The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference 25th to 28 th August 2010 Challenging RE Poverty and Social Inclusion as European Issues Bruges, Belgium The interface between religion and school life Lesley Prior

Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference Inclusion and Exclusion How much tolerance do we tolerate? How do we deal with difference? How do we welcome the stranger?

Exploring the Issues through Story Listen to “John Brown, Rose and The Midnight Cat” by Jenny Wagner On your own, write down some questions you would like to ask about the story. Now work with a partner and compare and discuss your questions together. Select one key question which you would both like to discuss more fully. As a group, look at all the questions submitted and choose one from that selection to explore in detail. Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference

A Changing Europe? An increase in religious pluralism… An increase in secularisation… The implications for our communities, including our schools… Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference

Scenario One A Buddhist monk comes for an interview in a university and is accepted on a teacher training course He always wears his robes, never secular clothing What happens when he goes into a school for his teaching practice? Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference

Scenario Two A teacher is planning to take some pupils on a visit to a famous cathedral The visit forms an essential part of the programme of study for this particular class What happens when one of the parents finds out about the visit and complains about it? Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference

Scenario Three A Hindu has been working as a highly successful primary school teacher A post in a Roman Catholic Primary School is advertised which is at a higher grade What happens when the Hindu teacher submits an application for the post? Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference

Scenario Four A primary school in an inner city area has a reasonably large number of Muslim pupils The school offers a cooked lunch for all the children What happens when a Muslim parent begins a campaign for the lunch to be halal? Bruges: 25th-28thAugust 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference

Scenario Five A Jewish teacher is working in a non-Jewish secondary school The teacher is devout and has a strong faith commitment What happens when the teacher requests leave of absence during term time for the main Jewish holidays and festivals? Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference

Scenario Six A secondary school has a sizeable minority of Sikh pupils Many of the pupils wear some of the symbols of their faith, including head coverings and the traditional steel bracelet or kara What happens when there are PE lessons or other sporting activities? Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference

Scenario Seven A school is celebrating a significant anniversary with a ceremony which includes some elements of religious worship There are several atheist students who feel uncomfortable about this aspect of the ceremony What happens when they refuse to participate? Bruges: 25th-28th August 2010 The XIth EFTRE Tri-Annual Conference