Istituto Salesiano San Francesco De Sales (Catania) : a report

Abstract

During the period 3rd to 14th November 1997, we were attached (hosts of ) the ‘San Francesco di Sales’ Institute, in Via Cifali, 7, Catania, Sicily to ‘observe and reflect upon its administrative practice.’ As a guide for our research, Mr. Joseph Muscat, the lecturer in charge of our stay in Catania, offered us various topics to look for, during our fifteen days at the Institute. These are: a) The organisational and management structures, including its planning, decision making, distribution of responsibility and authority, communication and evaluation. b) Aspects of the school’s work with its curriculum, pastoral provisions, climate and discipline, extracurricular activities, careers and guidance, assessment and record keeping. c) Teacher roles, which includes his work in the classroom and as a form teacher, and his relationships with the administration, colleagues, parents and outside bodies. d) Opportunities for professional development.

We had plenty of time to our research. As hosts of the Salesian brothers, we spent all our stay in Catania practically at the Institute’s premises.

We ate and slept there, and as from the beginning we made acquaintances with almost all the staff, both Salesian and lay teachers. We never forget the long conversations which we had with some Salesian brothers, especially those which practically kept us awake till very late at night. Our research was carried out by interviewing different teachers from different stages of the Institute, together with our long discussions with the respective Heads and the Director of the institute. We also visited classrooms, laboratories and workshops and watched lessons and other work carried out by the students. We were invited to attend staff meetings and were allowed to read the literature which describes various topics that regard the Institute and its educational work. As from the beginning of our stay at the Institute, the director invited us to participate in the extracurricular activities. We never forget one particular occasion, a BBQ for all the staff held at the Institute’s premises. We cannot forget, either, those occasions, some six or seven of them, when we participated in sports activities, especially in volleyball sessions. It was really unforgettable, feeling the Sicilian Mediterranean temperament accompanied by some enthusiastic Sicilian phrases which we rarely understood. Undoubtedly the diploma course in Educational Administration and Management has helped us a lot in our research.