Pastors’ Views of Parents and the Parental Role in Catholic Schools

Abstract

Over 300 years of offi cial Church teachings and documents affi rm the importance of the home-school relationship, yet relatively little research has systematically explored the need and value of parent involvement in the school community. This study is a secondary analysis of survey data collected for the Notre Dame Study of U.S. Pastors (Nuzzi, Frabutt, & Holter, 2008) and examines pastors' views of parents and the parental role in Catholic schools. The article closes with recommendations for action based upon analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data trends from pastors' responses.

Effectiveness of a Parent-Child Home Numeracy Intervention on Urban Catholic School First Grade Students

“…Despite the combined promise of such an intervention and the positive home-school relationship present in Catholic schools (Code of Canon Law, 1983;Frabutt et al, 2010), the researchers have not been able to find studies that examined the effectiveness of an at-home numeracy intervention for Catholic school students in early grades. Informed by this review of literature and the seminal research design presented by Starkey et al, the researchers decided to conduct an experimental study on the effectiveness of an at-home numeracy intervention for urban Catholic school students in first grade.…”

“…One area of untapped resources for Catholic education is involving parents to help their children learn numeracy at home, particularly because parents are seen as having a primary role in their children's education in Catholic schools (Code of Canon Law, 1983;Crea, Reynolds, & Degnan, 2015;Frabutt, Holter, Nuzzi, Rocha, & Cassel, 2010). Catholic social teaching affirms the role of parents as primary educators of their children and supports the need for a positive relationship between home and school (Code of Canon Law, 1983;Crea et al, 2015;Frabutt et al, 2010;Pontifical Council for the Family, 1983).…”

“…Catholic social teaching affirms the role of parents as primary educators of their children and supports the need for a positive relationship between home and school (Code of Canon Law, 1983;Crea et al, 2015;Frabutt et al, 2010;Pontifical Council for the Family, 1983).…”

Utilizing Participatory Action Research to Foster Effective Family/School Collaboration at an Urban PreK-8 Catholic School

“…Primary among these relationships is the collaboration between teacher and parent in the education and development of students. Frabutt, Holter, Nuzzi, Rocha, and Cassell (2010) note that "over 300 years of official Church teachings and documents affirm the importance of this home-school relationship, yet relatively little research has systematically explored the need and value of parent involvement in the school community" (p. 25). In a national survey of 1,047 pastors with parish schools, parent involvement was ranked fourth (out of 16 priority areas) in importance after Catholic identity, finances, and longrange planning.…”

“…In a national survey of 1,047 pastors with parish schools, parent involvement was ranked fourth (out of 16 priority areas) in importance after Catholic identity, finances, and longrange planning. However, when asked to rate areas being currently addressed in their schools, parent involvement fell to eighth out of the 16 priority areas (Frabutt, et al, 2010). Pastors located in the inner city, moreover, were more likely to rate the importance of parental involvement in school governance and policy development higher than any other locations (except rural schools where parental involvement in school governance was also ranked highly, see Utilizing Participatory Action Research Frabutt, et al, 2010).…”