Student-teachers' perspectives on the purposes and characteristics of faith-based schools: an Australian view

At a time when the faith-based identity of schools is facing serious challenges, the researchers undertook a longitudinal study of the relevant opinions, beliefs and values of student-teachers at a Catholic university campus in Australia. The focus of the current paper is on the responses of first-y...

Full description

Saved in:  
Bibliographic Details
Published in:British journal of religious education
Authors: Gleeson, Jim (Author) ; O'Neill, Maureen S. (Author)
Format: Electronic/Print Article
Language:English
Check availability: HBZ Gateway
Journals Online & Print:
Drawer...
Fernleihe:Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste
Published: Routledge [2018]
In: British journal of religious education
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Australia / Catholic school / Objective aim / Attribute / Interrogation
RelBib Classification:KBS Australia; Oceania
KDB Roman Catholic Church
RF Christian education; catechetics
Further subjects:B influence of religious affiliation, religiosity and school attended
B choice of school
B characteristics of Catholic schools
B Faith-based education and schools
B purposes of schooling
Online Access: Volltext (doi)
Description
Summary:At a time when the faith-based identity of schools is facing serious challenges, the researchers undertook a longitudinal study of the relevant opinions, beliefs and values of student-teachers at a Catholic university campus in Australia. The focus of the current paper is on the responses of first-year students to a survey regarding their choice of secondary school, the purposes of schooling and the characteristics of Catholic schools. Relevant context are addressed including global education trends, the values and characteristics of Catholic education and relevant aspects of Australian schooling and youth culture. Regardless of religious affiliation, self-reported religiosity or type of school attended, providing a ‘safe and caring school environment' emerged as the most important purpose of schooling and as a key reason for choice of school, while faith-based purposes and reasons received particularly low ratings. ‘Caring community' was regarded as by far the most important characteristic of the Catholic school, followed by engagement in social justice programmes. The findings are briefly compared with parallel findings for teachers in Queensland Catholic schools.
ISSN:0141-6200
Contains:Enthalten in: British journal of religious education
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.1080/01416200.2016.1256266