Education Commons^™

Recognising And Repairing Anti-Jewish Themes In Christian Hymns, Prayers And Rituals: An Agenda For Catholic Schools, Maurice Ryan

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The identity of Catholic schools is closely tied to the proclamation of official Church teachings. One area of sustained contemporary attention for Church officials is the relationship between Catholics and Jews. Since the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965) great strides have been taken by Church officials to recognise and repair relations between Catholics and Jews. A series of official documents in the decades following the Council has outlined the directions in which Catholic educators, catechists, liturgists, scripture scholars and theologians are required to pursue in formulating their responses to the challenges of repair and restoration of relations between Catholics and Jews. …

Jesus, Nazareth And The Identity Of Catholic Schools, Maurice Ryan

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The identity of Jesus of Nazareth is the foundation of the identity of Catholic schools. Often, assertions about the identity of Jesus in relation to Catholics schools are presented without reference to the biblical record. This article seeks to provide biblical context to discussions about the identity of Jesus of Nazareth. These contextual discussions about Jesus are designed to aid considerations of Catholic school identity. The specific focus of this article is a survey of contemporary literature on Jesus’ hometown—Nazareth. A focus on Nazareth does not reveal the whole story of Jesus; it offers one piece of the jigsaw revealing …

Practices For Sport-Coach Mentorship: A Historical Case Study For Coaches In Catholic Schools Today, Matt Hoven

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Sport-coach mentorship is perhaps the raison d’etre for the inclusion of sports programming within Catholic schools. Coach-educators can have significant and even lifelong impact on student-athlete growth and development. But, how, exactly, should coaches act as mentors in faith-based, educational contexts? Drawing upon an extensive archival and interview research project, this paper presents a historical case study of the sport-coach mentorship of Father David Bauer, csb (1924-88), an educator and exceptional Canadian ice hockey player, coach, manager, and Hockey Hall of Fame inductee. Bauer mentored and spoke out for young sportspeople over many decades. The first part of this paper …

Bullying Prevention And Mediation: The Role Of Values Education, Janine Brown, Boris Handal, Liz Mckenna, Sandra Lynch

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The growing incidence of bullying in schools calls for alternative prevention and mediation approaches in which values are integrated into current practices. This study explores educators’ and parents’ beliefs about the explicit application of a values-based approach to bullying intervention and mediation in Catholic schools. Individual and focus group interview among teachers, principals and parents were held in three Catholic primary schools in the Sydney Metropolitan area. The study also served to identify current anti-bullying practices employed as well as to examine specific values perceived to be relevant by parents and educator in preventing and solving bullying conflicts. Respondents showed …

Ways Forward In Religious Education: Reflections Of An Australian Colloquium, David Hall Fms, William Sultmann Am

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Within a changed and changing context for Religious Education, scholars and practitioners (n = 57) across Australia gathered to share and discern ways forward in Religious Education (RE) within Catholic schools. A Constant Comparative Analysis process identified five pathways (ways forward) in support of RE (Formation, Pedagogy, Curriculum, Partnerships, and Research). Each pathway was underpinned by foundations in faith, summarised by an integrating principle and advanced through strategic intentions. Faith foundations for Formation were centred in Christ, acknowledged Church tradition and focused on mission as part of one’s faith journey. The arena of Pedagogy was reinforced as dependent on dialogue, …

Catholic Schools, Accompaniment And Subsidiarity: Some Teacher Observations From A Small, Regional School System, Richard M. Rymarz

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

This research uses subsidiarity, a key principle of Catholic social teaching, to better understand teachers in a small, regional Australian diocese. Nine teachers with at least three years’ experience working in Catholic schools in the diocese were interviewed. The interviews focussed on three research questions: How do teachers come to work in this Catholic school system? What is their experience of working in Catholic schools? How do they feel supported in Catholic schools especially in regard to teaching religious education and identifying with the ethos of the school? Results indicated that the life journeys of teachers that brought them to …

Have You Gone To Galilee? Spiritual And Religious Formation For Catholic School Educators In Western Australia, Margaret Scharf, Chris Hackett, Shane Lavery

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

This paper explores the personal and professional perceptions of twenty-two Catholic school educators in Western Australia who participated in a spiritual and faith formation program called Galilee. The paper initially outlines the background of the program followed by a review of the literature that focuses on five concepts: people are spiritual and religious beings; a desire to belong; the place of prayer; a journey of faith; and spiritual and faith formation. The research methodology is then provided. Specifically, the research was based on qualitative and quantitative data derived from an on-line survey. The results are reported in four sections. The …

Pre-Service Teachers’ Perspectives On Teaching Scripture In Primary Religious Education, Sharon Law-Davis, Christine Robinson, Jessica Fic, Rebecca Mola

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

One of the challenges for pre-service teachers in Catholic primary schools is the teaching of scripture stories within Religious Education. Research states that Catholic teachers in the 21st century require tertiary training in teaching the Religious Education curriculum and they need to learn effective strategies to teach specific content in this learning area, including scripture. Godly Play includes an approach to teaching scripture that was intended for use in parish and hospital settings. Godly Play is now promoted by Catholic Education Western Australia as a meaningful approach for influencing the teaching of scripture in RE in early childhood and primary …

Jesus Of Nazareth At The Heart Of Catholic Schools: What Can We Learn About Jesus From The Gospel Women?, Maurice Ryan

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

All Catholic schools locate Jesus of Nazareth at the heart of their enterprise. Jesus is their hero and sponsor; their inspiration and leader. Jesus of Nazareth is the key to the identity and mission of a Catholic school. Insights about Jesus provide intellectual, religious and pastoral resources that assist Catholic schools in pursuing their educational goals. Unfortunately, the sources for encountering and understanding Jesus seem opaque and distant rather than immediate and transparent. This paper focuses on the gospel women and what we might learn from them about Jesus of Nazareth. The paper surveys scholarship on the gospel women in …

‘Has Anyone Here Seen Amos?’ – Re-Establishing ‘Prophetic Imagination’ At The Centre Of Religious Education And Formation, Peter Mudge, Daniel J. Fleming

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

In 1989 Australian author and illustrator Bob Graham published a children’s book entitled Has anyone here seen William? This article seeks to construct a parallel narrative in relation to the category of the prophet, with a particular focus on the need to engage in prophetic imagination within the twin contexts of religious education (hereafter R.E.) and formation. In doing so it also makes reference to one of the archetypical biblical prophets - Amos. The article’s primary interlocutor is scripture scholar Walter Brueggemann (1982, 2002a, 2002b) who has written on topics as diverse as scripture exegesis and the theology of pain …

The Congruence Of Academic Motivation And Catholic Education, Monica J. Kowalski

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Student motivation is of central concern for all teachers, as students cannot learn if they are not engaged and attentive during class. This essay describes how Catholic schools are uniquely designed to promote positive motivational patterns in students based on their foundation in the mysteries of the Catholic faith. The Paschal Mystery relates to students pursuing mastery goals and persisting through challenges, the Trinitarian Mystery reflects the focus on community and belongingness, the Incarnation relates to striving for excellence, and the Eucharist reflects the need for purpose. When Catholic schools are rooted in these mysteries and the mission of the …

Parents: Active Partners In The Educational Achievement Of Their Children, Michael O'Neill, Shane Lavery, Anne Coffey

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Parents exercise a significant influence on student achievement and psychosocial functioning within the school environment. However, the best way to involve parents as active partners in the education of their children is not always evident. This article explores the perceptions of parents and their role in the academic achievement of students in nine high performing Catholic secondary schools in Western Australia. Initially, the review of literature focuses on three constructs: relational trust, parental involvement and policy documents for Catholic schools. Data collection involved a series of focus group interviews in which parents were invited to reflect not only on their …

Theological Foundations Of Pastoral Care In Catholic Universities, Thomas V. Gourlay

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

One defining element of life in any Catholic educational institution, whether it be primary, secondary, or tertiary, is the focus on pastoral care for staff and students. This paper provides a distinctly Catholic definition of the term ‘pastoral care’ and briefly examines the theological foundations that underpin this concept, particularly, in relation to its application in the Catholic university. The paper traces the motif of pastoral care through the Scriptures and, building on insights from St. Pope John Paul II’s Apostolic Constitution on Catholic Universities, Ex Corde Ecclesiae (1990) and the broader theological anthropology of the Vatican II Council. The …

How Will A Fourth Cross Curriculum Priority Of Catholicity And An Eighth General Capability Of Wisdom Contribute To Catholic Curriculum In Tasmanian Catholic Schools?, Bobbi-Jo Bailey, Alanna Stretton, Anita Cunningham

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The Australian Curriculum identifies seven general capabilities (knowledge, skills, behaviours and dispositions) and three cross curriculum priorities (Sustainability; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures; Asia and Australia’s Engagement with Asia) that students require for twenty-first century engagement and learning. In its implementation of the Australian Curriculum, The Tasmanian Catholic Education Office (TCEO) is considering introducing a fourth cross curriculum priority of Catholicity and an eighth general capability of Wisdom, in order to enhance the Catholic curriculum for Tasmanian Catholic schools. Using the stages of theological reflection outlined by Dr. Drasko Dizdar, this article will explore why a fourth …

A Systematic Narrative Review Of Literature On Catholic Schools In Australia To Better Understand The Role Of School Leadership Deploying And Integrating Information And Communication Technology (Ict) In This Environment, Steven Francis Vella, Oliver Kisalay Burmeister, Arnela Ceric, Andrew Barnden

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Research literature within school education present school leaders with a range of roles deploying and integrating Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Roles range from being critically important for success, being needed but to a lesser extent, through to not being needed at all. Australian Catholic schools operate in the same political and social context as schools from other sectors but assimilate the Catholic mission in what they do. To determine if the role of school leadership deploying and integrating ICT in Australian Catholic schools reflected literature from the broader education environment, this study carried out a systematic narrative literature review …

Considering Governance Of Catholic Schools In Canada: Some Insights For Australia, Richard M. Rymarz

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

A consideration of Canadian Catholic schools provides insights for Australian educators. The history and current structure and function of Canadian Catholic schools reflect provincial differences. In Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario Catholic schools exist as fully funded separate schools. They have been seen to be successful in providing a high quality education that meets general educational, or first order, needs. A key challenge for Canadian Catholic schools is how they respond to new issues such as developing policy for transgendered students. These are termed as second order challenges. In addressing these challenges a number of implications can be drawn for Australian …

Hand In Hand We Learn Together: Service-Learning Changing Pre-Service Teachers' Perceptions Of Aboriginal People And Culture., Glenda B. Cain

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

This research explored the experiences of pre-service teachers at a Catholic university who undertook a service-learning program working with secondary students at an Aboriginal College. Specifically, a qualitative phenomenological study was conducted that focused on the pre-service teachers’ attitudes, knowledge and pedagogy of teaching Aboriginal students. Data were gathered from the pre-service teachers prior to, during and at the completion of the service-learning program. At the heart of the program was the building of relationships that became the catalyst for a change in attitudes and perceptions of the pre-service teachers towards Aboriginal people. It is hoped that this study will …

Beginning Female And Male Catholic School Principals In Western Australia - It's Not Simply A Matter Of Gender!, Debra Sayce, Shane Lavery

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Commencing a principalship for the first time is demanding. Not only must beginning principals cultivate a variety of skills to effectively lead an educational institution, they do so while at the same time experiencing the vicissitudes associated with the newness of the role (Darish, 2006; Walker & Oian, 2006). This study explored the leadership experiences and perceptions of thirteen beginning Catholic school principals in Western Australia. Qualitative data were gathered through thirteen semi-structured interviews and researcher-generated field notes. These data were considered from the perspective of gender; seven of the beginning principals were female and six were male. The research …

Spiritual And Religious Capabilities For Catholic Schools, Christine Mcgunnigle, Chris Hackett

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The Australian Curriculum articulates the role of general capabilities across all learning areas in the schooling years. The function of these general capabilities is to ensure that students have the dispositions and skills that provide for deep learning and the ability to function successfully in the 21^st Century. Within Catholic schools, these same general capabilities apply. Catholic schools, in recognising the mission of the Church, are however, called to ensure that not only are students able to participate in the 21^st Century context, but that they are able to evangelise through the integration of faith, life and culture. …

Catholic Teachers’ Postgraduate Qualifications And Students’ End Of Schooling Outcomes: A Large Scale Queensland Based Comparative Study, Judy Smeed, Beryl Exley

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Abstract

A key feature of the current era of Australian schooling is the dominance of publically available student, school and teacher performance data. Our paper examines the intersection of data on teachers’ postgraduate qualifications and students’ end of schooling outcomes in 26 Catholic Systemic Secondary Schools and 18 Catholic Independent Secondary Schools throughout the State of Queensland. We introduce and justify taking up a new socially-just measurement model of students’ end of schooling outcomes, called the ‘Tracking and Academic Management Index’, otherwise known as ‘TAMI’. Additional analysis is focused on the outcomes of top-end students vis-à-vis all students who are …

Religious Education Leadership And The 21st Century: Overcoming Disconnectedness, Michael T. Buchanan

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The role of the religious education leader is a relatively new role within Catholic education in Australia. This leadership position has evolved since the time of its emergence in the decades following Vatican II; however, there appears to be a lack of clarity and understanding about the role and its impact upon a school. While the religious education leader plays a significant role in building a school community, a recent study which sought to discover the kinds of support these leaders need found that many religious education leaders encountered experiences of disconnectedness in their own school communities. Drawing on the …

Leading The Way: Catholic School Leaders And Action Research, Anthony C. Holter, James M. Frabutt, Ronald J. Nuzzi

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Recent research extols the value of problem-based learning strategies in exemplary school leadership preparation programs as one way to provide school leaders with the appropriate tools to systematically use data to make important decisions. The purpose of this study was to address the current gap between the noted importance of problem-based learning strategies in leadership preparation programs, and the demonstrated effect these strategies have on the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and values of school leaders. The study employed a longitudinal mixed-method research design to examine discrete action research skills, behaviours, and values of 44 candidates enrolled in a Master of Arts …

Building Sustainable Leadership In Multicultural South African Catholic Schools, Mark Potterton, Cullen Mackenzie

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The article summarises an innovative approach taken to develop school leaders in multicultural South African Catholic schools by the Catholic Institute of Education. The reported program is built on the idea that leadership and administration are essentially moral activities and that teaching and educational leadership must have a moral purpose. The article recognises that with the current malaise in schooling in South Africa, there is a need for strong, inspiring leadership that is able to bring about systemic change by talking to the ‘minds and hearts’ of people. One of the most notable results of the program has been that …

Historical Inquiry Into The Construction Of Religion As A School Subject For Catholic Schools In Australia, Thomas A. O'Donoghue, David Byrne

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

One of the most distinctive features of Catholic schools, both past and present, is their religious character. In Australia, as in many other parts of the world, the Catholic community invested significant energy developing and preserving this character. Central to this has been the teaching of Religion. Yet, from a historical perspective, there has been little effort undertaken to understand how Religion as a subject in Catholic schools has been constructed. This paper takes its lead from the latter observation. It is in three parts. First, the general historical background is outlined. Second, the importance of producing historical analyses of …