Study ties religion to student success

[Ahimsa]

The White House has embraced a researcher whose work suggests religion can do what ample federal nourishment has not – narrow the achievement gap between white and minority students.

The gap narrows by 25 percent in religious schools, said William Jeynes of Cal State Long Beach in the current issue of the Interdisciplinary Journal of Research on Religion.

When the student comes from an “intact family” and professes religious commitment, the gap disappears.

 

[Suat]

Interesting. I wonder how much of that is due to ‘intact’ families and how much is due to religion. Well, that and how much is due to this:

The critical factor is a private or parochial school’s freedom to choose its students, said Marc Egan, director of federal affairs at National School Boards Association in Alexandria, Va.

“He just didn’t address the private school being able to screen out at the front end and at the back end,” he said. “They can unceremoniously show the students the door.”

And they do.

“I don’t want to use the word luxury, but we don’t accept just anyone,” said Sister Liam Brock, principal of the inner-city St. Elizabeth’s High School in Oakland. “We have criteria. We can also say, if you are not going to abide by our rules, take advantage of counseling, mentoring, we can ask you to leave.”

Emphasis added. Granted, not all religious schools can afford to be highly selective, but if you can chose to enroll those who will succeed regardless of income and can spend more money on an average student, then you should narrow the gap regardless of religious affiliation . That, and if a parent is willing to pay for a private education, then they generally are more likely to insist on higher grade standards.