Why religion belongs in school

[cbayer]

http://www.haaretz.com/opinion/.premium-1.560055

Why religion belongs in school
Schoolchildren should acquire a basic literacy in the religions that are shaping our present and future. UK secular schools show this can be done without indoctrination.
By Rabbi Danny Rich | Nov. 25, 2013 | 1:44 PM


Youth reading the Bible Photo by Dreamstime

At a recent Shabbat dinner my niece was bemoaning that her weekly high school religious education lesson was, in typical teenage-speak, ‘boring’ and ‘not going to help her get into university’.

It is ironic that as the number of faith schools in England reaches its highest number ever (over a third of all schools), UK Secretary of State for Education Michael Gove conceded recently that religious education had been an ‘unintended casualty’ of recent curriculum reforms.

A couple of weeks ago the UK's Religious Education Council of England and Wales (which includes amongst its member bodies the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Teachers Association along with representatives of every faith as well as Humanism) published A Curriculum Framework for Religious Education in England. Effective religious education should, according to its authors, enable students to ‘develop religious literacy in a number of ways,’ but most importantly, by ‘becoming increasingly able to respond to religions and worldviews in an informed, rational and insightful way.’

Just how ‘informed, rational and insightful’ are we today when it comes to other religions? Recent polls in both the U.S. and the UK show shocking levels of ignorance of world religions among citizens of both countries. At a time when the U.S. is at war with several Muslim countries, and struggling to maintain or resurrect diplomatic relations with others, it does not bode well that only 54% of Americans in 2010 knew that the Koran was the holy book of Islam. If we cannot even name each other’s foundational texts, how can we even hope to come together at the negotiating table? The situation in Britain appears to be deteriorating, with a 2012 poll finding that young people were even more ignorant about religion than older respondents. How is it that an increasingly interconnected world is yielding greater ignorance and not greater understanding?

more at link

[TBF]

1. A friend of mine is from Germany -

lives in the US now. She said in Germany (at least when she was in school - I'd guess she's about 40 now) they do take a class in religion but you have some choice in what you want to take. I think a good comparative religions class for high school aged kids would be really nice here.

[cbayer]

2. I never encountered any religious classes in public schools, but my kids that went to

catholic schools had good courses in comparative religions.

I think they benefitted from this and agree with the author that these courses could provide for a higher level of understanding and tolerance.

[libodem]

3. It is an important part of history

And shaping western civilization. Plus what if you make it to, Jeopardy, and the religion column was all that was left. You need to be informed. Dammit.

[cbayer]

4. Religion and European history always trip me up in Jeopardy.

It's amazing how little European history was taught to me in school.

[libodem]

5. It's a shame

I wish history could be made more interesting, other than just memorizing important dates. Having an understanding of the forces at work and their beliefs and values would provide a more comprehensive outline. It's hard to keep it fascinating for learners to stay interested.

[cbayer]

6. I went to grade school in Virginia.

History was Virginia history one year, then US history the next. Over and over again.

We weren't even told about the Spanish colonization.

Religion was never mentioned at all except in the context of the Pilgrims.

I can only hope that things have gotten better since then.

[libodem]

7. I'm glad I have some foundation

From going to Sunday School as a little kid. I recently took a 50 question test and only missed two. The general knowledge has many references and even common sayings we use. It's just good to know no matter a persons faith, or lack there of.

[cbayer]

9. I went to Sunday school as well (minister's daughter), but we mostly learned

metaphorical stories and about how people should treat each other. We learned about civil liberties, social justice and that other religions were just fine. But we didn't really learn any religious history or much about other religions. I do remember memorizing the books of the Bible prior to baptism at 13.

It's amazing how much more my husband, raised in England, knows both about religion and history.

[libodem]

11. That is so interesting

I think those were all important lessons. Stories like the good Samaritan stick with you. Doing unto others and trying to love one another creates good karma as far as I'm concerned. I like to mix it up.

[cbayer]

12. The stories were definitely the most important thing.

In addition, both of my parents were political activists.

While I understand that my upbringing is very different than it is for many kids raised in churches, it's not unique.

I like to mix it up, too.

It's been great talking to you, libodem.

[libodem]

13. Same

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. The problem in English schools is the compulsory daily act of collective worship

All maintained schools in England must provide a daily act of collective worship. This must reflect the traditions of this country which are, in the main, broadly Christian.

Parents have the right to withdraw their child from the daily act of collective worship and sixth-formers can decide for themselves whether or not to attend, without giving a reason for doing so. Schools must comply with this wish and must ensure a duty of care for pupils who are withdrawn from collective worship.

http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/leadership/schoolethos/a0064979/collective-worship

('Maintained' means nearly all state funded schools)

Whether, in many schools, something happens every day that would really be called 'worship' by most people is debatable; but many people would also think that rule-bending is not an example to set (perhaps it is - but I don't think that excuses having a silly, biased law in the first place).

(I don't know if the rabbi covers this - the rest of the article requires a subscription. Is there anything significant in it not covered in the excerpt?)

[cbayer]

10. I did not know that.

England seems to have a long way to go to reach the kind of separation we hopefully strive for here.

I was able to access the article without subscription. The only thing you may have missed is the case he makes for education leading to increased tolerance and that this is increasingly critical.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. Comparative Religion classes still exist in US Schools, and are not a 1st amendment violation.

It's just that nobody gives a shit and nobody takes the classes.

[cbayer]

15. Huh?

Some schools may offer them and they probably do get kids that are interested. I can't find any data to back up what you are saying here.

Liberal arts colleges generally have religion departments and the classes are often very popular.

[AtheistCrusader]

16. From the article.

"It does not bode well that only 54% of Americans in 2010 knew that the Koran was the holy book of Islam."

Classes that alleviate this sort of lack-of-knowing-about-the-real-world exist, and there's no problem with these classes in the US.
Granted Muslims are a tiny percentage of the US Population anyway.

[cbayer]

17. I read that to mean that schools are not offering comparative religion classes.

That's kind of the point of the whole article.

Apparently there is a problem.

[AtheistCrusader]

18. They exist, but I have no data on how prevalent.

My high school offered one, but it was, in my estimate, not a very ... popular elective.

[cbayer]

19. They were never offered in the schools I attended until I got to college.

If they had been, I probably would have taken it.

I find religion really interesting and enjoy learning about those that are very different than the one I was exposed to during my childhood.

[Brettongarcia]

20. These religion courses almost never take an objective/critical view of religion. Not the down side.

They don't usually pay enough attention to the many wars caused by religion, and so forth.

Instead, as a practical matter, they are often taught by persons who wish to favor/show respect to religions.

[cbayer]

21. I think it's possible to show respect towards religions without

whitewashing them.

Part of the value of these courses is to erase some of the prejudices or broad brush ideas that lead to intolerance and bigotry.

In doing that, it's important to show how religion can and has been used to promote evil.

A good course should do both.