Should We Teach about other''s religion

6 Nov 2007

Quote by Mallock2006

You will have to elucidate.

It seems clear enough to me ;-)
Glad thats sorted then wink

So basically there is no basis for your presumption dunno

You have me confused, I dont know what you want from me. sad

6 Nov 2007

Quote by Mallock2006
Can this subject be debated properly when I presume that that almost all of the contributors are basing their viewpoints from a westernised Christian perspective? Mind you its all a bit serious for me.

And what do you base that viewpoint on dunno

How can you make a statement like that without any basis :dunno:
There could be any number of religions participating in this thread....

6 Nov 2007

Quote by Mallock2006
Can this subject be debated properly when I presume that that almost all of the contributors are basing their viewpoints from a westernised Christian perspective? Mind you its all a bit serious for me.

And what do you base that viewpoint on dunno

How can you make a statement like that without any basis :dunno:
There could be any number of religions participating in this thread....
I set forth no facts.
There could be many religions participating, You are most definately, unequivocably right.

6 Nov 2007

Quote by Lost
Can this subject be debated properly when I presume that that almost all of the contributors are basing their viewpoints from a westernised Christian perspective? Mind you its all a bit serious for me.

And what do you base that viewpoint on dunno

How can you make a statement like that without any basis :dunno:
There could be any number of religions participating in this thread....
I set forth no facts.
There could be many religions participating, You are most definately, unequivocably right.
banghead

6 Nov 2007

Quote by Mallock2006
Can this subject be debated properly when I presume that that almost all of the contributors are basing their viewpoints from a westernised Christian perspective? Mind you its all a bit serious for me.

And what do you base that viewpoint on dunno

How can you make a statement like that without any basis :dunno:
There could be any number of religions participating in this thread....
I set forth no facts.
There could be many religions participating, You are most definately, unequivocably right.
banghead

:dunno: + :idea: = coffee

6 Nov 2007

Quote by swcpl2005
A school by its very nature is a place for the teaching of facts, i.e. something that is known to be reality, the truth or have existed and should not be a vehicle for the imposition of unprovable theories onto impressionable young people.
Present children with a series of peer-reviewed facts and allow them to make up their own minds. And herein is the problem, religion is unable to present a coherent set of facts and therefore should always be accompanied with a massive caveat stating that none of what is being taught has ever been proven.
It makes me cringe to see someone here play the race card in a debate about religion and children.
Essential reading is Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion" and especially the chapter entitled "Childhood, abuse and the escape from religion.'
It also contains a great quote from Victor Hugo - "There is in every village a torch - the teacher; and an extinguisher - the clergyman". Wise words indeed.

School is not a place for only learning facts.

Quote by Marya_Northeast
You could argue the "religion isn't fact" debate just as much as with evolution. It is the Theory of Evolution, ya know!

It is indeed a theory, as are many other things which we teach.

6 Nov 2007

Quote by Lost
Can this subject be debated properly when I presume that that almost all of the contributors are basing their viewpoints from a westernised Christian perspective? Mind you its all a bit serious for me.

So it'll be biased. As will a debate about , bisexuality, marriage, cheating, cut/uncut and so on. Purely and simply because we haven't all experienced everything and so can only have one particular viewpoint.

6 Nov 2007

Yes we should teach about different religions.
I'm an atheist, I do not, and never will have a religion, but I am glad I was taught about different religions at school so that I can understand different peoples points of view.
I think it is an important part of life, and is a very important part of many people's lives, and even though I choose not to belong to a religion, it still affects my life.
I would feel very ignorant today if I did not have an understanding of the whats and whys of the worlds religions, and I think it is very sad that a parent would deny their child this knowledge.
In my job, I come across many different people with many different religious views.
At school, I learnt the books of the bible, I learnt the 5 pillars of Islam, the Koran, what diwali is, what passover is etc etc.
I'm glad I have an understanding of this.
What are these parents scared of?
That their child might decide one particular religion is 'better' than theirs, and run off and join?!
Is it that they don't want their child to know any different, else they might realise there isn't a lot of truth behind that particular religion?
I'd be interested on peoples views on this!!!
M xx

6 Nov 2007

Perhaps if I was'nt taught RE at school, my spelling might be better! wink

6 Nov 2007

Quote by Freckledbird
Can this subject be debated properly when I presume that that almost all of the contributors are basing their viewpoints from a westernised Christian perspective? Mind you its all a bit serious for me.

So it'll be biased. As will a debate about , bisexuality, marriage, cheating, cut/uncut and so on. Purely and simply because we haven't all experienced everything and so can only have one particular viewpoint.
100% agree with you. Well put. :thumbup:

6 Nov 2007

Parents are legally and morally responsible for ensuring that their child is educated to accepted national standards. If there are parents that are refusing to allow their children "freedom of education" ie visiting a place worship of a different religion, then those parents should be prosecuted. However, RE is, and should remain a very minor part of the curriculum. It is little wonder that school-leavers today barely have the intelligence to operate the till at McDonalds. Religious education is just another one of those pointless subjects that are over-taught these days - teach it, but don't blow it up into the category of being an important subject. IMO it deserves the same learning time as pottery or latin dancing. If you're a teacher reading this - PLEASE teach the little b'stards how to count to ten and speak a little English. Then they, and we, might have a future.

6 Nov 2007

Quote by SlurpySarah
Parents are legally and morally responsible for ensuring that their child is educated to accepted national standards. If there are parents that are refusing to allow their children "freedom of education" ie visiting a place worship of a different religion, then those parents should be prosecuted. However, RE is, and should remain a very minor part of the curriculum. It is little wonder that school-leavers today barely have the intelligence to operate the till at McDonalds. Religious education is just another one of those pointless subjects that are over-taught these days - teach it, but don't blow it up into the category of being an important subject. IMO it deserves the same learning time as pottery or latin dancing. If you're a teacher reading this - PLEASE teach the little b'stards how to count to ten and speak a little English. Then they, and we, might have a future.

Speaking as a teacher, I can honestly say that I don't think RE is over-taught. In our school, it's taught from the angle of looking at other cultures and traditions, helping children to understand why some people have different thoughts on various subjects and to empathise with some of the difficulties they have faced in the past.
I'm not religious at all, but I can certainly see the benefits of teaching children those things. It's just a different vehicle for teaching moral and social issues. It's not taught in isolation, rather as a topic which covers all curriculum areas. We teach facts (geography, population, etc.) and beliefs.
Oh, and they aren't all little b'stards! With the best will in the world, they won't all be able to read/write/do mathematics to the same standard when they leave school. As Jaymar said, truancy and absenteeism (with or without parental consent) have a lot to do with achievement.
Speaking as a parent, I know my own children were not over-taught RE and that they are reasonably well-balanced individuals, as anyone from here who has met them will tell you.

6 Nov 2007

Quote by Freckledbird
Parents are legally and morally responsible for ensuring that their child is educated to accepted national standards. If there are parents that are refusing to allow their children "freedom of education" ie visiting a place worship of a different religion, then those parents should be prosecuted. However, RE is, and should remain a very minor part of the curriculum. It is little wonder that school-leavers today barely have the intelligence to operate the till at McDonalds. Religious education is just another one of those pointless subjects that are over-taught these days - teach it, but don't blow it up into the category of being an important subject. IMO it deserves the same learning time as pottery or latin dancing. If you're a teacher reading this - PLEASE teach the little b'stards how to count to ten and speak a little English. Then they, and we, might have a future.

Speaking as a teacher, I can honestly say that I don't think RE is over-taught. In our school, it's taught from the angle of looking at other cultures and traditions, helping children to understand why some people have different thoughts on various subjects and to empathise with some of the difficulties they have faced in the past.
I'm not religious at all, but I can certainly see the benefits of teaching children those things. It's just a different vehicle for teaching moral and social issues. It's not taught in isolation, rather as a topic which covers all curriculum areas. We teach facts (geography, population, etc.) and beliefs.
Oh, and they aren't all little b'stards! With the best will in the world, they won't all be able to read/write/do mathematics to the same standard when they leave school. As Jaymar said, truancy and absenteeism (with or without parental consent) have a lot to do with achievement.
Speaking as a parent, I know my own children were not over-taught RE and that they are reasonably well-balanced individuals, as anyone from here who has met them will tell you.
well said FB I wholeheartedly agree with what u have said.
I too work with children n we teach RE and I feel it is done in a positive n rewarding manner! it benefits every1

7 Nov 2007

Quote by Freckledbird
Parents are legally and morally responsible for ensuring that their child is educated to accepted national standards. If there are parents that are refusing to allow their children "freedom of education" ie visiting a place worship of a different religion, then those parents should be prosecuted. However, RE is, and should remain a very minor part of the curriculum. It is little wonder that school-leavers today barely have the intelligence to operate the till at McDonalds. Religious education is just another one of those pointless subjects that are over-taught these days - teach it, but don't blow it up into the category of being an important subject. IMO it deserves the same learning time as pottery or latin dancing. If you're a teacher reading this - PLEASE teach the little b'stards how to count to ten and speak a little English. Then they, and we, might have a future.

Speaking as a teacher, I can honestly say that I don't think RE is over-taught. In our school, it's taught from the angle of looking at other cultures and traditions, helping children to understand why some people have different thoughts on various subjects and to empathise with some of the difficulties they have faced in the past.
I'm not religious at all, but I can certainly see the benefits of teaching children those things. It's just a different vehicle for teaching moral and social issues. It's not taught in isolation, rather as a topic which covers all curriculum areas. We teach facts (geography, population, etc.) and beliefs.
Oh, and they aren't all little b'stards! With the best will in the world, they won't all be able to read/write/do mathematics to the same standard when they leave school. As Jaymar said, truancy and absenteeism (with or without parental consent) have a lot to do with achievement.
Speaking as a parent, I know my own children were not over-taught RE and that they are reasonably well-balanced individuals, as anyone from here who has met them will tell you.
:thumbup: couldnt agree more Fb

7 Nov 2007

Quote by Mallock2006
See, even a thread about religion causes arguments.

Thats about all religion does...
That old chestnut. Such a sweeping generalisation and so wrong. Forget the extremists. On a base level it comforts many people during a dark moment, it builds a sense of shared higher values amongst many communities, it strives often for an inclusive community accepting people for who they are regardless of status or education. And if it's right for one person then no one should knock that.
pink x