The Andrews Government made significant changes to the conditions surrounding Special Religious Instruction (SRI) in state primary schools last year removing the program from the structured curriculum.
At present, there is no formal education about religion in secondary schools in the current Ausvels curriculum, although it is slowly emerging as a focus in the Humanities.
Government schools are secular and have been so since 1872 and the Australian Education Act (2006) has precluded instruction inone singular religion in schools.
Consequently, there is antipathy from secular institutions to broach anything to do with religion and spirituality in schools as far as it deals with educating children and young people.
Despite the prohibition of the inculcation into a singular faith or religion in government schools in Victoria, government schools are obligated to cater to a wide audience of students from diverse cultural, socio-economic backgrounds and multi-faith perspectives.
It is now incumbent on teachers to expose students to a variety of ideologies, faiths, traditions and philosophies, yet the extent to which this is taking place points to a serious omission.
One aspect of this education is the focus on the development of young people as holistic learners.
The Melbourne Declaration on Education Goals for Young Australians (2008) declared in its charter that the spiritual component of learning isimportant in developing young Australians as holistic learners together with their emotions, their moral, social, intellectual and physical development:
"Schools play a vital role in promoting the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, moral, spiritual and aesthetic development of young Australians..." The Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs says in the declaration.
"Schools share this responsibility with students, parents, carers, families, the community, businesses and other education providers."
This document underpins the background and philosophy behind the Australian Curriculum and was developed in Melbourne for Victorian government and non-government schools. The Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairsin 2008, established key educational goals to ensure high-quality education for Australian schooling.
From the research across Catholic and Independent schools, together with the Christian Research Association, there has been sufficient devotion to projects geared towards child and adolescent spirituality, because of the significance this investigation poses to the religious and spiritual life of its students in these schools.
This is not the case in state government schools in Victoria, especially when our politicians do not prioritise spirituality as a worthwhile pursuit in an already overcrowded curriculum.
Exploring other viable approaches in the classroom may make it possible for spirituality to become a recognisable and worthwhile pursuit.
I am suggesting that spirituality can find a place across the curriculum and not taught as a stand-alone subject.
The focus is not on educating about spirituality but finding avenues where students and teachers explore issues of meaning, understanding existential concerns around hope in a perilous world and the development of ones worldview.
Incorporating spiritual approaches to learning across the curriculum can be achieved through a tethered approach, which is the exploration of world view perspectives from the major religions, and one that is untethered and more humanistic, focusing on the intrinsic aspect of individuals.
At present in literature, there is scope for students to learn about texts by analysing and interpreting layers of meaning and acquiring an understanding of divergent viewpoints.
In the visual arts, students learn to grapple with a range of ideas that influence the meaning behind art works and learn to develop a repertoire of their own ideas that inspire their own work.
The humanities provides avenues for exploring the belief of ultimate reality, meaning and purpose and the relationship between what people believe and ultimate reality also from a secular, rationalist perspective.
An important consideration is to understand how educationalists can incorporate both tethered and untethered approaches in their education of students that take into account their backgrounds and worldviews.
It is anticipated that these approaches gain currency in secular state schools across Victoria, Australia with the implementation of the National Curriculum.
An untethered approach to education renders itself to a more contemplative style, where students become self-reflective learners cultivating their inner space.
This is also understood as a way of being in education as an intrinsic element to who we are, influencing ones teaching style and composure in the classroom.
Drawing on the contemplative educational approaches, teachers could develop a greater sense of presence by becoming calmer and clearer and relate to students with more intuition, wisdom and compassion and becoming contemplative role models for their students.
The physical environment needs to be conducive to learning and one that is aesthetically pleasing, including spaces for quiet concentration, solitude and social interaction.
Other practical approaches may involve breathing techniques, visualisations, sensory awareness, observing thoughts and relation techniques.
When it comes to cognitive based learning approaches, spiritual contemplation may also involve in depth reflection on existential questions, which are of a philosophical or religious nature.
For teachers to develop their inner lives, provisions need to be made where they can work together on their personal and spiritual growth and to develop an experiential understanding of what it means to be present in the here and now.
Teachers need to be open to what students are communicating and display a genuine respect for the student and compassion in the way they treat their students.
The curriculum needs to be implemented in such a way as to nourish the students sense of purpose and meaning, so it should function in an integrative and holistic manner.
Part of fostering meaning, purpose and hope may also include an appreciation for diversity, the balance between the students physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual needs and a high degree of sensitivity expressed to students which takes account of individual differences.
Continued here:
Beyond religious education - evoking spirituality in the classroom - EducationHQ New Zealand
- Book Excerpt: One Song - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Book Review: The Mitten Tree - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Book Review: The Monkey with a Bright Blue Bottom - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Book Review: Mama, Will It Snow Tonight? - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- Book Review: There's No Such Thing as Monsters! - November 7th, 2009 [November 7th, 2009]
- DVD Feature Film Review: Perestroika - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- DVD Feature Film Review: Nothing Like the Holidays - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Spiritual Literacy Blog: Must We Have Bad Music in Public Spaces? - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Angels and Dragons - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: A Soul's Journey - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Review: A Book of Hours - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: A Book of Hours - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: Storm - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: Skin - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: The Anger Diet - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Newsletter: October 31, 2009: The Abbot Who Declared The Hall Is Finished - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Suffering and the Courage of God - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Life-Changing Affirmations - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- DVD Feature Film Review: The Answer Man - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- DVD Feature Film Review: The Dead - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Five Voices, Five Faiths - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- DVD Feature Film Review: Lemon Tree (Etz Limon) - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- DVD Documentary Film Review: Unmistaken Child - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- DVD Documentary Film Review: Food, Inc. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: The Workplace Revolution - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Journeys of Courage - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: The Men Who Stare at Goats - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: The Gift of Prayer - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: That Evening Sun - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: The Box - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Relax and Melt into a deep deep meditative state. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Symptoms of Anxiety - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Nonduality And Spirituality---Enlightenment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- How Not to Stop Anxiety Attacks---Part 1 - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Natural Treatment for Anxiety disorders--Antidote anxiety - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- What to do When Anxiety Attacks--Antidote Anxiety - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Spiritually charged metaphysical spiritual quote - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Release Technique & Non Duality& Law of attraction - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- NonDuality & Manifestation - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- All Is One, One is All !! - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Worrying about Anxiety---Antidote Anxiety - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Free course on Conquering Anxiety - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Manifesting Prosperity,Love manifesting,Dream Manifesting - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stress and Anxiety Relief Treatment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Stress and Anxiety Reduction with Brainwave entrainment - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- How to Remove feeling of Fear and Anxiety - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Relieve Stress:Financial Troubles, Low Self Esteem - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Meditation, Enlightenment & Paradox - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- False beliefs and Emotional Healing to develop emotional intelligence - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Millionaire Mind- Meditations Manifesting Abundance - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Three Essential requirements to learn Self Hypnosis Quickly - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Non duality and manifestation--Law of attraction - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Law of Attraction-- Manifesting Wealth Beyond Reason - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- The Secret Busted--- Flaws of the Secret. - November 8th, 2009 [November 8th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Web of Silence - December 12th, 2009 [December 12th, 2009]
- Living Spiritual Teachers Project: Byron Katie - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: Before Tomorrow - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Sadhu Sundar Singh - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Spiritual Literacy Blog: We May Be Born with an Urge to Help - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: Everybody's Fine - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: Brothers - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: Gigante - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: When People Grieve - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: The Light and Fire of the Baal Shem Tov - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: The Last Station - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Feature Film Review: Up in the Air - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Learning to Pray - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Beyond Absence - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Ecology & Liberation - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Feature: The Best Spiritual Books of 2009 (So Far) - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- DVD Feature Film Review: Julie & Julia - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- DVD Documentary Film Review: The Cove - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- DVD Feature Film Review: Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Review: Spirit of Service - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Spirit of Service - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Review: The Wolf at Twilight - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: The Wolf at Twilight - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Review: Memories of Muhammad - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Memories of Muhammad - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]
- Book Excerpt: Humility Matters for Practicing The Spiritual Life - December 13th, 2009 [December 13th, 2009]