The Netherlands has a unique dual education system. The government funds both public and private schools. Parents have much freedom to set up schools to realize their religious ideals. The freedom of education enshrined in the Dutch Constitution is controversial. The question has arisen as to whether the government should fund private schools.…

Professional ideals arise from personal worldviews and specify teachers' professional identities. This study aimed to explore how faith is present in the professional ideals of Christian teachers. The professional ideals of 107 Dutch teachers from conservative Protestant primary and secondary schools were explored using an open-ended…

This article reflects on the place of RE in a pillarised education context, taking into account the fact of religious diversity and pluralisation among the school population on the one hand, and the freedom of religion and education of faith-based schools on the other. Particular attention will be given to Belgium and the Netherlands, which do not…

Analysis of key Dutch, Anglo-American, and Germany literature on Christian schools identified different conceptions of their identity: one-dimensional (purely religious); multidimensional (education influenced by but not dependent on Christian worldview); abstract universal versus concrete/contextual; and static versus dynamic. Conceptions did not…

Responds to a pro-religious article by de Ruyter on Christian schools in a pluralistic society, suggesting that de Ruyter is unrealistic in many of his recommendations and conclusions and noting that while de Ruyter appears to be building a rather generous defense for the infusion of Christian schools in a democracy, the defense incorporates…

Presents a study that focuses on how religious education is addressed by Muslim and evangelical Christian schools in England and The Netherlands. Explains that some schools keep religious teaching separate from the rest of the curriculum, while others integrate it into all aspects of the curriculum. Includes references. (CMK)

Discusses whether separate Christian schools are defensible in a pluralistic, liberal democracy, presenting the perspective of Christian parents and assuming that these parents want their children to attend separate Christian schools. The paper argues that Christian education and separate Christian schools can be compatible with civic education…

Responds to a pro-religious article on Christian schools in a pluralistic society (the Netherlands), examining religious education in North America and the education of religious teachers. The paper emphasizes the creation of two distinct school systems in the U.S. and Canada which evolved from Catholic perceptions that public education was not…

Replies to two authors who commented on an article about Christian schools in a pluralistic society. The paper focuses on four questions and comments from both of the commentaries related to spirituality and religious education. It also discusses the issue of educating for critical thinking and defends the original article's central ideas and…