Although well documented from a British perspective, empirical research exploring the spiritual lives of primary school children in the Australian context is a field in which scholarship is beginning to emerge. This article reports on one particular finding which emerged from an Australian study seeking to identify some characteristics of…

Reviews studies of the characteristics of Catholic high school teachers; differences between religious' and layteachers' perceptions of the role of Catholic school teachers; and instructors' concerns with the purpose and staffing of Catholic high schools. Discusses the schools' dual purposes of academic development and faith formation. (DMM)

This paper discusses a project that attempts to update what is known about Catholic schools, articulates the shape and direction that the Catholic high schools have taken, and clarifies certain myths and lores of Catholic education--specifically, that Catholic identity has a direct impact on student achievement, and that Catholic identity is…

Reviews recent studies demonstrating that the nuclear arms race and living with the threat of imminent annihilation are having an adverse effect on the emotional lives of young children. Looks at the implications of children's fears for Catholic educators. (LAL)

The author argues that morality can be taught in public schools without retreating into moral relativism and without compromising our cultural and constitutional principles of freedom of speech and the separation of church and state. The paper draws from philosophy and psychological theory to illustrate that concepts of the moral constitute a…

Examines religion's place in the social sciences, reciprocal influences of family and religion, cohesion/polarization in American Catholic families, religion in Middletown, USA, gender and religion in Canadian and American students, domestic/religious individualism and suicide, and the New Christian Right's view of the family. (BH)

William McCready of the National Opinion Research Center discusses findings of his survey of American and Canadian Catholic youth (ages 14-30) on their attitudes toward religious vocations, membership in Catholic organizations, and their religious education. (Author/SJL)

The number of non-Catholic students in Roman Catholic elementary and secondary schools is growing at both the national and local levels. In the school system of the Archdiocese of Omaha (Nebraska), the largest number of non-Catholic students come from mostly poor and black families in inner-city or changing neighborhoods. Other non-Catholics are…

This article reports the findings of a research project on public and private high schools in the United States. The principal researchers found that Catholic schools and non-Catholic private schools are more effective than public schools in helping students to acquire cognitive skills. (SSH)

This paper reports and interprets the major findings of a study of 54 inner city private elementary schools in eight cities. The study, conducted during the 1978-79 school year by the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, explores the schools' academic achievements; their growing appeal to low-income, minority families; the racial,…

Relates program preferences of Catholic school teachers regarding in-service training. Cites greatest interest in programs dealing with discipline in the classroom, personal and social problems facing youth, development efforts toward improving teacher effectiveness, and teacher involvement in decision making. (PAA)

A model of the development of prayer is offered. The development of prayer on the part of 89 middle-class adolescents and young adults from Catholic schools was studied. Results supported the model. (Author/BB)

This colloquium presents seven analyses by social scientists of the controversial report, "Public and Private Schools," together with a response by the report's authors, James Coleman, Thomas Hoffer, and Sally Kilgore. (SK)

As a result of his study, "Public and Private Schools," James Coleman concludes that Catholic schools appear to be characterized by both higher quality, on the average, and greater equality than the public schools. Coleman discusses the reasons that may explain this finding. (Author/WD)

Compares the effectiveness of public and private schools by analyzing trends in enrollments, organization, and graduation and college entrance. Policymakers need to address the growing public willingness to consider private alternatives in education. (BJV)