State and church tension has been reignited in France over the dismissal of a high-profile principal. This has aggravated the debate over religious expression in French schools. Following weeks of protests, Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris has spoken out in defence of this freedom of expression. Principal dismissal sparks tensions The dismissal of Christian Espeso, Read more
The great educator and cultural historian Walter Ong, S.J., wrote an essay for America in 1990 in which he suggested the metaphor of yeast can serve as a powerful model for Catholic education. Yeast, he wrote, is an agent of infusion, of integration and penetration that transforms the flour into which it is introduced. He Read more
Spreading kindness in the community brought “pure joy” to the faces of Dunedin school children. The pupils of nine Dunedin Catholic schools held a social justice day yesterday, taking part in 14 different projects throughout the city including a rubbish cleanup of the Town Belt, baking for residents of Ross Home and connecting with pensioners. Read more
Trying to choose a high school in Auckland for your kids? Last month the Herald asked: should you buy a house in the Grammar zone or live somewhere else and send your kids to private schools? That story was mostly a comparison of private school fees and property prices. But in my view “Grammar or Read more
Newly released data shows that Catholic schools in England and Wales take in 50 percent more pupils from the most deprived backgrounds than state schools. The Catholic Education Service (CES) says just under a fifth of all pupils in Catholic statutory education meets the highest national deprivation criteria, compared to a 12.8 percent England average. Read more
A groundbreaking study has confirmed the immense financial benefits of parental school choice in Australia. Non-government schools save taxpayers at least $4.59 billion annually in recurrent funding costs. The research from Catholic Schools NSW, published March 14, reveals that if all schools received their full government funding entitlement, the yearly recurrent savings provided by non-government Read more
The environment in which Religious Education is taught in Catholic schools in Australia today has changed dramatically over the last sixty years. Culturally, this reflects the significant changes in society globally and the impact of religious affiliation locally. Gone is much of the tribalism, homogeneity and compliance that so identified the Catholic faithful pre-Vatican II Read more
Catholic schools are the jewel in the crown of the church in Australia. While parishes continue to decline, the school sector is often booming. The contrast between ageing congregations and young students is stark. Equally striking is the contrast between relatively youthful school staff and ageing church leaders. Twelve months ago, with the Plenary Council Read more
A new podcast is helping deliver Religious Education (RE) to Catholic schools in Sydney. Called RE Search, the podcast explores key areas in the primary and secondary curriculum in ways that are readily accessible to all students – whatever their faith background. Sydney’s Archdiocese in partnership with Sydney Catholic Schools is behind the new approach. Read more
Accolades continue for the New Zealand Catholic bishops’ trailblazing document on sexual diversity. The latest comes from David Palmieri of Outreach, a US LGBTQ Catholic resource. “Aroha and Diversity in Catholic Schools, manifests the love of Jesus Christ in its courage to seek “respect, compassion, and sensitivity” for LGBTQ children in Catholic schools and colleges” Read more