The Forgotten Contribution of the Teaching Sisters

For far too long Catholic teaching sisters have been denied their rightful place in the history of education. It is only during the past twenty-five years that researchers in many countries have begun to reveal the fundamental role played by these women in the schooling of children of both the masses and the elite during the 19th and 20th centuries. This essay provides for the first time a detailed overview of the historiography of the teaching sisters in Western Europe, North America, Latin America and Australasia, surveying scholarship since 1985. It reviews the literature on six major themes: contribution to schooling, teaching orders and schools, educational philosophy, content and practice, life and lived experience of teachers and students, the professionalization of teaching, and changes in the composition of the teaching staff. Very rich in bibliographical references, this book is indispensable for all further research on this significant but underexplored group of women teachers.

Contents

Acknowledgements 7

Chapter 1

Introduction 9

Background of the research 9

Scope 10

Aims and objectives 11

Organization of the study 11

Chapter 2

Evolution of scholarly interest in the educational work

of women religious 13

A tale of historical neglect and marginalization 13

The discovery of women religious as a historical 'subject' 14

Elements of a new historiography 16

Chapter 3

Overview and assessment of the literature 19

Contribution to schooling 19

Teaching orders and schools 24

Educational philosophy, content and practice 29

Educational philosophy 30

Educational content 32

Educational practice 40

Life and the lived experience of teachers and students 41

The professionalization of teaching 46

Training, competence and experience 47

Life-long career and career patterns 49

Specialization and corporate identity 50

Relationship with associations and unions of teachers 51

Involvement in textbook production 52

Changes in the composition of the teaching staff 53

Chapter 4

Conclusions 55

Notes 57

Bibliography 87

Format: Referencework - paperback

Size: 240 × 160 mm

ISBN: 9789058677655

Publication: October 13, 2009

Series: Studia Paedagogica 44

Languages: English

Stock item number: 56819

Bart Hellinckx is a historical researcher, he currently works for the teachers union Christelijk Onderwijzersverbond (cov) in Belgium.

Frank Simon is Full Professor at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the Universiteit Gent in Belgium.

Marc Depaepe is Professor of History of Education at KU Leuven.

On ne peut que féliciter les auteurs de ce numéro de 'Studia Paedagogica' de leur recensement fort complet des recherches sur le travail des religieuses catholiques enseignantes à l'époque contemporaine. L'article, d'une cinquantaine de pages, est complété par trente pages de notes et par une bibliographie précieuse de presque quarante pages de références en langue anglaise, française, allemande, néerlandaise, portugaise et espagnole.
Rebecca Rogers, Histoire de l'éducation 3/2010 (n° 127), p. 131-132

 

May researchers use this essay as an incentive to delve further into the influence and efforts of the teaching sisters throughout our world.
Reviewed by: Sr Barbara Jeffery, Sisters of Mercy, Bermondsey, London, January 2011

 

This is a much needed publication that makes a substantial contribution to current and future research on female teaching congregations
Rosa Bruno-Jofré, Zeitschrift für pädagogische Historiographie, 16. Jahrgang, 2/2010

 

EWR 9 (2010), Nr. 4 (Juli/August)

 

On ne peut que féliciter les auteurs de ce numéro de 'Studia Paedagogica' de leur recensement fort complet des recherches sur le travail des religieuses catholiques enseignantes à l'époque contemporaine. L'article, d'une cinquantaine de pages, est complété par trente pages de notes et par une bibliographie précieuse de presque quarante pages de références en langue anglaise, française, allemande, néerlandaise, portugaise et espagnole.
Rebecca Rogers, Histoire de l'éducation 3/2010 (n° 127), p. 131-132

 

May researchers use this essay as an incentive to delve further into the influence and efforts of the teaching sisters throughout our world.
Reviewed by: Sr Barbara Jeffery, Sisters of Mercy, Bermondsey, London, January 2011

 

This is a much needed publication that makes a substantial contribution to current and future research on female teaching congregations
Rosa Bruno-Jofré, Zeitschrift für pädagogische Historiographie, 16. Jahrgang, 2/2010

 

EWR 9 (2010), Nr. 4 (Juli/August)