The goal of this book is to examine the relationship between religion and academic success, both historically and in modern society. Very few books are dedicated to examining this very important topic. In addition, to this date there has never been a published quantitative meta-analysis examining the effects of religiosity and religious schools on academic outcomes. It is my hope that this book will be a useful tool for educators, researchers, professors, and parents who desire to examine this relevant and practical area of study. Our nation owes much of its educational foundation to the religious orientation of many of its founders, educational pioneers, and educational reformers. Although educational historians used to focus on the religious and moral orientation of people like Noah Webster, Horace Mann, Johann Pestalozzi, Emma Willard, Friedrich Froebel, and many others, contemporary educational historians inappropriately omit the religious roots of these individuals.
Acknowledgments.Preface.Foreword.Chapter 1. Early Influences on Education, 1607–1776.Chapter 2. Toward the Common School.Chapter 3. Waves of Educational Change.Chapter 4. Prayer, Bible Reading, and the Supreme Court.Chapter 5. Why Religion Influences Students.Chapter 6. The Impact of Religious Schools and Religious Commitment on Academic Achievement.Chapter 7. Religious Education and Religious Commitment among Minority Students.Chapter 8. The Effects of Religious Schools on School Behavior and Diligence.Chapter 9. Effects of Religious Commitment on Problem Behavior.Chapter 10. Potential Reasons for the Impact of Religious Schools.Chapter 11. Debates about the Contribution of Religious Schools and Religious Commitment Today.Chapter 12. What Can We Learn from Religious Schools and Religious People?