ERIC Number: EJ1005830
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Dec
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1097-9638
EISSN: N/A
Urban Catholic High Schools and Disadvantaged Females
Merritt, Corinne R.
Catholic Education: A Journal of Inquiry and Practice, v12 n2 p204-220 Dec 2008
The purpose of this study was to discover the life experiences of disadvantaged female graduates of urban Catholic high schools and what they say about the capacity of Catholic education to meet their academic, emotional, social, and spiritual needs. Based on narrative inquiry, this study was conducted using a series of in-depth, semistructured interviews to elicit the life experiences of 5 participants. Twelve common personal characteristics emerged directly from the narratives of the participants and provided the backdrop for two patterns:(a) the importance of education, and (b) the importance of relationships. This study found the high school experiences met the academic needs of all participants, but the different school sites varied in their ability to meet the emotional, social, and spiritual needs. This study also found four characteristics interacted in creating the Catholic school culture: (a) building relationships, (b) promoting a sense of community, (c) supporting a caring and nurturing environment, and (d) emphasizing respect for all members of the school community. (Contains 1 table.)
Descriptors: Disadvantaged, Catholic Schools, Semi Structured Interviews, Females, High School Graduates, Student Needs, Student Experience, Individual Characteristics, Participant Satisfaction, Graduate Surveys, Urban Schools, School Culture
Boston College. Roche Center for Catholic Education, 25 Lawrence Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467. Tel: 617-552-0701; Fax: 617-552-0579; e-mail: journal@bc.edu; Web site: http://www.bc.edu/catholicedjournal
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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