Let's Teach Religion To Teens In Public Schools

[Revoltingest]

Jesus I didn't know that the U.S. is this bad.

Not teaching religion in public schools is one of our greatest achievements.
But where we really fail is that the typical high school kid can't change a
flat tire, fill out an income tax form, or crank over the engine of a tractor.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Are Americans really this dense?

Are Britons? There are different approaches to this issue worldwide. The British approach is not some sort of worldwide standard. Think of the OP as asking which approach should be used.

Religious studies is compulsory in all UK schools to teach us understanding and respect. Jesus I didn't know that the U.S. is this bad.

What does a religious studies class have to do with understanding and respect?

Or do you mean understanding of and respect for religion specifically (as opposed to understanding of and respect for, say, people)?

 

[SalixIncendium]

I have little issue with religion being taught in public school, so long as it is offered as an elective. However, I would be concerned with pariality of the faculty and/or administration.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

Yep............. good idea.
Why? Religions and the history of religions is part of Mankind's present and past motivational forces.

More than, say, agriculture?

You could call it 'Theology' on the Lesson Plan?

What does that do for you?

 

[oldbadger]

More than, say, agriculture?

We have agricultural colleges here, and they are universities really, very specialised.

What does that do for you?

It's part of the history and reality of our World. It can teach people anywhere about how people might think elsewhere. It can develope a foundation towards better diplomacy.

You can't surely want to erase knowledge of World Religions from the World, can you? Isn't that a kind of brainwashing?

 

[Revoltingest]

It can teach people anywhere about how people might think elsewhere. It can develope a foundation towards better diplomacy.

Studying religion leads to our getting along better, eh?
Pbbbttttt!
It's far more likely to have the babel fish effect.

 

[dfnj]

Our kids are in school to learn how to learn. It doesn't really matter what subject they practice on.

But schools should probably stay away from controversial subjects like religion and evolution. There are plenty of other less controversial subjects students can practice on. For controversial subjects the students can learn on their own.

English, math, basic science, history are probably enough.

 

[oldbadger]

Studying religion leads to our getting along better, eh?
Pbbbttttt!
It's far more likely to have the babel fish effect.

Look here............ Teaching kids about the cultures, beliefs, religions and faiths of others is a seriously imoportant lesson plan, especially today where communications anywhere and everywhere with anyone is so easy.

What do you think this Forum is for? ............... promoting steam powered pushchairs? No! No! Don't!

 

[Revoltingest]

Look here............ Teaching kids about the cultures, beliefs, religions and faiths of others is a seriously imoportant lesson plan, especially today where communications anywhere and everywhere with anyone is so easy.

What do you think this Forum is for? ............... promoting steam powered pushchairs? No! No! Don't!

I'd hope that children would be spending their class time on important
subjects....read'n, write'n, 'rithmetic, tax law, the legalities of going forth
& multiplying, etc. What good is appreciating another culture if you're
not prepared for a job?
If I'd learned in high school all about how Xians & Muslims liked slavery,
or that Hindus oppressed the lower classes...what good would that be?

 

[Kenny]

Not any particular religion, but simply religion in general. Should room be made in the public high school curriculum for a class on religion, focusing on either the different world religions and/or the nature of religion itself?

WHY?
WHY NOT?

.​

I think it would be interesting and it would help people to know their neighbor since the world is becoming smaller

 

[Rival]

What does a religious studies class have to do with understanding and respect?

Or do you mean understanding of and respect for religion specifically (as opposed to understanding of and respect for, say, people)?

I shouldn't really have to explain but teaching kids about different religions broadens their minds and leads, hopefully, to less prejudice and more understanding and community cohesiveness.

 

[dianaiad]

Not any particular religion, but simply religion in general. Should room be made in the public high school curriculum for a class on religion, focusing on either the different world religions and/or the nature of religion itself?

WHY?
WHY NOT?

.​

Yes....on the AP/elective level, only for those who are interested.

But then, I'm a retired high school English teacher. I'm rather cynical about just how much teenagers would be interested in comparative religion as a class; either they are already well grounded in their own faiths, and will want (with the support of their parents) to argue with everybody, or else they don't have any experience with religion (parents either atheist or simply 'who gives a good hoot'?) and they'll either zone out or argue with everybody.

Just call me "Mrs. Curmudgeon."

(shrug) I'm for having religious classes available to high school students off campus and after school (or during school during 'release time,' for their OWN faiths, but comparative religion and religion in society? Wait for college. Preferably second year and up, when all the English 101 classes are out of the way.

THEN it should be a required class for all majors. IMO, of course.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

I shouldn't really have to explain but teaching kids about different religions broadens their minds and leads, hopefully, to less prejudice and more understanding and community cohesiveness.

I think you should probably calm down with the inherent assumptions you're building into your posts on this one.
I actually thought your first post was ironical humour (intentional) since you talked about Americans being dense in the same breath as talking about tolerance of other views, and there was certainly nothing in the OP other than a request for opinion.

But perhaps not.

Still, if you're up for the discussion, I outlined my reasons behind thinking it's probably better on balance NOT to be taught in public schools...
Let's Teach Religion To Teens In Public Schools

Happy to discuss further, if you're up for it.

 

[Rival]

1) for something to be added to the curriculum, something needs to be removed. Whilst I see learning about religions as valuable (and interesting, personally), I'm unsure what I'd r

Not the case here. We teach religious studies in all schools alongside all else.

2) More than most areas, it seems open to personal bias in terms of how it's ta

All subjects are open to bias. Subjects such as history and English literature for example.

3) people's understanding of religions is pretty awful (generally) and teachers (believe it or not) are people. I could see it causing as much harm/confusion as benefit. Like how looking at foreign countries seems like a good idea until you realise Holland is actually not a country, and not all Dutch folk wear wood

They should have the relevant degrees or other qualifications, as should all teachers.


Sorry I had to cut off your sentences. My phone wouldn't let me quote them if else.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Not the case here. We teach religious studies in all schools alongside all else.

Fair enough. It's still taking a 'slice of the pie' though. Worth is relative, in this case. I think religious education is worthy, in a silo, but am unsure on it's relative worth.

All subjects are open to bias. Subjects such as history and English literature for example.

Absolutely. However my opinion is that religion is more open than most. Even more than history, and that's saying something! But obviously that's entirely subjective.

They should have the relevant degrees or other qualifications, as should all teachers.

I'm a former primary teacher, and so perhaps coloured in my views due to that. I had teaching qualifications, and knew a lot about how people learn. I did not have specific qualifications in the myriad subject areas I had to teach.
(Heck, I was a psych major, so even my major wasn't directly related to specific content)

Sorry I had to cut off your sentences. My phone wouldn't let me quote them if else.

No dramas, I appreciate you responding to my thoughts!

 

[Rival]

I'm a former primary teacher, and so perhaps coloured in my views due to that. I had teaching qualifications, and knew a lot about how people learn. I did not have specific qualifications in the myriad subject areas I had to teach.

We had a special teacher come in to teach us R.E. I'm tipping that was her degree area.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

We had a special teacher come in to teach us R.E. I'm tipping that was her degree area.

Hope so.
Haven't seen it work that way in Australia. It was a Christian recruitment drive run by volunteers from local parishes.

 

[Rival]

Hope so.
Haven't seen it work that way in Australia. It was a Christian recruitment drive run by volunteers from local parishes.

I remember learning about Christianity; Islam; Hinduism and others. We celebrated Diwali once and it was great lol.

 

[Rival]

But schools should probably stay away from controversial subjects like religion and evolution. There are plenty of other less controversial subjects students can practice on. For controversial subjects the students can learn on their own.

Staying away from controversial subjects is exactly what's led to the snowflake generation that screams and yells and cries when their feelings are hurt. Teaching controversial things and encouraging debate is what school should be all about; teaching young people to think about things from another angle and another perspective instead of just saying 'this is this and that is that'.

By the way, not teach evolution in schools? That's crazy.