Following our class on Friday I started to think about whether or not religion should be discussed in the classroom. It has a huge potential to lead to a heated discussion that is not just unproductive, but hurtful to some. Yet, religion is a part of every ones life, even if you are not religious, atheist or agnostic. Should religion really be left to the side because we as educators are afraid of the consequence of bringing it into our classroom. As a future bio teacher I will teach evolution, therefore I will bring into question religious beliefs even if I don't want to. I think it is also important to discuss religion, the more people understand each other the more respectful they tend to be towards each other.
As my classmates I want to know if you think religion should be brought into the classroom or not and if so what is the best way of approaching this?
Cheers, Tara
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I don't believe that a religious stance should be taken in the class, unless you are at a religious school of some sort, of course. I do however think that especially in English, Science and Socials classes if we are open to discussions and student input the topic of religion will come up.
ReplyDeleteI took a few EDCI courses a few years ago and this topic of religion in the classroom came up over and over. I am not from a religious background, my family is loosely Catholic so I know what to say in church but that's pretty much it. I have taken enough English classes to have a decent understanding of the Bible in a literature sense but I was definitely totally in the dark when it came to other world religions.
On that note I have a book that I whole heartedly recommend to all of you that are concerned with your knowledge of religions: Stephen Prothero's Religious Literacy: What every American Needs to Know-- and Doesn't.
It's a great read, not textbook-y at all. I learned about it when the author was interviewed on the Daily Show, so you know it's going to be entertaining and readable. Anyways, if you are at all concerned about having your facts straight when you talk about religions in the classroom, or are worried about offending/misunderstanding students in your classroom that practice religions you don't know much about it's a great book!
I do not think that religion should be a taboo subject in the classroom. Religion is an important part of life outside the classroom and has impacts in many different areas. Schools do not exist within a vacuum and it is important to discuss all aspects of the world outside the classroom. I think it is important to be sure that as teachers we do not in any way push one religious view or show discrimination between religions. Despite this, I think it is important to recognize religion as a factor outside of the classroom and to allow discussion around religious topics when they are appropriate within the classroom. It is a very tricky topic to engage in without offending anyone.
ReplyDeleteIt seems like we all agree that religion should be a topic that that is acceptable in the classroom, so long as it doesn't carry connotations of conversion or superiority.
ReplyDeleteThat having been said, I don't think that we should be complacent with a topic like this. Just because we have to tread lightly doesn't mean that we can't think critically. For example, I like the idea of teaching evolution in biology, but also addressing religious views surrounding it. I think that religious pressure to ban evolution theory would ease if the arguments behind creation theory were explained as well. Even if a child isn't religious, they should understand what religion means to those who are. Lack of comprehension is how a lot of prejudice gets started.
Additionally, there is a lot of good literary material in religious texts that has real merit even outside of the theological realm. The bible is a good book of short parables, and Islam has some incredible epics. When we teach the Odyssey in Grade 8, parents don't pull their children out of school because an alternate concept of god(s) is presented in it. Should dead religions be the only ones we can study in school?
It's important to keep Aboriginal education in mind when we discuss the topic of religion in the classroom. Our classrooms are multicultural and many religions will be present. Religion is probably one of the best topics we can bring in to our classrooms as educators. It's true that it may cause a heated debate but shouldn't we offer a safe environment for debate? I have to agree with Moss and I will include religion in my classes in order to prevent conversion or superiority in religion.
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