Full Description
Although Religious Education (RE) is a legal requirement in UK schools, it is an oft-neglected and misunderstood subject. It is important to seriously re-think this key subject at this time of low religious literacy and rising extremism, to protect communities from the consequences of hatred and misunderstanding. This book promotes a public discussion of what exactly is needed from a new model of RE within our education system to benefit wider society.
In this edited collection, the chapters are diverse and future-facing, informed by theory and practice and written by a variety of key leading practitioners and emerging national leaders in RE. It covers the most pressing and urgent issues for RE such as hate speech, educational reform, and the weakening of moderate religious institutions. Linking the chapters together with recurring themes and joining passages, the editors create a flowing and coherent discussion about the state of RE and offer choices and routes for readers to consider in terms of its future course.
Contents
Contributor bios; Foreword - Linda Woodhead MBE, University of Lancaster; Introduction - Mike Castelli, Association of University Lecturers in RE and Mark Chater, Culham St Gabriel's Trust, Oxford; PART I. Context; 1. Time to Abandon RE: Ditching an Out-of-date Solution to an Out-of-date Problem - Clive Lawton, Former Chair of the Shap Working Party of World Religions in Education; 2. A European Perspective: How Educational Reforms Influence the Place and Image of RE - Peter Schreiner, Comenius-Institut, Germany; 3. Why We Need Legislative Change, and How We Can Get It - Mark Chater; 4. RE and the Knowledge Problem - Richard Kueh, Farmington Institute, Harris Manchester College, Oxford; 5. The Future of Catholic RE - Andrew Lewis, St Bonaventure's School, London; 6. RE-dressing the Balance - Gillian Georgiou, Diocesan Education Team, Lincoln and Kathryn Wright, Culham St Gabriel's, Oxford; 7. Towards a Core Integrity for RE - Sushma Sahajpal, Connectar Creative Education, Buckinghamshire; Part II. Futures; 8. Making the Case for More Demanding RE - Mary Myatt, education advisor, Wales; 9. Principles and Procedures for Classroom Dialogue - Mike Castelli; 10. Facing the Strange - Phil Champain, Three Faiths Forum, London; 11. RE as a Safe space for Discussing Unsafe Ideas - Neil McKain, Pipers Corner School, High Wycombe; 12. The Role of Religious Education in Addressing Extremism - Adam Whitlock, Ark Burlington Danes Academy, London; 13. Faith Communities as Stakeholders in RE: A Commitment to Generous Hospitality - Derek Holloway, The Church of England Education Office, London; 14. Does Research Matter in the Religious Education Classroom? - Dawn Cox, Manning Tree High School, Essex; 15. The 'Digital Turn': What does RE Teachers' Online Engagement Mean for RE CPD? - James Robson, Culham St Gabriel's Trust and Oxford University Department of Education; Index
