Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Catholic schools – Quebec (Province)'

A growing body of both substantive and theoretical literature suggests that educational underachievement among certain ethnic groups is due to the cultural discontinuity between mainstream education and minority students. A pedagogy that both uses and reinforces the culture of ethnic minority students, implemented by ethnically similar teachers, is therefore thought to contribute to a more constructive school experience and strengthen the social and political status of the ethnic community as a whole. For this thesis, a group of Haitian educators working in Montreal area schools was interviewed to investigate the extent to which this approach is viewed as a potential solution to the low academic achievement of numerous Haitian students. Some evidence was found that culturally congruent education is, according to the experiences of some of the respondents, a potentially beneficial strategy to curtail educational inequality. In was generally argued, however, that this should be a limited, remedial strategy with little bearing on the communal survival of the Haitian community.

The political modernization of Quebec in the 1960s meant that the close identification of French Canadian identity with the Roman Catholic faith was replaced by a new secular nationalism. Using David Martin's A General Theory of Secularization, I examine the reaction of the Catholic Church to its own loss of power and to the rise of this new secular nationalism. Conservative Catholics first condemned the new nationalism; by 1969 some conservative accepted the new society and even supported its state interventionism. Most important Catholic groups, including the hierarchy, the most dynamic organizations, and largest publications came to accept the new society. Inspired by the religious reforms of the Second Vatican Council and new papal social teaching, they affirmed the right of Quebeckers to self-determination and social justice. The Church created a sustained ethical critique of nationalism as a means of redefining its public presence in Quebec society. The consensus around this ethical critique and redefinitions of the Church role is evident in the participation of Catholic groups in the 1980 referendum on sovereignty-association.

The purpose of this study was to examine the role of the secondary school principal in anglophone Quebec. A sample of eighteen experienced principals were interviewed in-depth about their role expectations, sources of role conflict, and their sense of ambiguity.
Role ambiguity appeared to be non-existent in the principalship. Expectations and conflicts were identified with regard to students, teachers, parents, community members, and principal's superiors. The principalship was clearly more a managerial than leadership role. Principals were responders to a series of problems and issues. They orchestrated responses. Instructional leadership was not a part of their role.

Adoptant une perspective sociolinguistique, cette étude a examiné les pratiques d’alternance des codes linguistiques chez cinq enseignants d’anglais langue seconde (ALS) du primaire 3ème cycle, dans des écoles francophones de la région de Québec. La recherche, qui a impliqué des études de cas, s’est centrée sur cinq questions : 1) le taux de français (L1) utilisé par les enseignants d’ALS; 2) les raisons pour lesquelles les enseignants ont utilisé la L1 dans leurs cours; 3) les points de vue des enseignants sur les facteurs qui ont influencé leur utilisation de la L1; 4) l’influence du choix de langue utilisée par les enseignants sur le choix de langue des élèves; 5) les perceptions des élèves sur leur propre utilisation des L1 et L2 ainsi que sur celle de leur enseignant. Les données ont été recueillies dans les classes à deux périodes d’observation au cours de l’année scolaire 2007-2008. Les données ont été obtenues à partir de quatre sources : les enregistrements vidéo des leçons observées, les rappels stimulés, un entretien final avec chaque enseignante et un questionnaire administré aux élèves. Les résultats suivants ressortent de cette recherche. D’abord, en contraste avec des études antérieures, celle-ci a opté pour une perspective de type emic dans laquelle on a demandé aux enseignantes d’identifier les raisons pour lesquelles elles utilisaient la langue première (L1), à partir des vidéo-clips de leurs leçons. Cette analyse fine a permis d’obtenir une compréhension plus nuancée de certaines raisons déjà invoquées dans les entretiens (ex : sauver du temps, fatigue, etc.), mais qui pourraient échapper à une analyse de type étic des leçons d’ALS. Entre autres, cette recherche a mis en évidence une stratégie non mentionnée auparavant dans d’autres études : c’est l’utilisation du time-out, qui remplissait une fonction de barrière symbolique pour préserver le caractère «anglais» de la classe d’ALS. Deuxièmement, cette étude étend la recherche à la variation individuelle d’usage de la L1 par les enseignants, peu fréquemment rapportée dans d’autres études. En contraste avec des études passées où la variation d’un enseignant à l’autre se limitait au facteur temps (Duff & Polio, 1990; Edstrom, 2006; Nagy, 2009a), cette étude-ci a exploré les raisons sous-jacentes à cette variation, contribuant du même coup à confirmer les résultats de quelques autres études (De la Campa & Nassaji, 2009; Rolin-Ianziti & Brownlie, 2002). Troisièmement, comme dans la recherche de Carless (2004), une enseignante de notre étude, Kora, se démarque des autres par le faible et constant taux d’utilisation de la L1 (moins de 1%). Elle vient appuyer ainsi l’assertion de ce chercheur sur le fait que les expériences, les croyances et les compétences des enseignants pourraient être un facteur plus significatif d’utilisation de la langue-cible que le niveau de compétence langagière des élèves. Le cas de Kora accrédite ces enseignants et chercheurs qui, à partir d’une perspective pédagogique (Carless, 2004b ; Chambers, 1991 ; Nagy, 2009a ; Turnbull, 2006), ont fait valoir le besoin de conscientiser davantage les enseignants sur les stratégies à leur portée pour augmenter l’usage de la langue cible dans la classe d’ALS. Quatrièmement, quant à l’influence qu’a le choix de langue des enseignants sur le choix de langue de leurs élèves, cette étude-ci élargit les résultats obtenus par Liu et al (2004) à un contexte culturel et scolaire très différent, soit l’enseignement de l’ALS dans le système scolaire francophone du Québec. Cinquièmement, comme les résultats du questionnaire le révèlent, malgré les niveaux relativement élevés d’utilisation de l’anglais dans leur cours, les élèves du primaire 3e cycle ne se sentent pas stressés outre mesure. Par contraste avec d’autres études centrées sur les perceptions des élèves face à l’utilisation de la L1 et de la L2 (Levine, 2003 ; Macaro & Lee, 2013 ; Rolin-Ianziti & Varshney, 2009), cette étude-ci a aussi examiné la perception des élèves sur l’utilisation de stratégies dans leurs classes. Les résultats ont montré que les élèves percevaient chez leurs enseignants le recours à des stratégies jusqu’à un certain degré, particulièrement en rapport avec l’usage d’éléments visuels. Cependant, ce qui a émergé plus fortement a été la perception des élèves sur leur propre utilisation de stratégies pour communiquer dans la langue cible. Finalement, d’un point de vue méthodologique, cette étude-ci apparaît comme la première à avoir analysé les pourcentages d’utilisation de l’anglais et du français à l’aide de procédés d’analyse de type digital. En effet, dans les études antérieures les chercheurs avaient recours au décompte des mots ou du temps avec un chronomètre - des procédés potentiellement plus exigeants et mange-temps. L’étude discute aussi des implications de la pratique d’alternance des codes linguistiques dans la salle de classe. De plus, elle apporte des suggestions quant à la recherche future.
Drawing on a sociolinguistic perspective, this study examined the code-switching practices of five elementary core ESL teachers (3rd cycle) in French-medium schools in the Québec City area. The study, which involved case studies, focused on five research questions: (1) the amount of French, the L1, used by the ESL teachers, (2) the reasons why the teachers used the L1 in their classes, (3) the teachers’ views concerning the factors that influenced their L1 use, (4) the influence of the teachers’ language choice on students’ language choice, (5) the students’ perceptions of their teachers and their own L1/L2 use. Data were collected over two different periods of observation in the teachers’ classrooms during the 2007-2008 academic year. Four main sources of data were obtained: videotaped recordings of the lessons observed, stimulated recalls, an end-of study interview with each teacher, and a student questionnaire. Amongst the findings, the following are of particular note. First, in contrast to past studies, the present study opted for an emic perspective in which teachers themselves were asked to identify the reasons for which they used the target language based on video clips of their lessons. This fine-grained analysis brought to light a more nuanced analysis notably with respect to certain reasons (e.g., saving time, fatigue) which, even if previously evoked in interviews, could elude inclusion in research etic-based analyses of lessons. Amongst other things, the present study brought to light one reason not previously mentioned in other studies, i.e., the use of time-outs which performed a symbolic boundary maintaining function to preserve the “Englishness” of the ESL classroom. Secondly, the present study extends research which has infrequently reported on individual variation amongst teachers with respect to L1 use within their own lessons. In contrast to past studies, where individual variation within teachers’ lessons has typically been confined to time (Duff & Polio, 1990; Edstrom, 2006; Nagy, 2009a), the present study contributes to those few studies (De la Campa & Nassaji, 2009; Rolin-Ianziti & Brownlie, 2002) which also pinpoint differences in the reasons for such variation amongst case study participants. Thirdly, as in Carless’ (2004) study, one teacher in the present study, Kora, stood out from the others in terms of having a consistently low rate of L1 use (less than 1%), thus thus underscoring his contention that the teacher’s experiences, beliefs and competencies may be a more significant factor in terms of target language use than the students’ level of language proficiency. The case of Kora lends credence to those teachers and researchers who have argued from a pedagogical perspective (Carless, 2004b; Chambers, 1991; Nagy, 2009a; Turnbull, 2006) for the need to enhance teachers’ awareness of the strategies which can be used to increase target language use in the second language classroom. Fourthly, with respect to the impact of the teacher's choice of language on that of the students', the present study extends Liu et al.’s (2004) findings through the analysis of a very different school cultural context involving ESL teaching in the French-medium school system within the province of Quebec. Fifthly, as revealed by the student questionnaire results, despite relatively high levels of English use in their classes, the Cycle 3 elementary grade students did not feel unduly stressed. In contrast to previous studies (Levine, 2003; Macaro & Lee, 2013; Rolin-Ianziti & Varshney, 2009) which have focused on students’ perceptions of teachers’ L1 and L2 use, the present study also examined the latter’s perception of strategy use within their classes. Results reveal that students perceived their teachers as using strategies to a certain degree, particularly in regard to the use of visuals. However, what emerged more strongly was students’ perception of themselves as using strategies to communicate in the target language. Finally, from a methodological point of view, this study appears to be the first to have analyzed percentages for the use of English and French using digital editing features. In past studies, researchers have typically resorted to word counts or timing with a stopwatch, procedures which can be more onerous and time-consuming. Implications for code-switching practices in the classroom as well as suggestions for future research are also discussed.

The evolution of the religious phenomenon can be organized into five overlapping historico-religious stages based on an analysis of concrete verifiable achievements. It delineates the religious and educational paradigms of each societal evolutionary stage as it considers that what applies to a society as a whole applies also to its education. Education plays an important role in the evolution of the world, and is directly affected by the changes of the image which human beings have of themselves. Religious maturing does not only take place in society but is also an integral part of any individual process of human development. The analysis of the various stages of personal religious development shows the inclusive nature of the religious development in any human educational enterprise. The study of the societal and individual process of religious maturing with the analysis of the contemporary tapestry of education and religious education stand as the various elements needed to formulate a critique of the current Quebec's secondary one Protestant moral and religious education curriculum. The significant role of teachers as active and necessary agents of pupils' maturing process emerges from the evaluation of the present curriculum.

The educational habits of Italians in the city of Montreal before the 1960's is a topic that has generally been neglected in the field of social and educational history. This thesis attempts to fill the void and also to identify areas where further research may be conducted. The thesis treats the educational habits of Italian children in the Catholic schools of Montreal between the years 1895 and 1960. The thesis looks at enrolment patterns and language instruction in the Catholic elementary schools of Montreal. It was found that language played an important role in Catholic schools frequented by Italian children. Italian children were educated in the English, French and Italian languages on and off from the beginning of the twentieth century to the late 1950's. Furthermore, a discernible shift in the attendance of Italian children from French to English Catholic schools occurred after World War II. So much so, that by the 1960's nearly 80% of Italian children were attending English Catholic schools.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the development of the Greek day school Socrates in Montreal and its overall impact on its students vis-a-vis the variables of ethnic identity, socio-personal adjustment and academic achievement. Existing documentation, content analysis of the Greek community press, and participant observation were all used in unfolding the school's historical development. The dependent variables of Greekness, adjustment and achievement were examined via the interviewing of 549 Greek origin individuals, 118 of whom were adults, 255 Socrates students, 158 non-Socrates students, and the rest 18 were Socrates graduates. Although the results obtained did not provide conclusive evidence concerning an assumed differential impact of Socrates along the variables investigated, the ethnic identity influences of the community school were clearly delineated. At the same time, the results of the study have pointed to what has been coined here a "Socrates ethos" which is may be conducive to academic and socio-professional success. Accordingly, an overall long-term Socrates impact has tentatively been postulated.

This research was based on ‘Catholic secondary education and identity reformation in Zambia’s Southern Province. Its main purpose was to explore the nature and scope of the undesired identity reformation experienced in Catholic secondary schools in Zambia’s Southern Province as well as suggest possible ways of how the problem can be resolved. The study was guided by the following main research question ‘How has a conflict of values between the evolving Catholic education policies and Zambian national education policies affected the identity of Catholic secondary schools in Zambia’s Southern Province?’ This question formed the main basis for the achievement of the study’s overarching purpose highlighted earlier. A qualitative methodology was utilized to gather data for this research. Data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, focus group interviews/discussions and documentary/content analysis. Research participants included: the Secretary of Catholic education, the PEO, school headteachers, teachers of RE, parents and grade twelve learners. Key documents analyzed using document analysis were Catholic education policies and Zambian national educational policies. The following findings resulted from the study: a conflict of values is non-existent between Catholic education policies and Zambian national education policies; there are four real/major causes of undesired identity reformation in Catholic secondary schools in Zambia’s Southern Province; the various contemporary challenges experienced by Catholic secondary schools in Zambia’s Southern Province are responsible for the undesired weakening of the school’s ‘academic’ and ‘religious’ mission; RE has experienced undesired changes at the levels of its nature, role and place in the Catholic secondary school curriculum over the years; Catholic secondary schools in Zambia’s Southern Province can be characterized as ‘partially Catholic’; realigning Catholic secondary schools with Catholic education policy involves returning such schools back to Catholic educational practice as recommended in Catholic education policies. The main conclusion of the study was that undesired identity reformation is present in Catholic secondary schools in Zambia’s Southern Province but it is not linked to a conflict of values in Catholic education policies and Zambian national education policies. To resolve the problem of undesired identity reformation in Catholic secondary schools, all study recommendations emphasized an urgent return by the schools to educational practice as recommended in Catholic education policy if they are to regain their lost desired total-Catholic character or identity.
Educational Foundations
D. Ed. (Philosophy of Education)

The purposes of this study are to first investigate various leadership and management styles of Catholic secondary school principals and their impact on school discipline and secondly to determine whether there is a correlation between leadership and management styles of secondary school principals and discipline in the school. The rationale behind the research topic is that the researcher has realised that many black public schools in South Africa are dysfunctional and cannot deliver quality learning and teaching. The reason for this sorry state of affairs is historical and well known. Most of these schools, to make the transition from dysfunctional to effectiveness, do not require courses in the market. What they require, and it is sorely missing, is strong and effective leadership. The role of a principal in a school is crucial. The success of the process of restoring the culture of teaching and learning rests to a large extent on the principal. This is mainly because he/she is the one who has to lead the entire school community in implementing whatever plans and programmes are to be put in place. Teaching is like riding a wild horse. Even though you're in the saddle it sometimes feels as if you're only barely in control and, if you stop paying attention for just one second, you will end up in the mud. One of the greatest challenges that teachers face when starting out in their careers is learning how to deal with unruly and badly behaved learners so that the rest of the class can get on with the lesson. Teachers often say that they are not paid to discipline learners they are paid to teach them. However, without discipline there can be little learning. Without discipline education is not possible. Discipline is the very foundation on which education should seek to build. Many of our secondary schools are still in crisis today because discipline is undermined. In Chapter one the problem to be researched, the statement of the problem and the purpose of study, general assumptions of study and definitions of terms were introduced. Chapter two examined the literature available. That was done to expand upon the context and the background of this study and to further define the problem and provide an empirical basis for the development of the hypothesis. Chapter two also examined the Leadership Traits theory, the Situational Contingency theory, the Pathgoal theory, Collaborative, Democratic or Participative leadership styles, Autocratic leadership style, Laissez Faire leadership style and leadership according to Gospel values. The Democratic and Situational contingency leadership styles were singled out as the styles of leadership applied most often in a number of organisations. Leadership according to Gospel values will be the most suitable, especially for principals in Catholic schools. It is very much intertwined with the democratic leadership style. There was strong evidence from the literature studied that these styles, if properly applied, can go a long way in helping the principals of schools to live up to the challenges they are facing in education. It is these leadership styles coupled with an understanding of transformation issues in education such as: new principles and values of education systems in South Africa; teaching and learning as the main aims of the education and management, self-reliant schools (self-managed), governance, building schools as learning organisations, and certain skills that could enable principals to be effective leaders in their schools. In order for principals to provide proper and effective leadership, they should be competent in the following aspects: • Stakeholders' involvement in the management of schools • the use of different leadership styles as propounded by the Situational Contingency Theory • team work, and • effective and efficient communication with stakeholders. Chapter three examined the overview of Catholic Education in South Africa, The distinctive Religious character of the Catholic school, Characteristics of a Catholic school, school discipline and how poor school discipline can be prevented and a model for effective discipline in a school. It also focused briefly on the impact of the South African Schools Act No 84 of 1996 and the Bill of Rights as enshrined in the Constitution of South Africa on school discipline. In Chapter four the research methodology was examined. This included the structuring of the questionnaire to try to get factual information, opinions and attitudes about the problem. The questionnaire focused on the following: • stakeholders' involvement in management tasks • the leadership and management styles of principals • how the principal is perceived by stakeholders • communication with stakeholders • teamwork • parental involvement and • how discipline in the school is perceived by stakeholders. The questionnaire was then administered to all educators, members of the school governing bodies, members of the Representative Council of Learners and principals of all Secondary Catholic schools in Limpopo. Chapter five deals with data analysis, interpretation, findings and recommendations. In conclusion, of all the leadership styles discussed, the Situational Contingency, and emerging participatory democracy and leadership according to Gospel values appear to be the most appropriate styles of leadership in South African Education today. The three leadership styles are like rosebuds in that they bring forth positive results but also have associated thorns and dangers. If we can locate the thorns, then we can learn how to hold the flower without injury. Different leaders and managers adopt different styles of leading and managing their organisation (school). As a result there is no single perfect leadership or management style. It is, however, important that leaders must be able to weigh and consider ensuing or confronting situations and circumstances and to adapt accordingly. Good educational establishments require disciplined environments. Teachers, parents and students need clear strategies and guidelines that encourage learning. They need to ensure that learning is well structured and orderly. Good relationships need to be maintained in learning institutions to improve motivation and raise the quality of education for all.
Thesis (M.Ed.)-University of Durban-Westville, 2003.

This work is the study of the lives and works of seven women, considered pioneers in their fields, in the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches in the Province of Quebec in the latter third of the twentieth century. Four of the subjects are francophone; three are anglophone. Three of the francophone women are feminist theologians, two of whom are nuns. The fourth has recently left the Roman Catholic Church to join the Anglican Church. The three anglophone, women are Anglican priests, among the first to be ordained in Canada. The seven women are studied from the point of view of being pioneers, within the question of the ordination of women and the role of women in the church in Quebec. This thesis will examine how their experiences have paved the way for others to follow.

Cette étude porte sur l’histoire de l’éducation physique des jeunes filles canadiennes-françaises à Montréal de 1860 à 1920, c’est-à-dire des premières manifestations d’une éducation corporelle dans le réseau éducatif privé jusqu’à la période dite de « l’âge d’or » des sports féminins au Canada. Dans une première partie, le mémoire analyse les discours des hommes de science canadiens-français de manière à saisir leur réflexion théorique sur le corps féminin en mouvement et les prescriptions qu’ils ont formulées à ce sujet. Dans une seconde partie, il présente l’évolution des pratiques gymnastiques et sportives dans les grands pensionnats catholiques de Montréal tenus par les Sœurs de la Congrégation de Notre-Dame et les Sœurs des Saints Noms de Jésus et de Marie. Il apparaît que les promoteurs de l’éducation physique féminine font face à certains défis : comment encourager l’exercice pour les jeunes filles sans trop les exposer dans l’espace public ? Comment concilier l’entraînement physique et l’idéal esthétique de la féminité ? Enfin, comment promouvoir davantage de mouvements pour le corps féminin juvénile sans risquer de nuire à sa capacité reproductive ? Médecins et pédagogues, face à ce dilemme, définirent les contours d’une éducation physique et sportive féminine acceptable. Cependant, bien que les normes diffusées par la littérature prescriptive essentiellement masculine aient été contraignantes, des pratiques innovantes, répondant à des objectifs précis, apparaissent dès les années 1860 dans les grands pensionnats montréalais et se diversifient au début du XXe siècle sous l’impulsion des actrices historiques — religieuses enseignantes, professeures de gymnastique et couventines.
This study examines the history of the physical education of Montreal’s young French Canadian girls from 1860 to 1920; from the first manifestations of corporal education in the private education network to the so-called « golden age » of women’s sports in Canada. Firstly, the discourses of French Canadian scientists are analyzed in such a way as to capture their theoretical reflections on the female body in movement and the prescriptions they formulated. Subsequently, this study presents the evolution of sport and gymnastic practices in the Catholic female boarding schools of Montreal held by the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame and the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary. Proponents of women’s physical education faced certain challenges: how to promote exercise for young women without exposing them to the public space? How to reconcile physical training with the aesthetic ideal of femininity? Finally, how to promote more movement for the juvenile female body without risking its reproductive capacity? Doctors and educators, faced with this dilemma, defined the contours of an acceptable female physical and sports education. However, although the norms disseminated by the predominantly male prescriptive literature were restrictive, innovative practices that met specific objectives started to appear in Montreal’s boarding schools in the 1860s. These practices diversified in the first decades of the twentieth century under the impetus of historical actresses – teaching sisters, gymnastic professors and students.