Educational restructuring in Catholic schools: A case study of St John's College, Woodlawn: Towards a personalist account

Abstract

This study focuses on educational restructuring in Catholic schools. In particular, it is a case study of an episode of educational restructuring that occurred at St John's College, Woodlawn during the years 1994 to 2000. From being a small boarding-only boys' school in 1994, the college became a co-educational day school within the short period of six years. At the beginning of 2001, St John's College became a systemic school, fully integrated into the diocese of Lismore, New South Wales. This research study assumed that educational restructuring is a complex and unpredictable exercise. Moreover, this study recognised that those leading the episode of educational restructuring at St John's College lacked a clear theoretical foundation for their work. Consequently, the purpose of this study was framed in terms of gaining a more informed and sophisticated understanding of educational restructuring in Catholic schools such as St John's College...