Throughout the history of Catholic schools in Los Angeles, the mission of Catholic schools and the Archdiocese governing its schools has been clear: Catholic schools must strive to serve children with varied learning needs. However, despite calls for inclusion from the Vatican, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and efforts from trained administrators and professionals to help facilitate inclusion in schools, Catholic inclusive programs are not able to include all learners. Using qualitative research with semi-structured interviews, focus group, and document review, this study uses the framework of ableism and disability studies to research and analyze the two questions regarding inclusive practices in one Catholic elementary school that has had a program running for five years. The research questions are as follows: 1) What are St. Mary teachers’ beliefs, experiences, and perceptions about disability and inclusive education? 2) What do St. Mary teachers and administrators think are the best ways to foster acceptance of inclusive education in the school? Despite the fact that Catholic educators recognize that Catholic schools, as a matter of social justice, should be teaching all children, it is challenging and frustrating for them. Due to a lack of resources and support, limited exposure and experience of people with disabilities, and technical special education training, even the most dedicated, talented, and sympathetic Catholic educators wanting to serve children with special needs have difficulty doing so. Reasons relating to inconsistent teacher training, beliefs and experiences that students with special needs are “trouble,” limited resources, and teachers’ perceptions of fairness, time, and equity, all contribute to teachers’ frustration and limitations when including learners with special needs in their classrooms. The significance of this research study lies in documenting a Catholic school’s experience of developing, evolving, and establishing a working model of an inclusion program in one Los Angeles Catholic elementary school. To this end, this study provides larger contextual data to those in similar Catholic school settings across America about Catholic teacher training and the implementation of inclusive practices in Catholic schools. Also, this study hopes to further the discussion in the field of Catholic education about the right(s) of all Catholic children, regardless of ability, to a Catholic education, since, according to the Vatican, that it is a matter of human dignity that they receive a spiritual and emotional education as well as one that is appropriately academic.

Catholic schools are in need of innovative change. The problem lies in how to construct the elements of change to create viability for a school in the face of rapid declining enrollment. Responding to this type of environment as an educational leader requires qualities and characteristics similar to those of first responders in a medical emergency, a term I coined as the triage principal. This autoethnographic research study was designed to answer three research questions: 1. As a new principal at Michael, the Archangel School (MAS), a Catholic school in danger of closing, what challenges did I experience? 2. As a new leader, how did I respond to the challenges to bring about change at MAS? 3. What did I learn from this first year leadership experience? This autoethnographic study is constructed from my voice as a first year, first time principal, using several data sources: my blog, my archival field notes, and three interviews from archdiocesan leaders. Each of the given data sources had contained a data collection procedure resulting in overarching thematic patterns that led to generalizations based on the past experiences at MAS and my review of the literature. The weaving of the past and present of my life’s leadership journey in combination with the culture and the people that surround me for this study, has made me realize that I do have a story worth sharing, a story that can potentially help others who might find themselves seemingly lost and alone.

Conversations regarding racial equity are uncomfortable for many Catholic school leaders. This is due to a lack of clarity between Catholic social teaching (CST) and its implementation regarding racial justice among Catholic schools. This necessitates coherent guidance to address systemic racism in Catholic education which responds to the need for greater equity, inclusion, and antiracism in its Catholic schools. The purpose of this study was to work with Black Catholic school leaders to understand how they operationalize antiracism in their leadership practice. To understand this paradigm, this study addressed two research questions: (1) How do Black leaders experience their role as Catholic school principals? (2) What roadblocks do Black principals encounter in their practice? Through a series of journal entries and semi structured interviews data were collected and interpreted through a critical race methodology. This resulted in two main findings. First, the data indicated intimate school leadership and culturally responsive school leadership as an operationalization of CST in Catholic school. Second, that racism was a key deterrent to CST implementation. The research findings suggested that an authentic commitment to Catholic schools serving the Black community requires intimate school leadership among leaders in positions of governance as modeled by the participating Black Catholic school leaders of the study.

No description available.

This qualitative study examined the decision-making processes among principals of parish-based Catholic elementary schools in low-income communities within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, against the backdrop of a decentralized governance structure and increased financial pressures intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. The study was grounded in a conceptual framework derived from contingency theories of leadership and decision-making research and investigated three areas: (1) the principals’ decision-making processes, (2) the situational factors influencing these processes, and (3) the pandemic’s impact on their decision-making processes. The findings revealed dynamic integration of cognitive, social, and procedural processes, rooted in faith and community collaboration. The principal participants demonstrated a keen awareness of their schools’ financial limitations and a strong dedication to their communities’ needs. The study also highlighted the dual nature of decentralization and subsidiarity, presenting both the challenges in principal-pastor relationships and support through relationships with diocesan teams.

How do the Catholic Schools Consultants through their leadership and relationship with Principals influence the outcomes of Catholic systemic schools in New South Wales (NSW)? This research question has been of considerable interest to the professional communities of Catholic educators. Throughout NSW there are eleven diocesan Catholic school systems, each led by a Director assisted by senior field officers called Consultants, the equivalent position of Area superintendents or inspectors in other school systems. The leadership of these Consultants is considered critical for the effectiveness of the school systems especially through their influence on and with Principals. Within this survey research study, the total population of Consultants and Principals was invited to participate, and 45 Consultants (90%) and 365 Principals (76%) responded. The research study was based on the assumption that a ‘classical’ view of leadership should be augmented by a more complex, interactive view of leadership as relationship that influenced outcomes in school systems. The study was operationalized in three dimensions. Leadership was described by ten variables, derived from Sashkin’s (1998) Visionary Leadership Theory. The relationship between Consultant and Principals was posited as a composite of two variables, Interpersonal Relation and Shared Catholic Leadership Mindset, that are viewed as explanatory, mediating variables. Three selected outcome variables are posited – Educational Outcomes, School Outcomes and Spiritual Outcomes. The fifteen variables so described were developed and/or validated for this study using confirmatory factor analysis. Additionally, the impact of three demographic background factors of gender, school type, and years of networking association between Consultant and Principals on the main variables in the study was examined. A mediated – effects survey research design was used. Survey questionnaires were sent from the local Catholic Education Office to each volunteer Consultant and to her/his associated network of Principals on a confidential basis and returned directly to the researcher. At no stage did the researcher know the identity of the respondents. Data analysis methods included comparative means analysis of Consultants’ and Principals’ perceptions of the variables; multiple regression analysis and structural equation modelling to examine the associations between variables; MANOVA analysis to examine demographic background factors; and finally some descriptive analysis of survey data to provide validation or further insights. The study results showed that both Consultants and Principals agreed that the Consultants demonstrated visionary leadership as defined by Sashkin (1998) although there were significant differences on seven leadership factors. There was high level agreement that Consultants and Principals exhibited a shared mindset, described as Shared Catholic Leadership Mindset, and outstanding interpersonal relationships. Findings about the associations between variables showed different results for Principals and Consultants. The ‘Principals’ model suggested that the two relationship variables acted as mediators between some of the ten leadership variables and the three outcome variables. On the other hand, the ‘Consultants’ model suggested that neither of the two relationship variables acted as mediators, but that only two leadership variables, Capable Management and Creative Leadership, had any influence on Outcomes. There were no significant differences on results due to gender, school type or years of networking association for either Principals or Consultants. These results, supplemented by qualitative findings, led to the conclusion that there was a need for system policy makers to reconceptualise the leadership of such Consultants to emphasise the importance of the shared mindset, and the synergistic element in the relationship between Consultant and Principals. There was a recommendation that further research replicate this study with other Catholic, Government and independent education systems. The use of structural equation modelling analysis in similar future research was also recommended.

Šio darbo tikslas - suformuluoti krikščioniškos antropologijos principus ir jais pagrįsti naujos Šv. Juozapo katalikiškos mokyklos koncepciją. Pirmoje darbo dalyje išnagrinėjami penki Bažnyčios dokumentai, aptariantys katalikiškos mokyklos misiją ir prasmę. Juose matyti aiški Bažnyčios nuostata, kad katalikiška mokykla yra ypatinga misijų vieta, savo veikla atliepianti į kiekvieno laikmečio iššūkius. Darbe aptarta katalikiškos mokyklos raida Lietuvoje XX a. ir XXI a. pradžioje. Katalikiška mokykla, atskleidžiama kaip išskirtinis edukacinis reiškinio, kreipiantis link visuminio asmens ugdymo. Pateikiamas Šv. Juozapo mokyklos gimimo kontekstas, pabrėžiant šeimų bendruomenės siekį tinkamai atlikti savo pareigą auklėti ir mokyti vaikus, bei gyventi vientisą ir nepadalintą gyvenimą. Krikščioniškomis vertybėmis persmelkti visą ugdymo procesą, ugdyti žmogų kaip visumą, stiprinant žmogaus kaip asmens vertingumą, kuriant bendravimo ir bendradarbiavimo kultūrą, galutinai vienovę atrandant Kristuje. Antroje darbo dalyje įvardijami ir išnagrinėjami krikščioniškos antropologijos principai, leidžiantys į žmogų žvelgti visuminiu žvilgsniu, matant jį kaip nuostabų Dievo kūrinį, sukurtą pagal Dievo paveikslą ir panašumą, vienintelį, kurio Dievas norėjo dėl jo paties. Šis žvilgsnis kreipia į teisingą santykį su žmogumi visuomet matant jį kaip tikslą savyje. Žmogus, būdamas laisvas ir protingas, gebantis mylėti yra pašauktas dalyvauti dieviškoje misijose atsakingai tęsti kūrimo darbą, teikti... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of this work is to formulate the principles of the Christian anthropology and thus ground the conception of a newly born Catholic School of St Joseph. The first part of the work deals with the analysis of five documents of the Church, where mission and meaning of a Catholic school has been discussed. It has been claimed by the Church that a Catholic school is a special place of missions and its activities correspond to arising challenges of every epoch. The analysis of the evolution of Catholic schools in Lithuania in the XX and XXI centuries is also provided. Catholic school is revealed as an exclusive educational phenomenon directing towards the whole and unified upbringing of a human being. The background of the birth of St Joseph’s School is presented, emphasizing the aim of the family community to fulfil its duty to raise and educate their children and to lead a solid and undivided life of integrity. The school has been founded while having purpose to integrate the whole of educational process with Christian values, to educate a human being as a whole, stressing the value of a person, supporting culture of communication and cooperation and discovering the final unity in Jesus Christ. The second part of the work deals with the analysis of the principles of Christian anthropology, which enables one to see another human being with a unifying outlook and recognize him as a remarkable work of God, created after the image of God, unique and desired by God for his own... [to full text]

No description available.

O presente estudo teve o propósito de narrar a história do Colégio Regina Coeli, nos anos de 1948 a 1980, localizado em Veranópolis, buscando analisar as motivações e possíveis transformações decorrentes da passagem de uma escola confessional para uma comunitária, atentando para as culturas escolares. A escolha do recorte temporal está relacionada a fatos importantes, sendo demarcado o ano de 1948 para o início do estudo, pois foi neste ano que a escola passou a denominar-se Regina Coeli, com a inauguração do prédio construído especificamente para o colégio. A data limite de 1980 foi determinada levando-se em consideração dados sobre a direção da escola, que depois de ter passado da condição de confessional católica para comunitária, em 1969, continuou sendo administrada por Irmãs de São José até o ano de 1976. A partir de 1977, passou a ser dirigida por leigos, tendo tido dois diretores até 1980. Considerando essa delimitação, para a construção da narrativa, analisaram-se as culturas escolares, no que diz respeito aos espaços, aos sujeitos e aos saberes escolares. Pautada nos pressupostos teóricos da História Cultural, utilizou-se como metodologia a análise de documentos, referentes ao Colégio Regina Coeli, e a história oral, através de entrevistas com sujeitos que participaram da instituição de ensino objeto dessa pesquisa. Os documentos dizem respeito às atas de reuniões, ao “Relatório da verificação para efeito da concessão de „inspeção preliminar‟ Ginásio Regina Coeli”, às fotografias, aos livros de matrículas e aos jornais. As entrevistas foram realizadas com dois ex-diretores, duas Irmãs de São José (uma ex-professora e uma ex-aluna) e duas ex-alunas, que atuaram também como professoras na escola. A narrativa foi organizada em cinco capítulos, iniciando com as considerações iniciais, onde se detalha o processo de pesquisa, apresentando os objetivos e a metodologia adotada para a realização do estudo. Em seguida, apresenta-se um breve contexto histórico e educacional de Veranópolis, apontando aspectos do desenvolvimento social, político, cultural, econômico e educacional. Na sequência são narrados aspectos da cultura escolar do Colégio Regina Coeli, referente aos sujeitos, espaços e saberes, no período em que a escola, com o estatuto de confessional católica, era administrada pelas Irmãs de São José, compreendendo o período de 1948 a 1969, mas citando também aspectos do período anterior, de 1917 a 1947, em que a escola denominava-se São José. Depois, abordam-se as motivações e o processo de transição de estatuto da escola, de confessional católico para comunitário, bem como aspectos das culturas escolares em relação aos sujeitos, espaços e saberes escolares do período de 1969 a 1980. Para concluir, são expostas as considerações finais, que permitem compreendem que as transformações nas culturas escolares do Colégio Regina Coeli, decorrentes da transição de estatuto de escola confessional católica para comunitária, foram graduais, pois as Irmãs continuaram no Colégio Regina Coeli até o ano 2000, momento em que foram observados maiores tensionamentos. Diante dos resultados obtidos e da narrativa construída, evidencia-se a importância dessa pesquisa para a comunidade veranense e para os estudos na área da história da educação. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-05-30T12:29:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Marina Matiello.pdf: 5675507 bytes, checksum: 8ce21f2fc3e08bd32d64214be3921691 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-30T12:29:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Marina Matiello.pdf: 5675507 bytes, checksum: 8ce21f2fc3e08bd32d64214be3921691 (MD5) / The present study aimed to tell the history of Regina Coeli School, in the years 1948 to 1980, located in Veranopolis, seeking to analyze the motivations and possible changes resulting from the transition of a confessional school for a community school, noting the school cultures. The choice of time frame is related to important facts, which marked the year 1948 for the beginning of the study, it was this year that the school was renamed to Regina Coeli, with the inauguration of the building built specifically for school. The date of 1980 was determined taking into account data about the school board, which after changing the condition of catholic confessional to community in 1969, kept being administrated by the Sisters of São José by the year 1976. From 1977, it began to be directed by lays, having two directors until 1980. Considering this delimitation, for the construction of the narrative, it was analyzed the school cultures, regarding the spaces, the subjects and school knowledge. Guided the theoretical principles of Cultural History, it was used as methodology the documental analysis, referring to Regina Coeli School, and oral history through interviews with people who participated in the educational institution object of this research. The documents relate to the meeting minutes, the "Verify Report for effect of concession of „preliminary inspection' Gym Regina Coeli", photographs, registration books and newspapers. Interviews were conducted with two former principals, two Sisters of São José (a former teacher and a former student) and two former students, who also acted as teachers in school. The narrative is organized into five chapters, starting with the initial considerations, which details the research process, presenting the objectives and methodology adopted for the study. Then, it presents a brief historical and educational background of Veranópolis, pointing aspects of social, political, cultural, economic and educational development. Following are narrated aspects of school culture of Regina Coeli School, referring to the subjects, spaces and knowledges, in the period in which the school, with the status of Catholic confessional, was administered by the Sisters of São José, covering the period 1948-1969 but also citing aspects of the previous period, from 1917 to 1947, when the school was called São José. Then, discuss the motivations and the transition process of the statute of the school, from Catholic confessional to community, as well as aspects of school cultures in relation to the subjects, spaces and school knowledge of the period 1969-1980. To conclude, the final considerations are exposed, allowing understand that changes in school cultures Regina Coeli School, arising from the transition of statute of Catholic Confessional school for Community School were gradual, as the Sisters continued in Regina Coeli College until 2000, at which time there was a higher tensions. Based on these results and the narrative constructed, highlights the importance of this research to the Veranense community and to the studies in the field of history of education.

O presente estudo teve o propósito de narrar a história do Colégio Regina Coeli, nos anos de 1948 a 1980, localizado em Veranópolis, buscando analisar as motivações e possíveis transformações decorrentes da passagem de uma escola confessional para uma comunitária, atentando para as culturas escolares. A escolha do recorte temporal está relacionada a fatos importantes, sendo demarcado o ano de 1948 para o início do estudo, pois foi neste ano que a escola passou a denominar-se Regina Coeli, com a inauguração do prédio construído especificamente para o colégio. A data limite de 1980 foi determinada levando-se em consideração dados sobre a direção da escola, que depois de ter passado da condição de confessional católica para comunitária, em 1969, continuou sendo administrada por Irmãs de São José até o ano de 1976. A partir de 1977, passou a ser dirigida por leigos, tendo tido dois diretores até 1980. Considerando essa delimitação, para a construção da narrativa, analisaram-se as culturas escolares, no que diz respeito aos espaços, aos sujeitos e aos saberes escolares. Pautada nos pressupostos teóricos da História Cultural, utilizou-se como metodologia a análise de documentos, referentes ao Colégio Regina Coeli, e a história oral, através de entrevistas com sujeitos que participaram da instituição de ensino objeto dessa pesquisa. Os documentos dizem respeito às atas de reuniões, ao “Relatório da verificação para efeito da concessão de „inspeção preliminar‟ Ginásio Regina Coeli”, às fotografias, aos livros de matrículas e aos jornais. As entrevistas foram realizadas com dois ex-diretores, duas Irmãs de São José (uma ex-professora e uma ex-aluna) e duas ex-alunas, que atuaram também como professoras na escola. A narrativa foi organizada em cinco capítulos, iniciando com as considerações iniciais, onde se detalha o processo de pesquisa, apresentando os objetivos e a metodologia adotada para a realização do estudo. Em seguida, apresenta-se um breve contexto histórico e educacional de Veranópolis, apontando aspectos do desenvolvimento social, político, cultural, econômico e educacional. Na sequência são narrados aspectos da cultura escolar do Colégio Regina Coeli, referente aos sujeitos, espaços e saberes, no período em que a escola, com o estatuto de confessional católica, era administrada pelas Irmãs de São José, compreendendo o período de 1948 a 1969, mas citando também aspectos do período anterior, de 1917 a 1947, em que a escola denominava-se São José. Depois, abordam-se as motivações e o processo de transição de estatuto da escola, de confessional católico para comunitário, bem como aspectos das culturas escolares em relação aos sujeitos, espaços e saberes escolares do período de 1969 a 1980. Para concluir, são expostas as considerações finais, que permitem compreendem que as transformações nas culturas escolares do Colégio Regina Coeli, decorrentes da transição de estatuto de escola confessional católica para comunitária, foram graduais, pois as Irmãs continuaram no Colégio Regina Coeli até o ano 2000, momento em que foram observados maiores tensionamentos. Diante dos resultados obtidos e da narrativa construída, evidencia-se a importância dessa pesquisa para a comunidade veranense e para os estudos na área da história da educação. / The present study aimed to tell the history of Regina Coeli School, in the years 1948 to 1980, located in Veranopolis, seeking to analyze the motivations and possible changes resulting from the transition of a confessional school for a community school, noting the school cultures. The choice of time frame is related to important facts, which marked the year 1948 for the beginning of the study, it was this year that the school was renamed to Regina Coeli, with the inauguration of the building built specifically for school. The date of 1980 was determined taking into account data about the school board, which after changing the condition of catholic confessional to community in 1969, kept being administrated by the Sisters of São José by the year 1976. From 1977, it began to be directed by lays, having two directors until 1980. Considering this delimitation, for the construction of the narrative, it was analyzed the school cultures, regarding the spaces, the subjects and school knowledge. Guided the theoretical principles of Cultural History, it was used as methodology the documental analysis, referring to Regina Coeli School, and oral history through interviews with people who participated in the educational institution object of this research. The documents relate to the meeting minutes, the "Verify Report for effect of concession of „preliminary inspection' Gym Regina Coeli", photographs, registration books and newspapers. Interviews were conducted with two former principals, two Sisters of São José (a former teacher and a former student) and two former students, who also acted as teachers in school. The narrative is organized into five chapters, starting with the initial considerations, which details the research process, presenting the objectives and methodology adopted for the study. Then, it presents a brief historical and educational background of Veranópolis, pointing aspects of social, political, cultural, economic and educational development. Following are narrated aspects of school culture of Regina Coeli School, referring to the subjects, spaces and knowledges, in the period in which the school, with the status of Catholic confessional, was administered by the Sisters of São José, covering the period 1948-1969 but also citing aspects of the previous period, from 1917 to 1947, when the school was called São José. Then, discuss the motivations and the transition process of the statute of the school, from Catholic confessional to community, as well as aspects of school cultures in relation to the subjects, spaces and school knowledge of the period 1969-1980. To conclude, the final considerations are exposed, allowing understand that changes in school cultures Regina Coeli School, arising from the transition of statute of Catholic Confessional school for Community School were gradual, as the Sisters continued in Regina Coeli College until 2000, at which time there was a higher tensions. Based on these results and the narrative constructed, highlights the importance of this research to the Veranense community and to the studies in the field of history of education.