Changing Parent Involvement in the Catholic Education of Their Children Through the Twentieth Century

“Through the Looking Glass …” From Comfort and Conformity to Challenge and Collaboration: Changing Parent Involvement in the Catholic Education of Their Children Through the Twentieth Century Nance Marie Millar Thesis submitted to the School of Sociology and Anthropology, University of New South Wales, for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy July, 2006 Dedicated to the memory of Blessed Mary MacKillop, RSJ, whose life and work in education inspired this thesis. Also to Tony Millar and our family, who have sustained me throughout this project and in memory of my parents, Elizabeth and Joseph Dalton, who were ‘my primary educators’. ABSTRACT This sociological investigation examines the changing role of parents in the education of their children in Catholic schools in New South Wales over the twentieth century. Catholic Church documents specifically state primary parental responsibility for their children’s religious education. Catholic schools were established to inculcate faith, and assist parents’ role. This thesis asks, to what extent that role has been realised? It unravels the processes that determined and defined the changing role of Catholic parents during this period, and identifies significant shifts in institutional thinking and practices related to parents and resultant shifts in cultural and social perceptions. After half a century of conformity and comfort, a significant era followed as the Australian Church responded to challenges, including financial crisis for Catholic schools, reform in the Australian education system, and the impact of the Second Vatican Council. Cohorts from three generations were selected. Interviews and focus groups elicited memories that were recorded and analysed, in terms of the integral questions; the role and involvement of parents in Catholic schools. Participants recalled their own childhood in Catholic schools and, where applicable, as parents educating their own children, or as religious teachers. The analysis was theoretically informed by the work of Durkheim, Greeley, Coleman and Bourdieu. A review of Church documents and commentaries through the twentieth century, bearing on the education of children, showed the official Church position. Despite numerous rhetorical statements issued by Catholic authorities, emphasising the role of parents as ‘primary educators’, the practical responses ranged from active encouragement to dismissal. Teachers in Catholic schools and related bureaucracies were, seemingly, reluctant to initiate a more inclusive partnership role. Gradually, and in a piecemeal fashion, the Catholic Church and its schools have been responding to growing parental consciousness of their role and responsibilities. i A significant shift was signalled by the New South Wales Bishops in establishing the Council of Catholic School Parents, to be supported by a full-time, salaried Executive Officer, in 2003. But any accommodation to new understandings of parent/teacher, or family/school relation is complex and not to be oversimplified as a simple sharing, or ceding of authority. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Grateful thanks to my Supervisor, Ann Daniel for carefully guiding me through the process with her wise and inspirational insights. She encouraged me constantly and displayed a keen interest in my topic. Her skills and experience were superbly complemented by my Co-Supervisor, Frances Lovejoy, who offered perceptive comments and unfailing reassurance. Special thanks go to the participants in this research who gave of their time in recounting, enthusiastically their memories of school days, and later experience, as parents or teachers in the Catholic Education system. Several of the first cohort are now deceased; may they rest in peace. Cardinal E. B. Clancy who graciously assisted with the methodology and presentation of the Catholic Church Documents, Chapter 4. Laurie Alsop, Equity Officer of the Equity and Diversity (Disability) Unit at the University of New South Wales, who gave me gentle and inestimable support. Maryanne Bokan, Adrian McMinn, Margaret Astar and Ros Khan, Librarians at the University of New South Wales, who assisted with reference search and bibliographical detail. Dominic Fitzsimmons and Coralie Venus of the Learning Centre of the University of New South Wales, who provided access to background courses preparatory to writing this thesis. Mina Roces, of the School of History at the University of New South Wales, who introduced me to the stimulating world of Oral History. iii Student colleagues Jan Ali, Monica Kerretts-Macau and particularly Norbert Ebert who gave unstinting, generous assistance with formatting the thesis. Carol Sullivan and Deborah Broder, of the School Administration who have given practical, patient and understanding help. Marie Lourey, Archivist at the Sydney Catholic Education Office who gave valued, unlimited access to their records. Margaret Watts, Librarian at the Veech Library, Catholic Institute of Sydney, who made available the necessary Church Documents and, related materials. The sustained support of Danielle Cronin, Executive Officer and Roger O’Sullivan of the Council of Catholic School Parents, New South Wales Catholic Education Commission. I owe a debt of gratitude to Archbishop James Carroll, Brother W. X. Simmons, cfc, and Ann Clark who consistently encouraged me in my work. May they rest in peace. I am also indebted to Peter Hancock, cfc, who supervised my Masters Thesis, and prompted my embarking on this current project. Barry Lamb, fms, was in various ways of tremendous practical help in locating related literature for this study. Sister Alexis Horsley PBVM, Mt. Erin Presentation Convent, Wagga Wagga, Sister M. Francis Murphy, OSC. St.Clare’s Convent, Waverley, Sister Veronica Powell RSM, Sister Barbara McDonough RSM, Holy Cross School, Woollahra, and Mr. Harry Stephens, Christian Brothers’, Lewisham, all of whom, by their courtesy, gave permission for the use of archival photographs and records. Mrs Norma Birmingham and Mrs. L. Gilmour who provided the photographs and other material from Ganmain. The excerpts from “Around The Boree Log”, were included by the courtesy of Father F. Mecham. Appreciation of my friends who have given me steadfast, optimistic support over the period of the research. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS iii TABLE OF CONTENTS v LIST OF FIGURES viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ix LIST OF APPENDICES x 1. THE ROLE OF PARENTS IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN NEW SOUTH WALES 1 The three periods of the twentieth century 2 Relevant literature 3 Historical background and sociological overview of the three periods 5 Church response to change through the twentieth century 8 2. THEORETICAL CONCEPTS INFORMING THE STUDY 12 Ideas, theories and constructs 12 Parents’ delegation of their role 22 3. METHODS 46 Background to the study 46 The Aim of the Research 49 Theoretical framework 53 Analysis of the Data 61 v 4. THE CODE OF CANON LAW AND RELATED CATHOLIC CHURCH DOCUMENTS 64 Part 1: Church documents 64 The Code of Canon Law 1917 69 The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council of the Catholic Church 80 The Revised Code of Canon Law 1983 83 Revised Emphasis and Expansion of the Role of Parents explicit in the Revised Code of 1983 89 Part 2: The Catholic School 96 The Family 98 The Future 100 Rights of the Family and the Australian Catholic School 102 Summary 106 5. PARENTS AND RELIGIOUS TEACHERS IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY - THE FIRST COHORT 108 Historical overview 108 Parents’ role in education 110 Withdrawal of government funds 112 The Catholic school and the Irish factor 115 1. Childhood memories of first cohort, parents and religious teachers 121 2. Religious teachers’ perceptions of parent involvement in their schools 126 3. Parents’ perceptions of parent involvement in Catholic schools 131 Conclusions 140 6. LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE SECOND HALF OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY 146 Overview of social trends of second fifty years 147 Secular documents 154 State Aid 160 Parent involvement and participation 168 vi 7. PARENTS AND RELIGIOUS TEACHERS - THE SECOND COHORT 1950-1975 181 Catholic Church Documents and relevant literature 182 1. Childhood memories of second cohort, parents and religious teachers 185 2. Religious teachers’ perceptions of parent involvement in their schools 195 3. Parents’ Perceptions of Parent Involvement in Schools 213 8. PARENTS AND RELIGIOUS TEACHERS – THE THIRD COHORT 1975-2000 233 The Catholic Community and cultural diversity 1975-2000 236 l. Childhood memories of third cohort, parents and religious teachers 238 2. Religious teachers’ perceptions of parent involvement in their schools 253 3. Parents’ perceptions of parent involvement in Catholic schools 270 9. “BREAKING THE ENCHANTED CIRCLE OF COLLECTIVE DENIAL” 287 Conclusion 287 What can be attributed to these changes? 297 Bibliography 304 Official Catholic Church Documents 323 Appendices 327 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: Tea Parties and other events to raise funds in support of the school community of St. Clare’s Waverley, 1800s Figure 2: An Invitation to the Social for the parents and parishioners, 1914 Figure 3: St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations: Boarders’ Picnic at The Rock, Mt. Erin Convent, Wagga Wagga, 1899 Figure 4: St. Patrick’s Day Procession, Holy Cross College, Woollahra, 1950 and Christian Brothers High School, Lewisham, 1939. Figure 5: Orchestra, Mt. Erin Convent, Wagga Wagga, 1909 Figure 6: Presentation Convent showing the first nuns, Ganmain, 1906 Figure 7: ‘The Old Convent Bus’, The means of transport for nuns and students,

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