The Curriculum and the College Department of Religion

One of the groups of professional workers in the International Council of Religious Education is known as the Professors Advisory Section. Most of the members of this Section are also members of the Religious Education Association. At their annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio, held February 11–13, five of these members presented papers on one aspect or another of the contributions of psychology to religious education. They were of such significance that we are happy to publish them here in symposium form.

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The Integrating and Segregating Effects of School Choice

We evaluate the integrating and segregating effects of three distinct school choice programs in San Diego. We go beyond the traditional question of racial integration and examine the integration of students by test scores, parental education levels, and language status. In addition to measuring the net integrative effects of school choice, we also examine the underlying motives behind student participation in school choice programs and the limiting influence of supply-side constraints. Two of the programs that we consider are rooted in 1970s integration-based reforms that provide public transportation for program participants. The third program is a state-mandated, open-enrollment program that requires participants to find their own transportation to and from their choice schools. We find that the two programs with underlying integrative objectives do indeed integrate the district, but the open-enrollment program segregates the district along most dimensions. Provision of busing and geographic preferences appear to be important factors in promoting integration.     

THE OLDEST STUDENT IN ROMANIA

Vasiliu Gheorghe is the oldest student in Romania. He is a unique historical phenomenon in his country and perhaps a model for others. He may be the last student in Romania to earn a second university degree in a field different from his first degree. It would be inaccurate to leave the impression that Vasiliu is the only older Romanian attending a university. Although it is not possible to return to the university for a degree in a second field, many older Romanians are attending courses offered by evening extension programs at universities throughout the country.     

Notes

This article introduces TVbyGIRLS, a nonprofit organization supporting girls in the development of critical thinking, digital literacy and storytelling, leadership, compassionate collaboration, and social justice engagement. Religious educator Claire Bischoff interviews Rebecca Richards Bullen, TVbyGIRLS mentor, and Molly Nemer and Rachel Quednau, two core girls, to gain wisdom from the ways TVbyGIRLS works with girls in the flow of media, religion, and culture. “Undercover,” a film conceived of and produced by the girls, in which the girls went “undercover” to experience each other's faith traditions for themselves, serves as a case study for inter-faith dialogue and education.