The Forgotten Contribution of the Teaching Sisters: A Historiographical Essay on the Educational Work of Catholic Women Religious in the 19th and 20th Centuries(Studia Paedagogica)

For far too long, Catholic teaching sisters have been overlooked in the history of education. During the past twenty-five years, however, researchers have begun to explore the fundamental role played by these women in teaching children in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. This essay provides the first detailed overview of the historiography of the teaching sisters in Western Europe, North America, Latin America, and Australasia, surveying scholarship since 1985. It reviews the literature on six major themes: contribution to schooling, teaching orders and schools, educational philosophy, content and practice, life and lived experience of teachers and students, the professionalization of teaching, and changes in the composition of the teaching staff . Very rich in bibliographical references, this book is indispensable for all further research on this significant but underexplored group of women teachers.

Table of Contents:
Contents Acknowledgements 7 Chapter 1 Introduction 9 Background of the research 9 Scope 10 Aims and objectives 11 Organization of the study 11 Chapter 2 Evolution of scholarly interest in the educational work of women religious 13 A tale of historical neglect and marginalization 13 The discovery of women religious as a historical 'subject' 14 Elements of a new historiography 16 Chapter 3 Overview and assessment of the literature 19 Contribution to schooling 19 Teaching orders and schools 24 Educational philosophy, content and practice 29 Educational philosophy 30 Educational content 32 Educational practice 40 Life and the lived experience of teachers and students 41 The professionalization of teaching 46 Training, competence and experience 47 Life-long career and career patterns 49 Specialization and corporate identity 50 Relationship with associations and unions of teachers 51 Involvement in textbook production 52 Changes in the composition of the teaching staff 53 Chapter 4 Conclusions 55 Notes 57 Bibliography 87

About the Author :
Marc Depaepe is Professor of History of Education at the University of Leuven.

Review :
On ne peut que féliciter les auteurs de ce numéro de 'Studia Paedagogica' de leur recensement fort complet des recherches sur le travail des religieuses catholiques enseignantes à l'époque contemporaine. L'article, d'une cinquantaine de pages, est complété par trente pages de notes et par une bibliographie précieuse de presque quarante pages de références en langue anglaise, française, allemande, néerlandaise, portugaise et espagnole. Rebecca Rogers, Histoire de l'éducation 3/2010 (n° 127), p. 131-132 May researchers use this essay as an incentive to delve further into the influence and efforts of the teaching sisters throughout our world. Reviewed by: Sr Barbara Jeffery, Sisters of Mercy, Bermondsey, London, January 2011 This is a much needed publication that makes a substantial contribution to current and future research on female teaching congregations Rosa Bruno-Jofré, Zeitschrift für pädagogische Historiographie, 16. Jahrgang, 2/2010 EWR 9 (2010), Nr. 4 (Juli/August)