1. A Northern Ireland Perspective
EFTRE Conference – Bruges/Brugge Inclusion and Controversial Issues in the R.E. classroom
A Northern Ireland Perspective

2. Today’s Session Purpose - Explanation Introductions
Understanding Controversial Issues in the classroom
Key Issues and Principles
Sample Practical Activities
Discussion of Scenarios
Handout and close

3. Introductions Take a moment to think / discuss
Then share with the group:
Your name & where you are from
How you would define your own religious / cultural identity
Something in religion that angers / frustrates you about inequality or the lack of inclusion (one sentence)
Something you can learn / have learned from religion about including others (one sentence)

4. Controversial Issues in R.E.
Why are they significant for R.E. teachers?
Religion is a controversial area
Religious issues evoke particular controversies in some countries / regions
Northern Ireland – Middle East …
R.E. as a subject in schools is often controversial
what … why … how … to teach R.E.?
Teachers need to be aware of the issues and have skills in how to deal with them

5. Key Issues and Principles for teaching religion - a brief summary
Mutual respect must be encouraged
Purposes should be clear -
education & exploration - not instruction
Teachers model how to talk about religion - especially religious identity & difference:
this is a way of learning dialogue among equals
avoidance for fear of “offence” is unhelpful
we should acknowledge differences within as well as between religions – intercultural learning
the creation of safe space in the classroom is crucial

6. Key Issues and Principles for teaching religion - continued
Human Encounter is crucial
inter-religious & intercultural learning is very difficult when religious teaching/learning is separate!
people articulate and explore their ideas as individuals and as members of communities
People must be able to speak for themselves
People must be allowed to interpret their beliefs and experiences and express them to others in their own way
An ethos of respect is fundamental
See handout for more details

7. Ground Rules

8. Practical Activities
Paired work
Line-ups
Walking Debates
Scenarios

9. Scenarios What are your options? What should you do?
A parent requests to withdraw their child from R.E. unless their own religion is being taught.
Your school decides on a policy of “no religious displays” – symbols, dress, artefacts. A parent asks you to help them change the policy.
A discussion on world poverty is sidetracked when some pupils frequently make remarks about other pupils who are asylum-seekers from poorer countries.
A Muslim pupil joins a fairly monocultural class and anti-Muslim graffiti begins to appear around the school.
A small number of pupils in your class are from quite poor immigrant families. You have to decide if it is okay to teach about poverty and need.

10. Closing Statement
Something positive that I can take away from this session – or that I would like to think more about – is …

11. Thank you Norman Richardson Stranmillis University College, Belfast