NOTRE DAME, Ind- An analysis of research about the education of Latinos has found that students who are actively involved in church or consider faith important are more likely to do well in school.
Researchers for the Center for the Study of Latino Religion at the University of Notre Dame discovered that the religious involvement of students and their parents affected how they fared in the school environment.
“We find that Latino students who attend church or who see their religious faith as very important to their lives are achieving higher grades in school, are staying on track in school, are having less trouble with teachers, other students and homework and identify with school more strongly,” concluded David Sikkink and Edwin I. Hernandez, co-authors of the January report.
In reviewing a survey of first-grade Latino children, they found parents with high religious involvement were more likely to read to their children and take part in other activities with them, such as visits to the library.
When reviewing studies of teenagers, the scholars found that Latinos attending religious services weekly or more often felt more comfortable in school and were absent less often than those who did not attend worship services.
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