ERIC Number: ED368625
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1994
Pages: 11
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Teaching Religion in the Public Schools.
Ediger, Marlow
This paper argues that religion should be taught as a separate class in the public schools. Reasons for teaching religion include: (1) religious believes affect human behavior in strong observable ways; (2) churches abound in number throughout the United States; (3) different religions tend to teach a somewhat common core of values while values and morality are neglected greatly in the public school curriculum; (4) a study of religion is classical in nature and possesses values for its own sake; (5) religious views express a culture; (6) expressions from holy books abound in society; and (7) holy books contain content on selected academic disciplines such as geography, history, literature, economics, sociology, and anthropology. An interdisciplinary curriculum may be emphasized in teaching units of study on major religions on the planet earth. In discussing the qualifications for teachers, the article suggests that teachers for religion courses should be of the highest caliber with a major in philosophy and religion. Teachers of religion classes must be objective in presenting content as well as in answering questions. Continuous inservice education is needed for each teacher in being truthful and fair about each religion being taught. Teachers need to guide students to identify and solve problems in the area of religions. Teachers of secondary level religion classes should attempt to select key ideas pertaining to each unit taught. Ethnocentrism results when students do not understand religious beliefs of others. Public school students need ample opportunities to experience relevant objectives, learning opportunities, and appraisal procedures on religion. (DK)
Publication Type: Opinion Papers
Education Level: N/A
Audience: Teachers; Policymakers; Practitioners
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A