School effectiveness in Jesuit education a Habermasian perspective

Abstract

This research aims to explore the extent to which Jesuit education is effective. It uses a qualitative appraisal of data about St. Patrick’s College (St. Pat’s) obtained from one student’s journal, four interviews, and from provincial government publications relevant to the school; it is an independent Jesuit school located in Canada. To ensure a secular standpoint, religiously based claims are discussed in terms of their possible effects on school effectiveness within a Habermasian framework. The perceptions of the participants in this study suggest that Jesuit education promotes the full growth of individuals through a well-rounded education, and the school effectiveness achieved at St. Pat’s is a by-product of Jesuit pedagogical philosophy. In addition, implications for educational reform in China and future research possibilities are presented.