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This book by Joseph McCann explores leadership and ethos in Catholic schools, emphasizing the importance of active engagement by leaders. It compares different educational approaches within major Christian traditions and discusses the relationship between religious reasons and educational goals. The text delves into the unique characteristics of Catholic and Christian schools, examining their purpose, product, and relationship with culture. It also presents ideal types based on Max Weber's concept, providing insights into the various Christian school ethos types. Readers will gain a deeper understanding of the roles of faith, works, and redemption in education and discover how different schools embody these principles.
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‘Improving our Aim’ Catholic School Ethos Today By Joseph McCann
Leadership and ethos • “… without energetic, focused and wide-ranging engagement by leadership, ethos cannot be initiated nor continued.”
3. Schools Compared • Four points of comparison • Reference • Relationship • Purpose • Product • Leading to Ideal Types
Ideal Types of Max Weber • “Ideal Type” is meant to clarify concepts • It is not an “ideal” meaning “unreal perfection” • But “idea-al” meaning “embodying an idea”
The Religious School • Religions establish schools for religious reasons • Religious reasons lead to educational reasons. • Different religions have different reasons.
Catholic Education • The Word and the World reveal God • Faith and works redeem Christians • Church and School are linked closely
The Christian School • Reference: Church • Relationship: Communal • Purpose: Redemption • Product: Disciple
4. Christian Schools Compared • Five Christ-Culture Relationships (Richard Nieburh) • Four Modes of Religious Presence (Hartford Research)
Five Relationships of Christ with Culture • Against Culture • Within Culture • Above Culture • Paradox with Culture • Transforming Culture
Four Modes of Religious Presence • Activist Presence • Evangelist Presence • Sanctuary Presence • Civic Presence
Five Types of Christian School Ethos • Fundamentalist School • Serving School • Proclaiming School • Worshipping School • Community School
Fundamentalist School Christ Against Culture • Discourage media values • Little ecumenism or collaboration • Religious lessons drawn from secular subjects
Serving School Christ transforming Culture • Stress on justice and equality issues • Social outreach for school and pupils • Critical interest in politics and history
Proclaiming School Christ in Paradox to Culture • Explicit Witness in public • Stress on religious formation • Emphasis on explicit voluntarism
Worshipping School Christ Above Culture • Place and time for liturgies • Sacred art and music stressed • Retreats and reflection / prayer promoted
Community School Christ within Culture • Acceptance of cultural values • Ease with national politics • Stress on school climate and pupil development
5. Exploring your School Ethos • Proclaiming? • Worshipping? • Serving? • Community?