Moving Beyond Enrollment: A Framework for Encouraging Critical Perspectives and Embracing Diversity in Catholic Education

• In Event: 64.089 - Sheraton Roundtable 12 - Grand Centre
  In Roundtable Session: 64.089-7 - Examining Culturally Sustaining Pedagogy and Practices in Catholic Schools

Abstract

Low enrollment is considered the biggest problem facing Catholic education in the US. However, this common sense thinking limits deeper, critical consideration of other issues which may be causing these low enrollment trends. The purpose of this paper is two-fold. First, this paper reviews the field of Catholic education research in order to uncover the extent to which a common sense about enrollment and Catholic school quality has come to be the dominant voice within the field. Second, this paper proposes a framework for a new direction for Catholic education research: one that encourages diverse perspectives and one that more closely aligns with the principles of Catholic social teaching and justice.

Authors

• Andrew Frederic Miller, Boston College

• Michael T. O'Connor, Providence College