1. Public Education, Religion & Teaching About Islam
João Bichinho

2. Why Religious Education Focus?
Initial interest in comparing integration patterns between European and American Muslims
Research on models/forms of education about Islam and for Muslims
Why Religious Education (RE) in the modern era? In Europe and the U.S.? About Islam?

4. Models of Religious Education I
Strict separation of religion and state
United States (in France, laicité)
Abington v. Schempp (1963): school prayer
Justices nonetheless encouraged teaching about religion
Suggested schools use “objective pedagogy”
Existing standards (NCSS) and curricular recommendations
Current: vouchers & public “scholarships” for private (including religious) schools

5. Models of Religious Education II
“Separative” (education into/for)
Separated according to religious tradition and learn about own
Teacher “authorized” by religious community
A “right” – not usually compulsory
Germany, Austria, parts of Switzerland, Belgium, Netherlands
Difficulty in finding adequate Muslim teaching staff

6. Models of Religious Education III
“Integrative” (education “about”)
Heterogeneous groups in one class
Usually compulsory
Great Britain, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands
Broad consensus that it must not emphasize any particular religion

7. Model’s Evolution in Sweden
Study of kristendom (Christianity)
Kristendomskunskap (knowledge about Christianity) in 1962
Religionskunskap (knowledge about religion) in late 1960’s
Human Questions In The Face Of Life And Existence And Knowledge About Religion in 1980

8. Sweden
Back to religionskunskap in 1994, but with broad livsaskadning (view of life) concept
Partly a response to growing diversity, including Muslim (over 5% of population in 2010)
Framework: focus on ethical questions, w/ study of religious AND non-religious interpretations of life
Includes socialism, the scientific world view, and existentialism
Seen as a prerequisite for forming one’s own worldview
Emancipatory – encourages students to form own views

9. Why Swedish model? Plural, inclusive framework
Study of Islam given equal status with other religions and worldviews
IF compulsory, study of Islam (with all its complexities and diversity) introduced to all public school students
Focus on ethical questions well suited to learning about Islam
Livsaskadning could work as a hermeneutical key to study religious OR non-religious phenomena
Centralized structure (curriculum) avoids local distortions of intent

10. Questions & Obstacles A national model???? Local resistance
Cultural resistance
Compulsory subject/graduation standard?
Teacher training
Legal challenges