Parish religious education programs for children and young people are examined with emphasis on how these programs are administered and operated, how students evaluate them, and what organizational and program factors are characteristic of particularly effective programs. Nominations for effective programs were solicited from 83 dioceses, and 258…

The Christian Brother organization, faced with a decreasing number of workers and forced to reassess the allocation of its resources, conducted a survey of its members. The survey solicited the brothers' views of the organization's direction and sought to discern whether the brothers' beliefs and actions were in agreement. The survey, with 93…

Roman Catholic schools in the United States have made significant contributions which include the first schools in many geographic areas, the first textbook in the United States, and the first dictionaries of some Indian languages. Early attempts to establish Catholic schools led to incidents which required heroism of the leaders and sacrifices by…

Describes the efforts of Cornelia Peacock Connelly to establish Roman Catholic teacher training schools and schools for poor, working girls in England. Questions whether or not religious education within a specific tradition can be liberating or merely socialization. Concludes that both liberation and socialization were the result of her efforts.…

This overview examines the major research studies on Catholic schools published between 1965 and 1991 along with a synthesis of the research regarding the demography, outcomes, and environment of Catholic schools, and of the teachers, parents, and students associated with Catholic schools. The research showed that student from Catholic schools…

Explores the sense in which U.S. Catholic schools can be considered a faith community by administering questionnaires to 1,204 Catholic school students. Compares attitudes and mass attendance of practicing and nonpracticing Catholics, non-Catholics, and their parents. Correlates student mass attendance with positive attitudes toward Catholic…

Provides an extensive recounting of a colloquium convened at the Institute for Christian-Jewish Studies in Baltimore, Maryland. The colloquium brought together Catholic and Jewish educators from the northeastern United States for six intensive, two-day sessions over a period of nearly three years. Discusses the development and implementation of…

Explores three characteristics of the Catholic tradition that offer students ways to become more attentive to role of faith in their lives. These include the juxtaposition of faith and reason, the movement towards inclusivity, and an understanding of sacrament as the mediation of the Divine through bodiliness. (MJP)

To assess opinions among members of the education networks of the Sisters of Mercy, a 4-part, 45-item questionnaire was distributed in 1986. Respondents represented higher education, secondary education, and elementary education. Results from major superiors of the Union and its nine provinces and each of the independent congregations are reported…

Analyzes Catholic education between 1920 and 1950 by reviewing the intellectual and cultural context which shaped its development; identifying its philosophical and theological assumptions; and examining differences between conservatives and progressives on educational practice. (CFR)