Religious Education Today
The BBC brings us news of yet another area in which the state school system is failing:
Religious education is "inadequate" in one in five secondary schools in England, according to watchdog Ofsted.Since “education” and “inadequate” have become largely synonymous since Nu Labour decided to shaft the state school system, it’s worth clarifying what exactly the problem is with religious education:
Its study suggested many teachers were unsure of what they were trying to achieve in the subject.Which does raise the interesting question of what should religious education look to achieve today? Indeed, should there be any sort of religious education in state schools in this day and age?
To the latter question, I think the answer is yes – despite being a committed atheist. While it sometimes pains me to admit it, religion is still important to many people in society today, so in order to understand what religion is (and maybe even help to combat religious intolerance at the same time), religious education is important – and part of that education should also involve a discussion of atheism. There may even be a chance within this to debate questions of morality when discussing religion.
But what there is no place for whatsoever in religious education is promotion of any one religion. Religious education should not promote Christianity, or Islam, or any other religion. If pupils decide to follow a religion, then that is their choice. Religious education should be explicitly about educating kids, not promoting one religion and critiquing the others*.
To me, this is not controversial at all – but I suspect that to many religious groups it will be very problematic. But ultimately, if you want to educate kids about religion today, you have to reflect the fact that Britain today is a multicultural society where people choose to follow a number of different faiths – and some choose people not to follow any sort of religion at all.
*Which is exactly what my experience of religious education was.
posted by The Nameless Libertarian @ 11:00 am
8 Comments
8 Comments:
As a libertarian surely you should oppose the use of force against another for mere embarrassment? Especially when the party embarrassed is a state and its functionaries.
Perhaps that should be "to combat intolerant religions"?
Religious education is far more suitable as part of the teaching of history the combination would put it in context. The theological aspect that is for the various churches and should be purely voluntary and up to parents if they want their children brainwashed or not. Schools only function is to impart knowledge and prepare children to think for themselves.
"Combat intolerant religions" is a slightly troubling concept for me - to some extent, you could argue that all religions are intolerant of those that don't believe, albeit to different extremes. I'm more for combatting intolerant behaviour (committed for whatever reason) rather than beliefs (religious or otherwise).
And I quite like the idea of teaching religion as part of history - after all, history is in part based on the conflict between religions.
In his book, Liberty In The Age Of Terror, AC Graying sets out quite nicely why we shouldn't tolerate the intolerant.
But I know what you mean.
But at the risk of sounding like Jacques Derrida, if we don't tolerate the intolerant then surely we cease to be tolerant and therefore cannot be tolerant of ourselves?
It was RE that confirmed me as an atheist. I feel that RE should be taught, just to prove what nonsense religions are.
So why not have an elves and faries curriculum in the educational system leading to a full bodied university course and then a masters. It would certainly be better than religious studies that simply prime children to be fully PAID UP members when they are adult.
FFS take education out of schools and show that you recognise what they are up to
Because no-one seriously believes in elves and fairies, whereas millions believe in the various different religions.
Some form of religious education is essential in order to understand history and to become tolerant (or at least understanding) of the beliefs of others.
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