The study examined two surveys of the behaviour of thousands of elementary school students enrolled in public, Catholic, and non-Catholic pri-vate schools. According to the teachers in the surveys, students at Catholic schools engaged in fewer “externalizing behavi-ours,” meaning they did not fight, get angry, act impulsively, or disturb on-going activities as frequently as students at other schools.
What’s more, Catholic school students are “more likely to control their temper, respect others’ property, accept their fellow students ideas, and to handle peer pressure.” This is true across demographic lines. According to its website, the Fordham Institute promotes educational excellence for every child in America via quality research, analysis, and commentary. It is often described as a conservative think-tank.
While the study is encouraging, CATO Institute expert Corey A. DeAngelis warns that it is not causal, (as there was no real way to create a control group), and there could be other factors for a child’s good behaviour than the type of school he or she attends.
Still, DeAngelis says there are reasons to believe that Catholic schools in particular could provide an environment to develop a sense of self-discipline.
“Religious schools may have a competitive advantage at shaping character skills because students are not just held accountable to teachers, they are also held accountable to God,” DeAnglis told CNA.
DeAngelis also speculates that the close-knit nature of many Catholic schools could foster an environment which would further benefit its students.
“Children are more likely to feel engaged and interested in a school with a strong school culture,” he explained. Cristo Rey Network CEO Elizabeth Goettl credits the high standards set by Catholic educators for this result.
