to Catholic schools. (DMM)

Sketches the political context from which "Ex Corde Ecclesiae," the Papal constitution on higher education, emerged. Its most controversial provisions and the reaction in American Catholic academia are examined, norms currently under discussion are outlined, and a resolution of the issues dividing academics and the Catholic hierarchy is…

Describes the New Teacher Program at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Maryland, which has been a major selling point to prospective teachers during the interview process. Explains that the program's first phase orients new teachers to the school, and the second phase offers ongoing support, which involves bi-weekly new teacher meetings and a staff…

Describes the development of the Enhancing Catholic School Identity Program by the Consortium for Catholic School Identity. Reports that the program was created in an effort to focus on the development of the Catholic school administrator as the spiritual leader of the school community. Discusses and evaluates the program's first year. (VWC)

This article discusses the findings of a small-scale study undertaken with a sample of 10 teachers in Catholic schools in New Zealand. Spirituality is recognised as an important dimension of Catholic schools and this study explored the teachers' perspectives of their own understanding of spirituality, of children's spirituality and the influence…

Recognizes the unused potential of inner city kids and describes how The Institute for Leadership, Excellence and Academic Development (I-Lead) program has helped prepare these students for admittance to universities and colleges. I-Lead offers four core courses: (1) test prep class; (2) constitutional law class; (3) writing class; and (4)…

Discusses the significance, challenges and process of infusing assessment practices into religious education programs. Reports key findings from an assessment survey distributed to parish catechetical staffs and then outlines how assessment contributes to the creation of a strategic plan for faith formation. (Contains seven references.) (RC)