Catholic High Schools Facing the Ne Realities [Hardcover]

Catholic high schools in the United States have been undergoing three major changes: the shift to primarily lay leadership and teachers; the transition to a more consumerist and pluralist culture; and the increasing diversity of students attending Catholic high schools. James Heft argues that to navigate these changes successfully, leaders of Catholic education need to inform lay teachers more thoroughly, conduct a more profound social analysis of the culture, and address the real needs of students.

After presenting the history of Catholic schools in the United States and describing the major legal decisions that have influenced their evolution, Heft describes the distinctive and compelling mission of a Catholic high school. Two chapters are devoted to leadership, and other chapters to teachers, students, alternative models of high schools, financing, and the key role of parents, who today may be described as ''post-deferential'' to traditional authorities, including bishops and priests.

Written by an award-winning teacher, scholar, and recognized educational leader in Catholic education, Catholic High Schools should be read by everyone interested in religiously- affiliated educational institutions, particularly Catholic education.

Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Conditions for Success
Chapter 2: Historical Developments
Chapter 3: American Culture and Religion
Chapter 4: The Mission: Moral and Religious Formation
Chapter 5: Leadership: Theological Resources
Chapter 6: Leadership: Moral Sources
Chapter 7: Students Today: Descriptions
Chapter 8: Teachers: Calling and Response
Chapter 9: New Models and More Money
Chapter 10: The Future of Catholic High Schools
Index

All those wrestling with how to revitalize Christian education can learn from Heft's impassioned but at the same time realistic and deeply informed advocacy on behalf of Catholic high schools. --Mark U. Edwards, Jr., President Emeritus, St. Olaf l$