Volume 3, Number 1
September, 1999
Table of Contents
Editors' Comments (p. 6)
Thomas C. Hunt, Ronald J. Nuzzi
Articles
Framing the Principles of Catholic Social Thought
William J. Byron, SJ
Georgetown University
(pp. 7-14)
Catholic educators received an invitation in 1998 from the National Conference of Catholic Bishops to help forge a working partnership between Catholic education and the tradition of Catholic social thought. Listed are 10 principles that condense the content of Catholic social thought and package it in a way that can be more easily and effectively communicated at all levels of Catholic education.
An Organizing Framework for Specifying and Maintaining Catholic Identity in
American Catholic Higher Education
Christopher M. Janosik
Villanova University
(pp. 15-32)
All Catholic institutions are increasingly involved in discussions about what constitutes Catholic identity. It is a pressing question for schools, universities, hospitals, and social service agencies. As the debate proceeds on the possible implementation of formal norms for Catholic universities according to Ex Corde Ecclesiae, the question of Catholic identity becomes a most crucial for Catholic colleges and universities. Through a content analysis of literature on Catholic higher education, the author suggests a framework for specifying the content of Catholic identity. Within a structure of three major influences which are delineated in 18 categories, Catholic identity is described as a rich and multifaceted phenomenon.
The Financial, Legal, and Political Context of Private Education
Bruno V. Manno
The Annie E. Casey Foundation
(pp. 33-51)
Five principles underlie the changing policy architecture of American K-12 education. The author discusses these principles; how they are blurring the traditional demarcation of public and private schools; and the implications of this discussion for a private education research agenda.
Responses (pp. 52-70)
Bruce S. Cooper
Fordham University
Charles J. Russo
University of Dayton
Focus Section
The Political Climate in the Current U.S. Congress for the Public Policy Agenda of the Catholic School Community
Frank J. Monahan
United States Catholic Conference
(pp. 74-80)
Collaboration for the Common Good: An Overture to Cooperation in K-12 Education
Joseph McTighe
Council for American Private Education
(pp. 81-86)
A Favorable Legal Environment for Voucher Programs
Mark E. Chopko
National Conference of Catholic Bishops
(pp. 87-96)
A pressing legal issue at the close of the millennium is the use of public tax dollars to assist parents, especially lower income parents, with the rising tuition at private schools. The idea of vouchers, as they have been commonly named, has been argued in legal circles for decades. However, the 1990s have seen a particular urgency on this issue as several states have passed legislation implementing pilot programs. This article summarizes the current state of the debate, reviews significant legal cases, and highlights the differences among individual states in their interpretation and application of the law. While maintaining that a properly designed voucher program could pass constitutional review by the U.S. Supreme Court, the author argues that broader public policy and justice issues are at stake.
The Reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act in a Republican-Controlled Congress: A View From the Bishops’ Conference
William F. Davis, OSFS
United States Catholic Conference
(pp. 97-106)
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, the largest single federal education program, is due to be reauthorized in 1999. ESEA is aimed at offering a variety of services to students and staff in public, private, and religious schools. For the first time, reauthorization will take place in a Congress with Republican majorities in both houses. The idea of the Republicans radically altering the program has been raised in many circles. This article addresses the purpose and history of ESEA as well as the prospects for any radical reshaping of the statute in the current reauthorization process.
The Telecommunication Act of 1996 and Its Impact on Catholic Education
Dale McDonald, PBVM
National Catholic Educational Association
(pp. 107-118)
Teachers and administrators worldwide are struggling to equip schools with the latest technology in an effort to enhance learning environments. This article discusses legislation concerning the funding of these efforts, with a strong focus on the specific funding challenges facing Catholic schools in the United States.
Review of Research
Ideas and Insights From Other Scholarly Works
Ronald J. Nuzzi
University of Dayton
(pp. 119-123)
Book Review
Interview with Thomas H. Groome
Mary Peter Traviss, OP
(pp. 124-136)