Changes in American Education and Their Implication for Church-State Relations.

Overview & Synopsis

Since the schools reflect and follow social change, changes in schools can be examined by first looking at societal changes. Three major trends are: urbanization; the interdependent nature of society; and, formal education becoming the sole avenue to success. The implications of these trends on education, and Catholic education in particular, are discussed, with one conclusion being that dual enrollment (shared time) will become more extensive. With religious education being limited to weekends, Catholic commitment to secular public education will increase, thus easing a traditional tension. The challenge to society, however, is to maintain cultural pluralism in an age of interdependency. (DJB)