TruthBook Religious News Blog

Researcher points to effectiveness of parochial schools in lifting academic achievement of youths

By Rebecca Rosen Lum
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

The White House has embraced a researcher whose work suggests religion can do what ample federal nourishment has not -- narrow the achievement gap between white and minority students.

The gap narrows by 25 percent in religious schools, said William Jeynes of Cal State Long Beach in the current issue of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion.

When the student comes from an "intact family" and professes religious commitment, the gap disappears.

Jeynes says his research results support the idea of school vouchers. "It once again appears illogical and potentially racially oppressive and discriminatory to deny minority students the right to more fully reach their potential via a school choice system," he said.

Religious educators cheered the findings, but some researchers debunked the study, saying Jeynes omitted critical factors and cited himself in a roundup of social science perspectives.
Jeynes drew data from the National Education Longitudinal Survey, which tracked a national sample of students from eighth grade through high school. The survey provided information about religion, school culture, curriculum, race relations, discipline, exposure to violence and homework.

The critical factor is a private or parochial school's freedom to choose its students, said Marc Egan, director of federal affairs at National School Boards Association in Alexandria, Va.
"He just didn't address the private school being able to screen out at the front end and at the back end," he said. "They can unceremoniously show the students the door."

And they do.

"I don't want to use the word luxury, but we don't accept just anyone," said Sister Liam Brock, principal of the inner-city St. Elizabeth's High School in Oakland. "We have criteria. We can also say, if you are not going to abide by our rules, take advantage of counseling, mentoring, we can ask you to leave."

East Bay parochial schools admit students based on grades, test scores and other factors, but administrators say they also welcome some students who have performed poorly in public school.

De La Salle High School in Concord and Sacred Heart in San Francisco devote 5 percent of their slots to students on full need-based scholarships. Sacred Heart's funders established a middle school for the poor in the Tenderloin district as a feeder for Sacred Heart.

Both the study's findings and its critiques resonated with Brock.

"There is tuition, and you have parents who, because they are paying, keep on the kids," she said. "A lot of our students are sponsored by outside people. They will set up stipulations -- you must maintain an A, B, C average. You must keep up your attendance. You must get involved in things."

Still, small class sizes allow staff members to focus on each student. The school's religious nature allows St. Elizabeth's teachers to talk extensively about values.

Few track students by race or ethnicity, but principals say most students excel.

"I don't know if I could say I see the gap disappear, but the way we approach things allows us to approach them holistically," said Brother Christopher, principal of De La Salle. "You're talking about the whole individual."

For instance, the melding of Catholic religion and culture spurs achievement for Latino students, he said.

Jeynes' study cites "caring" teachers and "an overall more disciplined lifestyle" as pivotal traits in religious schools.

Peter Imperial, principal of St. Mary's College High School in Berkeley, said he doesn't necessarily agree with that assessment, but he said frequent communication between students, teachers and administrators ensures students don't fall through the cracks.

"There are a few more safety nets in place," he said. "The economics of public schools are that the money is tight," he said. "At a Catholic school, anonymity is a tougher thing to achieve."
Jeynes, who has written extensively on religion, family and schooling, said stereotypes are informing his critics' judgments.

Most religious schools usually can't afford to weed out candidates, he said.

"Yes, there are some (schools) who only allow students in who pass certain tests, but for a lot of religious schools, it's a nail biter economically," he said.

And most who send their children to religious schools are not the wealthy elite, but working people who sacrifice.

That's just it, Bracey said: "The motivation of parents who pick a private school and pay for it is a big factor."

But Jeynes said the nationwide data, which encompassed urban, suburban, inner city and rural schools, show an undeniable consistency.

"I was surprised by the robust nature of the results," he said.

The results point to school vouchers as public policy, he wrote. That earned high grades from the Black Alliance for Educational Options, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit group.

Whether his findings hold water, policy analysts said the political momentum for vouchers has dissipated.

"The issue is dead," said Bruce Fuller, professor of education and public policy at UC Berkeley. "Maybe not 6 feet under the ground. Maybe 2."

Rebecca Rosen Lum covers religion.
Reach her at 925-977-8506 or rrosenlum@cctimes.com.

Labels: Catholic, parochial school, public school, school vouchers, students, William Jeynes