patrick walsh catholic schools convention august 2012
TRANSCRIPT
Catholic Education: A Legal Perspective
Patrick Walsh
Catholic Schools Convention August 2012.
Catholic Schools Movie
Legal Landscape The Private Schools Conditional Integration
Act 1975. Defines and protects Special Character. (Part
one). “Education with a Special Character means education within the framework of a particular or general religious or philosophical belief, and associated with observances or traditions appropriate to that belief”.
Crown investment in state integrated schools, staffing, operational costs, property.
Political landscapeParental choice. Strength in Diversity Competition/ track record of success. Cost benefits. Sensitivity to electorate.
Defining Catholic Education Legal protection exists to safeguard the
point of difference. Academic excellence, high standards of
behaviour and dress, good discipline are features of Catholic schools but don’t define them.
Catholic Character Accentuate, demonstrate, celebrate. Physical presence of Catholic identity;
statues icons, chapels, classrooms, alters, posters
Proud to be Catholic. Unapologetic physical expression of our
Catholic identity.
Catholic Ritual Lived expressions of our Catholic Faith. Sacraments, mass, reconciliation Liturgies Prayer
Religious Education Manifestly reflect Catholic theology, social
teaching. Compulsory and academically robust. Given status and resourced appropriately. Supported by other faculties.
Proprietors Representative Legal Guardians of Catholic Character Make searching and probing inquires into Professional development in Catholic Character Catholicity of the strategic and annual plan. Performance agreement of the principal. Tagged positions/ preference cards. NCEA results in religious education. Familiarity with the sacramental and prayer life of the school. Quality of Parish/ School relationships. Resourcing for religious education Compliance with the Catholic schools handbook and reporting to
the Proprietor. Familiarity with the sexual health program in the school. School fees/ costs can’t be a barrier to Catholic Education
Employment of staff Pivotal to Catholic Character. Employer (principal) makes expectations
manifestly clear. No opt out provision.Test ‘willing and able’. Non-compliance or actions that might
undermine Catholic Character are employment issues supported by PSCI Act
Challenge of Authenticity Unchurched and lapsed Catholics. Diminishing religious, priests, practising
Catholic teachers. Parental motivation for choosing Catholic
Schools. Catechesis or Evangelisation. Catholic Character Review- Essential
auditing mechanism.
Sustainability Sacramental life of the school. Role modelling of staff and lack of personal
testimony. Succession of Catholic principals DRS’s and
tagged positions.Sufficiency of religious education for teacher
practitioners. Disconnect between Parishes and schools.
The Future Growing thirst and demand for values
education within a religious tradition. Re orientation to our point of difference
which the law protects. Ring fence, protect and nurture the essential
features of Catholic Education. Develop a national plan to address issues of
authenticity and sustainability.