HDS - Program in Religious Studies and Education

Program in Religious Studies and Education

History and Development of the PRSE

The Program in Religion and Secondary Education began in 1972 as the "Secondary School Teaching Certificate Option" for a two-year pilot phase. It grew out of a cluster of needs and goals stretching back to 1966 discussions about institutional cooperation between Harvard Divinity School and the Harvard Graduate School of Education. More immediately, a number of HDS graduates had been finding positions as educators and more hoped to do so; HDS desired to give the newly instituted MTS degree an identity beyond its value as a prelude to further study.

Under the leadership of James Fowler, two part-time coordinators organized the instruction in teaching and methodologies and supervised practice teaching placements. All other courses were already provided at HDS or HGSE. After the exploratory period, it was decided with cautious optimism to continue substantial commitment of resources to the renamed Program in Religion and Education (PRE). Barbara Swyhart was appointed full-time director, with responsibilities for establishing the external contacts with the State Department of Education, local school districts, teachers, etc., necessary to operate the program. Her successor, Joseph Forcinelli, from 1976 to 1980 solidified the foundation of the program. He was instrumental in having religion approved by the Department of Education as an acceptable field within the social studies category of certification, as he had in California, and for establishing excellent working relationships with the Lexington and Cambridge school districts.

In 1980, a reassessment of programs and finances at HDS resulted in a decision to continue support of the PRE for another five-year period, but with an administrative change. Beginning in 1981-82, Professor Sharon Parks assumed the responsibility of faculty supervisor for the program. Susan McCaslin served as the program administrator. Together they were responsible for maintaining the personal relationships with the school site personnel, the state, and especially with students, which has characterized the program since its inception.

Effective in 1982-83, the program changed its name to the Program in Religion and Secondary Education (PRSE). This change was prompted by a desire to identify clearly the level and type of education the program addresses, while differentiating it from education conducted within and for religious institutions. (In spring 2008, the faculty voted to change the name again, from the Program in Religion and Secondary Education to the Program in Religious Studies and Education. This change, which was made to reflect more accurately the full scope of the program, whereby licensure is offered at the middle and secondary levels while further emphasizing the nonsectarian approach to religion that is appropriate for public schools, retained the abbreviation by which the program is well known—PRSE.)

In July 1986, Susan McCaslin resigned from the program to assume duties elsewhere. She was replaced as administrative director by C. Robert Davenport, who had been associated with the program as a consultant, lecturer, and supervisor since 1976.

Sharon Parks left the Divinity School in the summer of 1988 to join the faculties of the Weston School of Theology and Harvard Business School. The Divinity School's associate dean for academic affairs, Clarissa W. Atkinson, assumed the role of faculty director of the PRSE in 1989, with Robert Davenport continuing in the role of administrative director. This arrangement was in effect until June 1991 when Nancy Richardson was appointed faculty director of the PRSE and Mary Frazier-Davis was appointed administrative consultant. In July 1993 Nancy Richardson was appointed associate dean of ministry. She also retained her appointment as faculty director of the PRSE. Mary Frazier-Davis continued in her appointment as administrative consultant. In July 1993 Theresa Perry was appointed Lecturer on Religion and Education with the responsibility of teaching the fall Colloquium in Religion and Secondary Education.

In 1995, Mary Frazier-Davis assumed the title of assistant director of the PRSE to formalize her ongoing relationship with the program.

In 1997-98, Diane L. Moore was hired as Lecturer in Religion and Education and assumed responsibility for the fall colloquium. James Fraser was also hired that year as a lecturer in education to teach one education course each fall. The two courses he offered in alternate years were "Religion and Public Education in a Multicultural America" (2921) and "Building the Beloved Community" (2936). In June 2001 Nancy Richardson stepped down as the faculty director of the program, while still remaining the associate dean of ministry. Diane L. Moore was hired as the new faculty director of the PRSE, while maintaining her status as lecturer. In 2006 Diane L. Moore became Professor of the Practice in Religious Studies and Education.