A volume in Research on Religion and Education
Series Editors Stephen J. Denig, Niagara University
and Lyndon G. Furst, Andrews University
Two major real-world problems prompted this study: maintaining the Catholic identity of the
Catholic schools, and increasing interest in character education. Traditionally, Catholic schools
in the United States were staffed exclusively by priests, sisters, and brothers. Today, they are
predominately staffed by laypersons. This change has influenced the essential religious
character and culture of Catholic schools. While Religious filter their teachings through their
own religious training and emphasize the mission and charisma of Catholic education, lay staff
often lack the same intensely religious experiences to bring to the teaching/learning
environment. This qualitative interview study explored the influence that a series of spirituality
and virtue seminars had on lay teachers' perceptions of the Catholic school and character
education.