Should Sacred Studies be part of a general public school curricula

In the UK Religious Studies is compulsory for 4 years, it is a core subject.The biggest problem with trying to teach it as a compulsory subject is that many pupils have a very negative conception of what the subject is. For too long Religious Education was seen as nothing more than an extension of Sunday School lessons and that all RE teachers were bible thumpin Christians. Nowadays, since RE has now opened up a little to teach about other faiths, there is some change in attitude. However, if a school is located in a deprived area, the chances are that RE will be a subject that the pupils will not see any value in.World Faiths are extremely interesting for many adults, but for most 11-16 year olds it isn't their favourite subject.To illustrate how little the average pupil knows about RE, whenever I tell a class that I am an atheist the usual response is '"how can you be an RE teacher if you are an atheist?"Brian.

Hi EZ,This is a very good point: In Scotland we teach ABOUT world religions, normally 5 different faiths. Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, Islam and Buddhism. When you are on teaching training it is emphasised that there is to be no conversional teaching. If you are caught promoting one faith as being more reliable or 'truthful' than another, you will be warned about it, and, if it continues, you will be out of a job.It is a good point because if the educators don't respect all faiths then how do we expect the pupils to respect them?Brian.

Hi Rosie,This is a somewhat strange statement: It isnt atheists who are upset at religions being taught, we are all for studying the world's religions. The peole who get upset are normally various different flavours of Christians,. They get upset because they want only Christianity taught in schools.The only pupils that I have ever seen withdrawn from religious studies are two children who are Jehovah's Witnesses. I have heard of other Christians asking the school to excuse their children from Religious Studies, but in my direct experience no athiest parent has asked for their child to be withdrawn from RME.Brian.

And what is your experience of teaching religious education?

Hi,Well these things you highlight are nothing to do with teaching religious education, which was what I was on about.So you dont have any direct exprience of atheists complaining about religious education being taught in schools?Brian.

Hey Charles,Have you ever considered retraining as an RME teacher, I think you would be an excellent recruit!

Why?