Values, religion, social class and the choice of private school in Australia

Abstract

A longitudinal data set is used to explore questions about the choice of type of school—public, Catholic, and other private: What associations exist between type of school attended and social and religious background? Does the type of school influence students' political, religious and social values? A generation later, is the type of school chosen by these former students for their children related to their own background and values? Strong connections were found between upper status family background and choice of non-Catholic private school, and between religious background and choice of Catholic school. Moreover, having attended a Catholic school was associated with religious attitudes. When multiple regression methods were used to control for family, social, and religious position, however, there was no longer evidence of a school effect on religious behaviour or beliefs, or of religious influence on the school which respondents chose for their own children. Attendance at a non-Catholic private school, however, did contribute to politically conservative attitudes over and above influences from background. Furthermore, those who had attended a private school (Catholic or other) were very likely to send their children to a similar school.