Attending church may be related to academic success as religiously affiliated kids seem to be on the fast track to college.
In data from thousands of U.S. teens, sociologists from Brigham Young University and Rice University found those with religious backgrounds were 40 percent more likely to graduate high school than their unaffiliated peers and 70 percent more likely to enroll in college. The researchers note that teens’ fellow churchgoers are an important factor, serving as mentors who help teens set their sights high.
“Youth have a unique chance to form relationships with peers and mentors outside of their classroom at school or their neighborhood at home,” said Dr. Lance Erickson, the lead study author and a sociologist at BYU. “Mentors especially care for, counsel with and encourage youth throughout their growing years in a way that teachers and parents might not be able to.”
Erickson and co-author James Phillips of Rice University studied data from more than 8,379 teens across the country. Some of their findings zeroed in on educational attainment by religious affiliations:
•Catholic teens, mainline Protestants and black Protestant congregations are twice as likely as unaffiliated teens to finish high school and about 80 percent more likely to enroll in college;
•Jewish and Mormon youths have the highest odds of graduating high school and college enrollment.
Church leaders often emphasize to youth the importance of higher education as a means of seeking truth and becoming self-reliant.
Excerpts from Religious Life in High School Tied to Academic Success (By Rick Nauert PhD Senior News Editor, Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 2, 2012)
This post is so true and very timely given the recent posts of our children in Atlanta. As a "church" its so important and so very necessary for us to promote, encourage as well as to acknowledge all of our children's gifts. Our children are so amazing, so rich with talents, and collectively we need to support their positives. Thanks for posting this piece because we further see how the "church" and the Nation can further contribute to the success of ALL our children.
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