Beliefs in Action: Teachers' Identity Influences School's Identity?

The personal beliefs of teachers represent the voices of social-cultural groups. Four different personal beliefs about the identity of Catholic schools are identified. Only two of these are relevant in the minds of teachers in Catholic schools in the Netherlands. The first is a pluralistic conception, which emphasizes openness to other religious traditions. The other, the dialogic idea, emphasizes introduction into the Catholic community as well as openness to other religious traditions. The first conception represents the voice of persons who have little affiliation with the Catholic community. The second conception embodies the voice of persons who are strongly affiliated to the Catholic community.