Hello!

Salam Saleh
SOC 001
Professor Prior
30 May 1
2018
Social Institutions
Analysis
 Education
Faith-Based Education
 History
Faith-based education is an educational
institution that incorporate religion into its
curriculum. It could be any religion, but the
schools stemmed from Abrahamic religions
are more common. They began to open up in
the late 19th century and were mostly
Catholic. This came about due to the
immigrants being served came from Europe
and these schooled mirrored those in their
home countries. Since their establishment,
faith-based schools became a part of
American society and people of other faiths
began opening schools pertaining to
different faith and belief systems.
“According to the National Catholic
Educational Association, “Large numbers of
Catholic schools were built in the older
industrial cities of the Nation to serve the
children of immigrants.” (6).
“Catholic schools expanded rapidly around
the turn of the century (and) were very
important in assimilating wave after wave of
immigrants from places like Italy and Poland
and Ireland” (66).

Source: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/faithbased/report.pdf

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 Perceptions
People within faith-based education often have positive perceptions of institutions like
these. It has been reported that students’ “descriptions of actions that made the integration
of faith and learning possible included multiple references to climate topics, including
feeling accepted by their classmates, feeling safe to respond honestly in class, perceiving
the classroom as a pleasant place to be, and a feeling of being supported by the professor
and their classmates” (Lawrence p 4). It is clear that people within faith based learning
institution yield positive experiences and therefore perceptions. In addition it was found
that educators focus highly on building rapport with their students and their overall concern
for them is greater.

People outside of faith-based education generally have positive perceptions as well. They
recognize the good these institution have done in aiding the less-fortunate and picking up
the slack in places where the government has been falling short. There are a few people
who dislike the idea of the promotion of organized religion, but most people who send their
children to these schools do so voluntarily at their own will.

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 “Students who attend religious
schools have fewer behavioral problems
“
than their counterparts, even when
adjusting
for socioeconomic status, race, and
gender.” Jeynes

Source: http://www.capenet.org/pdf/Outlook385.pdf
 Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
Disadvantages
Some advantages reported have been the
Some disadvantages for some people is
utilization of newly learned material. In a
that it is pushing a belief system onto the
study about teachers taking a course with the
students and therefore can lead to
integration of faith, it was found that. “The
brainwashing. A BBC article states,
students overwhelmingly used the language
"...concern that children taught at a single
of the course, which was teaching-learning
faith school could adopt a particular
processes, to describe their experiences in
religious belief as "fact", and said this
faith-learning integration” (Lawrence p 5).
would essentially result in "brainwashing"
Other reports have shown that students score
(BBC News 2). Although it is far fetched, it
higher on their exams and also develop
is a concern nonetheless.
higher levels of tolerance and acceptance of
others. Studies have also shown improved
physical health and lower stress levels. 7
 Important RoLEs and Statuses

Faith based education plays a key role in today’s society. Because the
fundamentals of most religions are good, they therefore promote good
values and practices. Faith teaches discipline, morals, alms giving,
kindness, etc. Even for those who are not practicing religion themselves
have seen benefits to putting their children in faith-based education. For
example, when interviewed the spears family was quoted as saying. “the
religious framework of their sons’ education at St. John and Bishop
Blanchet High School enriches their family discussions” (Alton 7). People
have seen this type of education as a platform for creating rich and
well-rounded thinkers who in turn will contribute to society from a
broader perspective.
Sources; https://www.parentmap.com/article/faith-based-education-is-it-the-right-choice-for-your-child
 Features, Changes, and Causes

Faith-based education has changed it’s approach and teaching

strategies over time. It started with more teacher and content focus
and they consisted of mostly Christian and Catholic Schools.
However, as time and tolerance have developed, different religions
have been opening up establishments of their own The Irish times
reports that, “It has changed from a wholly content-focused subject
to a student-focused one; from learning off questions and answers
to discussion of personal experience and response; and from
difference being defined denominationally within the Christian
tradition, to an acknowledgment of the variety of people in Irish
society today and respect for the diversity of their religions and
beliefs.”
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 Is it for you?
Even though faith-based learning isn’t for everyone. It can be helpful to those who come from
underprivileged communities. It is known that, “For many urban parents, the moral grounding,
community ethic, safe and structured environment, and academic rigor of faith-based schools
are invaluable to their children”(Preserving a Critical National Asset 1). Some people are not
fortunate enough to live in communities where public schools are fully stocked with
resources. Faith-based schools fill in these gaps with their charitable work and incoming
donations. Faith-based education can also be for you if you are looking to instill faith-based
values into your children. Schools like these can be helpful in facilitating this type of dialogue
and have a positive influence on your child. It has been reported that, “schools contributes not
only to the personal reflection and development of young people, but should also heighten
respect for the beliefs of the other and help build a diverse but cohesive society” (Byrne p 4).
These types of schools really aid parents and children in developing identities of their own
whilst maintaining tolerance for others. Some parents also want, “academics to be informed
by the religious or spiritual beliefs of a school”(), which fills in the gaps most parents feel they
make when teaching their children about their faiths.
Sources: https://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/faithbased/report.pdf
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/education/why-religious-education-has-an-important-role-to-play-in-our-society-1.1853105\
https://www.parentmap.com/article/faith-based-education-is-it-the-right-choice-for-your-child
 Improvements

Some improvements I would make to faith-based education are to do with the

way religion is taught. I’ve been working at faith-based schools for more than 7
years, and I have come to see how things could be done differently. I’ve noticed a
lot of the time the staff members influence or attempt to teach the students the
religion based on their own perspectives and interpretations rather than the facts.
This is not done with bad intentions, but staff members should be more trained
and skilled in recognizing when to answer deep theological questions.
I would also offer more affordable faith-based schools. They are indeed more
affordable than other private schools, but they require money nonetheless. Some
people have a desire to put their kids in religious schools but since they are all
private, it could be hard to afford for some.

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functionalism
Education plays a key role in functionalism. It
is one of the primary components to
developing a functioning society. It provides
the base and foundation for participants to
graduate into working the other parts of a
functioning society. It helps develop skilled
professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and
teachers. I also think faith-based learning
plays a key-role in society because they are
able to educate underprivileged students who
otherwise wouldn’t have a chance. They too
need to be granted the opportunity to be a
part of a functionalist society.

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 34,576 (25% of all US
are private schools.
schools)

5,751,000
(10% of all US students) attend private schools.

100%
Total success!

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Where do private school students go to school?

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 THANKS!
Any questions?
You can find me at @username & user@mail.me

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 Works CiteD
https://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/faithbased/report.pdf

Byrne, Gareth. “Why Religious Education Has an Important Role to Play in Our Society.” The Irish Times, The Irish
Times, 3 July 2014,
www.irishtimes.com/news/education/why-religious-education-has-an-important-role-to-play-in-our-society-1.1853105
.

“EDUCATION | Pros and Cons of Faith Schools.” BBC News, BBC, 6 Feb. 2002,
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/education/1804427.stm.

Lawrence, Terry A., Larry D. Burton, and Constance C. Nwosu. "Refocusing on the Learning in "Integration of Faith
and Learning"." Journal of Research on Christian Education, vol. 14, no. 1, 2005, pp. 17-50. ProQuest,
https://login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/232087196?accountid=28371.
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https://www2.ed.gov/admins/comm/choice/faithbased/report.pdf

http://www.capenet.org/pdf/Outlook385.pdf

“Faith-Based Education: Is It the Right Choice for Your Child?” ParentMap,

www.parentmap.com/article/faith-based-education-is-it-the-right-choice-for-your-child.

Jang, You J. An Analysis of the Integration of Faith and Learning Implemented by Christian Elementary School
Teachers, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ann Arbor, 2011. ProQuest,
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https://login.ezp.pasadena.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/docview/914720062?accountid=28371.