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Wondering Pilgrim

~ the ramblings of a perambulent and often distracted sojourner

Wondering Pilgrim

Tag Archives: Christian Religious Education

The Golden Rule – how ubiquitous!

07 Tuesday Jun 2011

Posted by wonderingpilgrim in local politics, Personal

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Christian Religious Education, Golden Rule, postaday2011

“Treat others as you want them to treat you!” That’s the burden of this morning’s Christian Religious Education lesson emerging from the controversial (in Victoria) Access curriculum. Although a pithy sound bite from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, similar wisdom is found in sacred texts preceding Matthew 7:12 in Judaism, Buddhism and Confucianism as well as others that came after. There is not one major world belief system that does not replicate this aphorism in one way or another. Even those who profess no religious belief concur with the beneficent centrality and common sense of this call.

Anyhow, our task this morning is to compare the Golden Rule with our day to day rules in school and family to see the degree to which these reflect this ancient wisdom. We will probably discover that most rules have something to do with mutual safety and respect for one another. But I reckon the students will tell me that!

Now if we could only apply it in public life where controversy and debate over climate change, refugees, indigenous reconciliation and other stirry topics hold sway.

-31.911079 115.772731

Teach, don’t preach: how to do religion in schools – ABC Religion & Ethics – Opinion

25 Wednesday May 2011

Posted by wonderingpilgrim in local politics, Personal

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Christian Religious Education, postaday2011, Religion & Spirituality, school chaplaincy

I’ve made my own arguments along similar lines. Ronald Noone, chaplain at Melbourne Grammar, adds some interesting points that, in my view, have potential to de-polarise the debate and de-wedge the issue.

Teach, don’t preach: how to do religion in schools – ABC Religion & Ethics – Opinion.

-31.911079 115.772731

A CRE teacher reflects…

07 Monday Mar 2011

Posted by wonderingpilgrim in Personal, Wembley Downs

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Christian Religious Education, Education, postaday2011, religious instruction, western australia

I begin this year’s round of Christian Religious Education (CRE) classes at the local primary school tomorrow – this is in response to the national statutory permission for churches to negotiate access to Education Department schools for the purpose of “religious instruction” for 30 minutes per class per week.

The experience for a student is quite different from my day, when any untrained but enthusiastic volunteer could enter the classroom and give forth. I remember the dutiful but boring clergyman with the collar that came in and droned on from some book for half an hour. I also remember the delightful motherly woman who told great stories and knew how to engage and encourage us. We knew we mattered to her, collectively and individually.

To teach CRE today, one has to be trained to standards acceptable to the Education Department and observe a curriculum that is negotiated between the churches’ representative service provider and the school authorities. In Western Australia, the CRE curriculum works hand in hand with the values component of the school syllabus.

I experience more adrenalin stepping into a classroom than behind a pulpit. A classroom is a microcosm of the diversity and multiculturalism of our society and one can make no assumptions  about family background and experience. I do not have the luxury of assuming common motives and values where “religious education” is concerned yet there is the responsibility to assist each student along a learning pathway.  The 30 minute lesson strategy is to open up  for exploration a common experience – for example “What is it like to receive generosity? What is it like to offer generosity? What are situations where it might or might not apply?” We would then look at the contribution of the Christian tradition from Bible and people’s lives for further understanding. A period of ideas for application and reflection brings the session to a close. At such times I sometimes feel I receive more wisdom from the kids than what I impart.

The value of CRE is always under scrutiny by church and school alike. The school I serve is very supportive and considers CRE a valuable contributor to its ethos and educational philosophy. It is easy to rest on laurels in such a situation. At the age of 61, perhaps I should stop feeling nervous before entering a classroom – but if I did, I suspect that would be the time to quit teaching.

-31.911079 115.772731

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