Teaching Religion OR about Religion: The Paradox of Religious Education in Secondary Schools in Uganda

The article reviews the teaching of Religious Education in schools in Uganda. Uganda is a religiously pluralistic country with Christianity and Islam the most popular. Ugandans are theists, their worldview is religious and they are passionate about their faiths. Therefore, Religious Education is a fundamental subject since the early years of education as it marked the beginning of formal education in Uganda. However, whilst Uganda has a diversity of religions such as Christianity with its different sects, Islam and its sects, Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, the education system considers only Islam and Christianity. Therefore, the article discusses whether the teaching of Religious Education where only Christianity and Islam are considered is justified to be referred to as Religious Education. The article concludes that there is a mismatch between the NCDC (2008) stated goals, objectives and content of Religious Education. The objectives and goals portray a false image that RE is intended to expose learners and to achieve educational purposes. Yet, the content, approaches and teaching methods are quite contradictory. The implementation of RE in Uganda is purely confessional; it does not aim at educational goals but at deepening learners' faith distinctively. Instead of teaching about religion, learners are taught religion. The article is based on documentary analysis of the Religious Education curriculum, syllabi and teachers' and learners' handbook documents. In addition, the article analysed literature about the teaching of Religious Education including the aims and goals of Religious Education, the pedagogical approaches, methods and techniques in Religious Education in modern pluralistic communities. In identifying the appropriate literature, suitable databases were identified and used Boolean operators and proper search terms, phrases and conjunctions were used. To further ensure the credibility of the reviewed publications for analysis, only peer-reviewed journal articles with ISBN numbers and Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) were used

Teaching About Religion at the State University

In 1983 Robert N. Minor and Robert D. Baird wrote a piece for The Bulletin that discussed what it means to teach religion academically in a public university in the United States. By dismantling other popular notions of what it meant to teach religion in a public university—such as the inculcation of values despite the preference this method shows for one religious system over another—the authors illustrate the flaws in these pedagogical styles and ultimately propose a new purpose for teaching religion. This new purpose they highlight strives not to promote one value system over another, or to propose one way of doing religion is right or wrong, but to promote understanding among students by showcasing the individuality that exists within religious traditions.

‘Deep Learning’ in Studies of Religion and Worldviews in Norwegian Schools? The Implications of the National Curriculum Renewal in 2020

From 2020, the National Curriculum in Norway has been totally renewed for primary, secondary, and upper secondary education. This includes the introduction of such new concepts as ‘deep learning’ and ‘core elements’ in school education. In this article, we unpack the significance of the reform for studies in religion and worldviews in Norwegian schools. We explore continuities and changes by looking at general educational trends and debates and how they become significant, specifically for the study of religion and worldviews in schools. While the changes may stem from international trends, they have been formed in a Norwegian discourse that also draws on traditions from previous curricula. Three interdisciplinary topics have been introduced: ‘health and life skills’, ‘democracy and citizenship’, and ‘sustainable development’. Emphasis is placed on competence-oriented relevance and less on the traditional classroom learning of ‘facts’. Our research question is: Which continuities and which changes are found when comparing studies of religion and worldviews in the previous and the new curricula? Our hypothesis is that continuities stem from national traditions while incentives to change are connected to rapid social change that is also reflected in supranational developments in education. Our methodology is a contextual presentation and discussion of studies of religion and worldviews, where the context we are considering includes both national and international discourses. Our objective is to inform a broader audience about recent developments in the Norwegian school, as well as to bring together important elements in this reform in a focused discussion on the framework for studies of religion and worldviews in Norwegian schools today. We identify both continuity and change, along a subject-specific—general-educational policy axis and along a national-international axis. The continued relevance of teaching about religion and worldviews in schools is strengthened in the reform, because of the potential for significant contributions to general aims of education now reflected in ‘core elements’, including for continued development of a functioning democracy.

The Role of Guides Devised by the New Consensus Movement Proponents in Popularizing the Ideals of Religious Freedom in the U.S. Primary and Secondary Level Education

The mid-1980s saw a decisive shift in the approach to religious liberty in American educational system. The shift was the fruit of a concerted effort of numerous infl uential bodies – both political and religious – which subsequently led to the emergence of the new consensus on teaching about religion and religious liberty in public schools. One of the ways used to facilitate the implementation of the new consensus ideals in public education was the nationwide dissemination of informative materials (guides). Addressed primarily to school offi cials, teachers and parents, the guides outlined the constitutional and educational role of religion in the public school. The article analyzes a number of selected guides with respect to their religious liberty content. It also discusses the impact they exerted on the U.S. system of education at the primary and secondary school levels.

Students’ representation of “other” religions

With the unfortunate abundance of religious conflicts in the world, it is important that attention is devoted to how students position themselves in relation to religions they do not associate with. On this score, a section of scholarship in social studies education has examined students making meaning of religio-historical and contemporary happenings. Yet, questions relating to students’ representation of “other” religions remain underexplored. From the Ghanaian context where this study is situated, official curriculum mandates teaching about religion, however, little to no evidence exist to support a claim that students’ attitudes change after learning this curriculum. To explore the disconnect, a qualitative study of six Ghanaian elementary schools were conducted for a three-month period. Through interviews, observations focus groups and document analysis, students’ representation of “other religions” were examined. Research outcome revealed that, students mediate their lessons on religion through the lens of their own experiences and metanarratives of their individual faiths. Consequently, they hold two forms of knowledge – authentic official knowledge used for examination purposes and secularized cultural knowledge used in practice. It is concluded that, the vestiges of colonialism and emergent imperialism are deeply implicated in students’ discourses around religion. Therefore, the missing link between content knowledge and attitudinal change may be explained by the failure of pedagogy to acknowledge the impact of contextual happenings on the realization of curriculum objectives. A solution to this conundrum will be for educators to connect academic knowledge to the out-of-school socio-cultural experiences of students

Teaching and talking about religion: strategies for teacher educators

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to outline arguments for addressing religion in social studies teacher education, including strategies teacher educators might use on how and why pre-service teachers should incorporate teaching about religion in their classes. Topics addressed are: issues surrounding pre-service teachers’ religious identities; teaching pre-service teachers about legal issues associated with religion in public school classrooms (e.g. teaching about religion vs teaching for religion, First Amendment rights and constraints); teacher education’s role in developing religious knowledge and the influence of religion in the disciplines that comprise the social studies; and an overview of strategies and resources that teacher educators can use with their pre-service teachers. Design/methodology/approach This paper provides a literature review and arguments for addressing religion in social studies teacher education. A lesson plan and resources for teacher educators are also provided. Findings Teaching and talking about religion can no longer be marginalized or ignored within social studies teacher education. Whether it be the importance of pre-service teachers’ religious identities, legal issues related to public schooling or the influence of religion across the social studies disciplines – religion matters to social studies teacher education. As the current social, political and cultural realities attest, the influence of religion appears to be more and more significant in our interconnected and interdependent world. Originality/value Religious literacy is a key part of civic competence and if social studies is viewed as a way to help prepare a more informed citizenry – and a way to teach and promote dialogue across difference – then social studies teacher educators must find a way to include religion in their courses. By doing so, teacher educators encourage pre-service teachers to examine how religious identity may influence their teaching, and also help develop religious literacy and an understanding of how religion is integral to the various social studies disciplines. Ultimately, this important and often ignored work in teacher education may foster cultural understandings that will lead to a more informed and respectful society.

Beyond hijabs and Ramadan

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe an integrated social studies and literacy unit designed to teach about Islam in elementary classrooms. Concerns regarding teaching about religion in public schools are addressed, and a rationale is provided for specifically teaching about Islam. Design/methodology/approach The unit is described in detail, outlining key ideas and purposes for the unit’s scope, sequence and activities. Several extensions to the unit are included, as well as suggestions on how to address difficult topics that might arise. Findings Students participating in this unit exhibited interest and curiosity about Islam and Muslims, indicated by their desire to ask questions, discuss issues and engage in the activities. Reflections at the end of the unit indicate that students learned new information and ideas about Islam and Muslims. Practical implications The unit described in this paper as well as the resources and suggestions provide a framework for teachers who want to teach about Islam to elementary-aged children. Originality/value Although there are a number of articles in the literature that address ideas on teaching about Islam or other religions in the classroom, there are few that provide practical, specific, pedagogical information for doing so, particularly at the elementary level. This paper strives to contribute toward that aim.

Tell us a story: teaching religion with picturebooks

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present a method to incorporate teaching about religion into K–12 social studies classes. A central tenet of social studies education is preparing students to be engaged citizens, and religious literacy is essential to this. Yet, teachers often feel uncomfortable teaching about religion. One way to approach this is by centering discussion about religion around understanding who our neighbors are. Design/methodology/approach This paper employs the Inquiry Design Model to outline lessons for early, middle and upper grades, each centered around the compelling question, “Who are my Muslim neighbors?” Beginning with a picturebook depicting a Muslim American child, the lessons explore supporting questions with academically appropriate sources, culminate with an evidence-based response to the compelling question and suggest an opportunity for students to take informed action. Findings While religion does not appear in many social studies standards, teaching about religion has strong connections to civics standards. In an increasingly diverse USA, students need to understand the beliefs and religious behaviors of their neighbors and how those traditions provide a sense of belonging within the faith community. This paper provides the necessary tools for teachers to teach this content. In addition to teaching these as outlined here, teachers can also select resources from across the three units in order to customize an inquiry for a particular group of students. Originality/value Teachers are often hesitant to teach about religion. This paper offers a concrete method for doing so. Incorporating religion into social studies classes is necessary for preparing students for civic engagement.

Secondary teacher candidates’ experiences teaching about religion within a history curriculum

Purpose The National Council for the Social Studies (2014, 2017) has called for increased attention to religion in social studies curriculum. A small but growing body of research has examined the preparation of social studies teacher candidates to teach about world religions, but critical questions remain. The purpose of this paper is to explore the question: what is the experience of the secondary social studies teacher candidate as he/she teaches about religion in a high school, world history course? Design/methodology/approach This study employed a phenomenological approach to examine the experiences of six teacher candidates as they endeavored to teach about world religions through a two-semester, intensive internship. Findings Findings, drawn from individual interviews with the candidates, suggest that their efforts to teach about religion were marked by fears, worries and concerns. Additionally, candidates understood their personal religious identities and experiences as significant influences on their experience teaching about religion. Finally, candidates experienced several features of their internship as key supports in their efforts to teach about religion. Originality/value This paper concludes with a series of recommendations for strengthening the preparation of social studies teacher candidates to teach about religion in public school settings.

ENSINO RELIGIOSO LAICO: UM OLHAR COMPLEXO E TRANSDISCIPLINAR

O presente ensaio aborda questões epistemológicas do Ensino Religioso no Brasil tendo como aporte teórico o paradigma da complexidade de Edgar Morin e a abordagem transdisciplinar. Até o presente o Ensino Religioso público é tratado de modo ambíguo pelos sistemas de ensino do país, atuando tanto para a formação geral do cidadão quanto para a filiação religiosa de Igrejas. Tal situação torna a disciplina frágil e vulnerável à crítica por parte daqueles que defendem o estatuto do Estado laico e o ensino positivista. Entretanto, parece-nos que não se trata de excluir o ensino sobre a religião de dentro da escola, mas de contornar os seus limites através de novos paradigmas. Desta forma, acreditamos que a emergência do paradigma de complexidade e a abordagem transdisciplinar na educação podem ajudar o Ensino Religioso a redimensionar os seus limites e a sua prática em vista do ensino laico e o respeito à diversidade cultural religiosa do Brasil. LAY RELIGIOUS TEACHING: A COMPLEX AND TRANSDISCIPLINARY LOOK This essay addresses epistemological issues of religious education in Brazil with theoretical contribution of the paradigm of complexity of Edgar Morin and the transdisciplinary approach. Til up to date the public religious education is treated so ambiguous by the education systems of the country, acting both for general formation of citizens as to the religious affiliation of churches. Such a situation makes the discipline fragile and vulnerable to criticism from those who argue for the status of the secular State and the positivist school. However, it seems to us that this is not to exclude the teaching about religion in school, but to go round its limits through new paradigms. In this way, we believe that the emergence of the paradigm of complexity and the transdisciplinary approach in education can help the Religious Teaching to give another dimension to its limits and practice in order of lay Teaching and respect to the cultural and religious diversity in Brazil.