| dc.description.abstract | This study examines the perceptions of Catholic Administrators
and Trustees about Bill 30's impact on the ability of Separate School
Boards in Ontario to retain their distinctive mission. The conceptual
lens for this study was taken from the Completion Office - Separate
Schools' document, Catholic Education and Separate School Boards in
Ontario (1988), which outlines the basic model for the provision of
Catholic education. This model is represented by three basic means
namely; providing qualified staff, developing Christian community, and
providing an academic curriculum that integrates faith and life. By
investigating three dissimilar separate school boards, this study was
able to provide significant data on the impact that Bill 30 is having
on each of these basic providers of Catholic education, and subsequently,
the distinctive mission of separate schools.
This study employed qualitative research methodology. The process
of data collection relied on semi-structured, open-ended interviews
with twenty-four subjects. Additionally, a variety of documentation
such as policies, goals and objectives, mission statements, and brochures
were collected and analyzed.
The findings demonstrate that Bill 30 has transformed the nature
of the separate school system of Ontario, and that it is challenging
this system's raison d'etre. However, as a result, separate schools
have experienced a consciousness of mission and ministry that is intent on strengthening and confirming the distinctive character of
their schools. Relative to mission building, implications for theory,
practice, and research are suggested. | |
