The Distinctiveness of Catholic Schools
Founding Story of Catholic Education in WA
- Beginnings
- Struggle
- New Directions
Colonial Era
Schools run by Church of England
Catholic education primarily in families
Issues with funding and getting qualified teachers
1978: Catholics part of First Fleet
1804-05: First Catholic School (Sydney/Paramatta)
1820s: Fr. Therry set up parish schools staffed by lay person
Foundation Period
1865:
- 61% of colony’s children were in Catholic schools
- 12 new Catholic schools opened in WA (1864-1870)
- 40 lay teachers recruited (1846-1871)
1869: Church made unsuccessful petition to Legislative Council for government support
1856: Kennedy removed subsidies for Catholic schools and reduced government education to elementary only
1849: Sisters opened ‘a day school for Young Ladies.’ First secondary school in the colony and open to all faiths
1847: Sisters opened Fremantle Free School for females
1846: 6 sisters of Mercy led by Sr Ursula Frayne
1843:
- Small primary school (30 boys)
- Catholic population: 337
- European population: 4622
1853: Sisters completed new complex (4 schools):
- wealthy of any creed
- poor with accomodation
- orphans (Aboriginal girls)
- infants
- Expansion (1871-1895)
New religious orders in WA
Catholic policy
1872: Education Act-compulsery schooling for children
Religous education
New Govener appointed: Catholic schools recieved funding
Aboriginal people
Increased Irish Catholic settlers
Sisters of St Joseph (1887)
Presentation sisters (1891)
Christian brothers (1894)
Establish a parish
Rent premises
Raise funds
Build a school before church
Recruit lay teacher
Inspection for government funding
Religious order to take over
School days began with 1/2 hour of religous instruction
RE: question and answer format
Focus on missioning
Swan river to country areas
Religous going north, hope of setting mission up in Beagle Bay
1950s
1960s
Catholic response
Parishes obliged to establish primary schools
Laity obliged to help fund Catholic schools
Parents obliged to send children to Catholic schools
Teaching orders replaced lay teachers
Establish secondary schooling
World War II
Catholic population more than doubled
Catholic schools greatest reposibilty for Church
Costs increased
Ageing teachers under pressure
WA: small gains of getting financial assitance from government
1962: Goulburn strike
1964: funding of non-government schools by Commonwealth Government
State Aid
Changes to present
1970s
Schools employing lay teachers
1973: Gough Whitlam established Karmel Comission for low-fee Catholic schools
Teaching orders declined
Qualified teachers
Single sex and co-education
Education commissions and offices tdeveloped to support
Re-emergence of laity
Funding (50% Commonwealth) and (25% State Level)
Better resourced
Growing awareness of impact of child sexual abuse in WA
Mandate of the Catholic Education Comission of WA
Organisation of Mandate
Presence of God
Importance
Explains Catholic schools and all who work in them are signs of God's presense and purpose
Connects Catholic schools to the life of the Church and belief in Christ
Outlines roles of all involved in Catholic education
Values work of Catholic schools
Renewed in 2009
Bishops Mandate
Witness of the Catholic school
Curriculum in the Catholic school
Presence of God
Catholic school community
Recognise sacredness of creation
Relationship with God
Centre of Catholic schools
Deep questioning
Evangelissation
Positive relationship with God
Respect for self and creation
Preach gospel
Transform humanity from within
Purpose of Catholic schools focus on mission of Church
Two ways: Christian witness & Ministery of the word
Peace
Kindness
Trustfulness
Love
Goodness
Joy
Gentleness
Patience
Self-control
Strive to be a good school
Teach integration of faith, culture & life
Witness of the Catholic School
Presence and Love
Learn value of human persons
Teacher-student relationships
Catholic School Curriculum
RE + 8 learning areas
Gospel values integrated into curriculum
first priority
promote knowledge & understanding of Gospel
Catholic school community
family, school & local church
Evangelisation requires faith experiences in communities
Catholic School Curriculum
Purpose
Assists in construction with faith and wisdom of the community in a meaningful way
Learning experience (planned and unplanned)
Encompasses learning environment, teaching methods & resources
Flynn: influence of informal curriculum
Bishop's Mandate
Increase religious awareness
Appreciation of creation
Show connection to Gospel
Initiatory Catechesis
Liturgies of the Word
Mass
Sacraments
Sacraments
Prayer
Celebration of Catholic feast
Religious Education
Share Catholic faith through Gospel
Curriculum planning will foster relationship between RE and other learning areas
Plan RE focusing on Catholic tradition
Encourages hope through focus on human person
Curriculum Learning Areas
Humanities and Social Sciences
Languages
Science
Technologies
Mathematics
Religious Education
English
Catholic School Curriculum in WA
Value of learning
Values
Human quest for truth
Religious dimension of learning
Knowledge offered in a spirit of service
Knowledge brings responsibilities
Student centred
CEWA policies:
CEWA policies provide guidance
click to edit
Catholic Schools of Excellence
Develop whole Christian people
Effective pedagogy & mission inspired practice
Commitment to Catholic vision
High quality Religious Education
Vision for Learning
Jesus teachings & Gospel values
Christ centred through a faith which is incorporated into words, actions, relationships and values
Catholic identity, community and stewardship
Prioritise Religious Education
WA Catholic schools guided by Catholic Identity policy, curriculum policy, Strategic Directions 2019-2021 and Vision for Learning