Irish and British Reflections on Catholic Education: Foundations, Identity, Leadership Issues and Religious Education in Catholic Schools

Foreword
Preface
Introduction
	The Complex Nature of Catholic Education
	Why this Volume Matters
	References
Contents
About the Editor
Part IReflections on the Foundations of Catholic Education
1 Moving Beyond Slogan and Piety: The Real Challenge Facing Researchers Developing the Philosophy and Theology of Catholic Education
	Introduction
	What is Wrong with the Use of Theologically Inspired Slogans and Metaphors?
	Theology and Educational Discourse About Catholic Education
	The Example of ‘Vocation’ and Catholic Education
	Conclusion: The Implications for Researchers in Catholic Education
	Referencess
2 Catholic Faith Education: A Jesuit Theological Critique
	Introduction: Part 1: The Dilemma
	Part 2: The Response: ‘Faith’ and ‘Ideology’
	Part 3: The ‘Elite’ Verses the ‘Masses’
	Part 4: Karl Rahner: Engaging With Mystery
	Part 5: Critique: The French and German ‘Styles’
	Part V: Concluding Discussion
	References
3 Covid-19, Child Poverty, Catholic Schools and the Insights of Gustavo Gutiérrez
	Introduction
	The Effects of Covid-19 on Schooling in the United Kingdom
	Food Poverty and the Response to Food Poverty Under Covid-19
	Gustavo Gutiérrez: The Evolution of his Thinking
	Poverty, Sacred Scripture and the Poverty of Jesus
	The Preferential Option for the Poor
		The Irruption of the Poor
	Concluding Remarks
	References
4 Eyes on the Preferred Future: Renewing the Church State–Partnership for Catholic Education
	Introduction: Setting the Scene
	Infrastructure
	The Situation in 2019
	Vibrant Partnership
	Conclusion
	Appendix 1
	References
5 Discourses in the Practice of [Catholic] Education—And Theology
	Introduction
	Education as a Mature Practice of Practical Reason
	Deliberation and Evaluation
	Idealist and Explanatory Discourses
	Pause: To Refine, Consolidate and Prepare
	Describing the Practice of Education
	Describing the Study of Education
	A Philosophical-Cum-Theological Dimension
	References
Part IIReflections on Identity Issues Within Catholic Education
6 A Brief History of Catholic Education in Ireland from the Penal Laws to Founding of the Free State (1922) and Beyond
	Introduction
	From Penal Law to Expansion and Consolidation
	Catholic Education and the Founding of the National Schools System (1831)
	Catholic Education in the Irish Free State
	Church–State Relations in the Free State’s Educational System
	Special Relationship
	Influential Thinkers: Professor Timothy Corcoran S.J.
	The Primacy of Religious Instruction (RI)
	Catholic Education Post-Vatican 11
	The Twenty-First Century: The Legacy of Abuse and Contesting Identities
	The Contribution of Catholic Schools to Education in Ireland
	Past, Present and Future
	Conclusion
	References
7 Step by Step: An Introduction to the History of Catholic Denominational Inspection in England and Wales
	Introduction
	The Beginning of Catholic School Inspection Undertaken by Her Majesty’s Inspectors
	The Origins of Denominational Catholic School Inspection
	100 Years of Denominational Inspection
	Statutory Denominational Inspection Since 1993
	References
8 Sustaining the System: Non-Catholic Teachers in Catholic Secondary Schools
	Introduction
	The Contemporary Situation
	Terminology
	The Role of the Non-Catholic Teacher in the Catholic School
	The Catholic School Teacher who is not a Catholic
	Absent from the Research
	The Experience of Catholic School Teachers Who Are not Catholic
	Interviews
	Findings
	Career Progression
	Implications
	Conclusion
	References
9 Exploring the Voice of Children in Catholic Education in an Irish Primary School
	Introduction
	Context of Student Voice
	Methodology
	Findings
	Religious Identity
	Religious Identity not a Priority
	Children Live in Blended-Faith or Blended-Belief Family
	Influence of Grandparents on Catholic Religious Identity
	Faith Practice and Family
	Catholic Children’s Minimal Connection with the Wider Faith Community
	Importance of Community Worship for Orthodox and Evangelical Christian Children
	Religious Imagery in Granny’s House
	Discussion on Religious Identity
	Conclusion
	References
10 The Queerness of Education: Rethinking Catholic Schooling Beyond Identity
	Introduction
	Queerness and the Religious School: Resisting the Antagonism
	Education as a Queer Political Praxis
	References
11 Living with Meaning at a Time When Believing in God Is an Option: An Investigation into Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman and Its Implications for Catholic Education
	Introduction: The Dramatist in a ‘Secular’ Age—The Exploration of the ‘Middle-Ground’
	Scope
	Faith, (Post) Modernity and Tragedy
	Anagnorisis
	Moral and Spiritual Resistance
	Self-worth, Employment and Vocation
	Conclusion
	References
Part IIIReflections on the Emerging Research About Catholic School Leadership
12 Toward the Renewal of Spiritual Capital: A Contemporary Challenge for Headteachers in Catholic Schools in England
	Introduction: Context
	Thematic Analysis
	Method
	Spiritual Capital
	Results
	Discussion: Renewing Spiritual Capital
	Summary
	References
13 Shepherding Talent—An Informal Formation Programme for Aspiring Catholic School Leaders
	Introduction
	The Catholicity of Leadership
	Evaluating a Catholic School
	‘Believing Without Belonging’ Servant and Christ-Centred Leadership
	The Professional Paradigm
	Revisiting the Nature of Catholic Identity and the Professional Paradigm
	Concluding Comments
	References
14 Are MATS and Academies a Threat to Catholic Education?
	Introduction
	The Beginnings of My Story
	The Impact on My School
	Academies and Catholic Education
	Conclusion
	References
Part IVReflections on Emerging Research About Religious Education in Catholic Schools
15 Religious Education in Catholic Schools: Troubling Times or Routine Ructions?
	Introduction: Setting the Scene
	Religious Education and the State
	Religious Education and the Educator
	Religious Education and the Church: Does It Matter?
	Conclusion
	References
16 Religious Education in Irish Catholic Primary Schools: Recent Developments, Challenges and Opportunities
	Introduction
	Education About Religions and Beliefs (ERB) and Ethics
	Review of the Curriculum (1999): Religious Education
	Review of the Curriculum: Anthropology of the Person
	The ‘Baptism Barrier’ and Policy Changes to Admissions to Schools
	Changing Popular Attitudes and Demographics
	Blessings in Disguise: An Opportunity for the Catholic Community
	Conclusion
	References
17 Religious Education in Irish Secondary Schools: A Future?
	Introduction
	Context
	Aim of Chapter
	Current Situation
	Looking to the Future
	Religious Education in Catholic Schools
	Non-confessional Religious Education
	Critical Realism
	Intellectual Conversion
	Implications
	Conclusion
	References
18 Inter-Belief Dialogue in Catholic Schools Viewed Through the Lens of the Enquiring Classroom
	Introduction
	Dialogue in Catholic Schools
	The Enquiring Classroom and Dialogue
	Beyond Binaries: The Framework Guiding the Enquiring Classroom (TEC)
	European Policy and Intercultural and Interreligious Dialogue
	Ipgrave’s Dialogical Approach
	Rules of the Belief Circles Game
	Stages of the Inter-belief Dialogue Café
	Method
	Conclusion
	References
19 An Exploration of the Different Voices Within the Irish Catholic Post-primary Religious Education Classroom
	Introduction
	Voices Through Policy
	The Context of the Research
	Discordant Voices on the Role of Religious Education
	Voices from the Margins
	Voicing the Unwritten Policy Within This Context
	Discordant Voices on the Role of Religious Practice During the School Day
	Creating the Space for Conversation
	Conclusion
	References
20 Religious Education as a Discipline in the Knowledge-Rich Curriculum
	Introduction
	Towards a Catholic Curriculum?
	A Possible Way Forward
	References
21 A De Fide Case Against ‘Faith Development’?
	Introduction
	What We Can Learn from Vatican I
	Vatican I and the Rejection of Fideism
	The Implications for Religious Education in Catholic Schools
	Conclusion
	References
Index