Teachers and the religious socialization of adolescents

This study investigated the effects of religious education on student religious identity over
and above parent religiosity by examining student perceptions of two aspects of teacher
functioning: teacher caring and teacher as role-model. We posited that effects of these
variables on students’ religious identity are mediated by student perceptions that the
school provides a non-alienating religious atmosphere and meaningful religious studies.
Participants were 2691 male and female students (grades 9–12) in 152 classes of 25
schools from the Jewish public-religious sector in Israel. Results indicate that in addition to
their parents’ religiosity, adolescents’ perceptions of their teachers as role models and their
religious studies as meaningful are important variables affecting their religious identity.
Moreover, this research suggests that religious identity formation processes flourish in an
educational environment which students perceive as accommodating religious
exploration