In this
important booklet, Penny Thompson argues that the law on Religious Education that applies to schools that teach the Agreed Syllabus
has been widely misunderstood and that it is time a new course was set for the subject.
Beginning with a review of the history of legislation concerning the subject
(which goes back to the beginning of state education in 1870) she shows how
certain basic features of the law as it is today are in line with provisions
set up at this time, with important modifications. RE has always been understood as part of the educational
endeavour of the school but with certain differences from other subjects in how
it is determined and in the rights of parents to withdraw their children. The 1988 Education Reform Act strengthened
many of the 1944 provisions in the light of a general feeling that RE had declined
and was in danger of being further marginalized with the advent of the National
Curriculum. A new phrase was added to
the law that was intended to allow for the teaching of Christianity to be the
norm but with provision for teaching in other faiths where significant numbers
of non- Christian children were present in a school or class. Following the passing of the ERA, a quite
different interpretation was given to the law.
This stated that every syllabus should include teaching of the other
principal religions represented in the country. This interpretation has become the norm in the profession. Penny
Thompson’s booklet is an attempt to assess whether this interpretation is legal
and argues that for legal, educational and moral reasons there is cause to
recover the original interpretation and change the course of RE.
Contact address:
Mrs Penny Thompson, 14 Chestnut
Avenue, Crosby, Liverpool L23 2SZ
Email: pennyt@telinco.co.uk
Website : www.angelfire.com/pe/pennyt/
