Teaching kids Religion in schools, is it mandatory?

[Titanic]

If anyone is seriously interested in a discussion about Christianity, it is almost certainly best done face to face.

There are many good churches (cue anecdotes about bent vicars, thieving Churchwardens, etc.. etc..) in Sussex who would be only to pleased to see you - either on a Sunday, or perhaps at an Alpha course (which has been specifically designed for the enquiring mind!).

If you just want to wind people up on the internet - well whatever turns you on, I suppose, but I can't see the point of doing that myself.

 

[Marc]

If you just want to wind people up on the internet - well whatever turns you on, I suppose, but I can't see the point of doing that myself.

before you even THINK about "you know what" it was'nt....again! I asked a normal question its everyone else whos taken it off topic

 

[Tom Bombadil]

No-one said anything about you, certainly not me. Don't be such a girlie! Where does it say anything about you?

I was talking about previous experiences with people such as Phaedrus, who listed about 6 facts in one statement, all of which were simply wrong.

But i'm the one you were answering. It's not a huge logical jump to assume you include me among your people with no real understanding.

Anyway I'm with Bertrand on this. Religion is based on fear.

I'm an agnostic by the way. I don't believe god exists but there's no way I can be sure.

 

[rool]

Ignoring the discussion whether we agree with it or not, I seem to remember being told when I was at school (a couple of years ago) that it was compulsory as the church helped the schools out a long time ago with furniture and stuff.

 

[Titanic]

Crabbers - I wasn't thinking about 'you know what'

I answered your original question with what I thought might be some useful info on the National Curriculum and government policy on RE in schools. I hope it helps.

 

[Marc]

Crabbers - I wasn't thinking about 'you know what'

I answered your original question with what I thought might be some useful info on the National Curriculum and government policy on RE in schools. I hope it helps.

yeah saw that thanks, already passed onto my mate

 

[Juan Albion]

But i'm the one you were answering. It's not a huge logical jump to assume you include me among your people with no real understanding.

I don't follow that. I wasn't aware that you had said anything remotely controversial that I could possibly take issue with so far. Frankly, I would have described you as fairly anonymous on this thread so far and hardly worthy of any form of singling out. I have no problem with anyone who voices other opinions if they are properly thought out.

 

[Titanic]

I've done a bit more searching for info on the West Sussex Agreed Syllabus, but I can't find that doc on the web.

This report, from the council that monitors and regulates RE for WSCC (SACRE) also has some interesting info - and suggests that the curriculum was recently reviewed (2003) and will be published to schools shortly.

http://wsgfl.westsussex.gov.uk/navigation/category.jsp?categoryID=169239&g11n.enc=UTF-8

 

[Schrödinger's Toad]

I don´t really see the point of debating the truth of The Bible, or the existence of God, because you will always come up against a brick wall - it will always come down to a question of faith, something you either have or don´t. This is the problem with debating religion - it´s a wholly subjective issue, no-one can be right or wrong except in their own eyes.

 

[Theatre of Trees]

Spare a thought for us teachers who are told they have to teach the subject whether they like it or not.

 

[dougdeep]

I don´t really see the point of debating the truth of The Bible, or the existence of God, because you will always come up against a brick wall - it will always come down to a question of faith, something you either have or don´t. This is the problem with debating religion - it´s a wholly subjective issue, no-one can be right or wrong except in their own eyes.

Well said.

 

[Fluffster]

R.E. at Kings Manor was great, we got a different Simpsons episode every week

 

[Juan Albion]

I don´t really see the point of debating the truth of The Bible, or the existence of God, because you will always come up against a brick wall - it will always come down to a question of faith, something you either have or don´t. This is the problem with debating religion - it´s a wholly subjective issue, no-one can be right or wrong except in their own eyes.

Seems a sensible enough comment on the surface, but really it is pretty narrow.

If you are only going to debate things that have 'scientific proof' then I guess that rules out anything based on opinion, such as whether Charlie Oatway should start in midfield, whether rap is crap, or who should get kicked out of the BB house. How boring that would be. Each of these is "a wholly subjective issue, no-one can be right or wrong except in their own eyes" but we do it all the time.

 

[Dancin Ninja BHA]

My sons are at a church school and they are taught aspects of all religions - good idea as well as gives a broader outlook

I went to a C of E primary school and we sang hyms (sp) everyday and did alot of RE......waste of time, gained nowt from it

 

[Bwian]

At CArdinal Newman you HAVE to do it cos its a catholic school, I think its f***ing rediculas though cos our school cannot provide enough books for everybody! They only have about 25 bibles to go around for over 1000 students! Last year (year 10 for me) for RE I had 1 decent teacher, then she changed class because another group in my year was miles behind cos the teacher was shit, so we got the shit teacher, he left at the end of term, we had a supply teacher for a month who didn't have a clue what we had to do and now we have this teacher who also hasn't got a clue about what is going on!

Im now predicted a G n my RE GCSE because of it. f***ing Ridiculas.

At a schools like Falmer of Hove Park, it is optional/

These teachers of whom you speak-are they/were they your English teachers too?

I'd worry about the NFG you're going to get for English rather than the 'G' for RE if I were you

 

[Scotty Mac]

it was compulsory at oakmeeds as well - and we did an exam in it. it only counts for half a gcse, but it was an easy one to get

and i loved doing re at school. once into year 10 and 11 it just got better and better. but they maybe because the greatest teacher ever taught us it - the legendary peter wilmore

 

[Robbie G]

R.S (religious studies) was the exam we took Scott, but the school seem to use the name R.E.

R.E with Mr Wood was legendary for two years - especially as he looks and sounds like Alan Partridge

 

[Scotty Mac]

R.S (religious studies) was the exam we took Scott, but the school seem to use the name R.E.

R.E with Mr Wood was legendary for two years - especially as he looks and sounds like Alan Partridge

he doesn't look and sound like alan partridge - he is alan partridge

but wilmore was the best - his bushy eyebrows, his charming smile, his combover. and the way he would pause the tv every 2 minutes to tell you what would happen next.

 

[¡Cereal Killer!]

These teachers of whom you speak-are they/were they your English teachers too?

I'd worry about the NFG you're going to get for English rather than the 'G' for RE if I were you

I'm actually predicted a B in English. (somehow)

I'm just lazy sometimes when it gets to typing.

I actually think it is stupid that English coursework is allowed to be done on the computer actually, with Microsoft Word, it has a spell checker and a grammar checker and the student isn't working by themselfs, students also use the internet to copy homework aswell (not saying that I do that, much).

edit - Where I say much, that means I admit to have copied of the internet ONCE OR TWICE (although changing smal parts of it) but that was when I was in year 7 or 8 and it didnt mean much and I hated the subject I was doing (mostly DT and French)

What I do when I find I am REALLY struggling is, I go online to find something that helps me, read it, and then put it into my own word, word by word. I do not count that as cheating.

 

[Scotty Mac]

students also use the internet to copy homework aswell (not saying that I do that, much).