The Hidden Curriculum of Diversity at a Conservative Christian School

• In Event: 69.050 - Schooling in Pluralistic Contexts

Abstract

This paper, based on a phenomenological case study, examines the hidden curriculum of diversity at a conservative Christian school. It focuses on three of the school’s policies/practices: its service opportunities, its Policy for Biblical Living, and its worldview teaching. These policies/practices communicated strong and sometimes conflicting messages about socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and religious identity. Further, the messages were framed by conservative Christian theology. The findings raise a policy question that demands attention: If students begin attending conservative Christian schools with public dollars (i.e. vouchers), wherein people with diverse worldviews, sexual orientations, and backgrounds are subsidizing students’ tuition, should the recipient schools be accountable for teaching openness and respect for diverse others?

Author

• Allison Blosser, High Point University