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SCIENCE AND RELIGION IN SCHOOLS PROJECT

The relationship between science and religion can often seem to be polarised. But as Albert Einstein quoted,

'Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind' (1941)

Following a grant from 'The John Templeton Foundation' a new 'Science And Religion In Schools Project' has been set up. The 'Project' offers a range of new resources for teachers.

cover - Secondary projectThe aim of the 'Science And Religion In Schools Project' is to foster student interest and open-minded discussion about matters concerning religion and science. Quite often the two disciplines are perceived as different methodologies and separate areas of study for understanding the world in which we live. The 'Project' seeks to foster cross-curricular work and a more developed and accurate understanding of these two areas on the part of the students.

The 'Project' recognises that teachers in both RE and Science may not have enough knowledge to cover both sides of the curriculum and is therefore providing a wide range of inclusive and differentiated resources for schools, written by teachers for teachers, covering the Primary to 'A' level curriculum. The resources take into account the Religious Education Framework and the National Curriculum Science orders and come in two parts, Primary (7-11) and Secondary, (11-19) each with a CD ROM and printed guidance material.

cover - Primary projectA range of specialist advisors have been involved in the project. These include the Revd Dr John Polkinghorne, Chief Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, The Rt. Revd Richard Harries, Bishop of Oxford, Professor Russell Stannard, to name but a very few.

Information can be obtained at the following websites:

Some comments from teachers who have used the resources:

'I really wanted to do more, ditch the SATS and get on with the real stuff!'

'Pupils like this unit. They found it different and stimulating!'





IT'S BEEN A BRILLIANT WEEK!

True, it was a dreadful one for racists. That, however, was because it was a brilliant one for people who believe in goodness and love.

On Wednesday, the new Archbishop of York, John Sentamu, was enthroned or, as he prefers it, inaugurated. Yes, on his appointment he did receive a spate of filthy, racist hate mail but he was also deluged with messages of heartfelt support. A huge range of people - Christians, members of others faith communities, agnostics - welcomed and acclaimed him. In fact, the entire two-hour service was an exhilarating show of inclusiveness embracing people of different hues, faith and age as well as different styles of worship and music. And the needs of deaf people were remembered when the new incumbent signed as well as spoke the blessing.

While John Sentamu's sermon acknowledged the province of York's long history and great heritage, his focus was the needs of today's world. He urged the Church of England to grow out of being 'judgmental and moralising pew-fillers, hymn-singers, sermon-tasters, Bible readers, even born-again believers and Spirit-filled charismatics' and go out to make friends in the world. With words to warm the heart of anyone of inclusive outlook he exhorted Christians to 'go and find friends among Buddhists, Hindus, Jews, Muslims, Sikhs, agnostics, atheists, not for the purpose of converting them to your beliefs but for friendship, understanding, listening, hearing.' No wonder the congregation ignored the service sheet's instruction to be silent after his address and burst into applause!

Next morning, when the racist murderers of teenager Anthony Walker were convicted, the victim's mother said she forgave them because that's what Jesus wanted her to do. Yet she believed justice must be done, as it was when, the following day, the guilty pair received a prison sentence totaling 40 years.

Yes, it's been a good week for inclusiveness and forgiveness, a dismal one for racism. Did anyone say religious faith was irrelevant? Did anyone doubt the importance of good RE?


PRAISE FOR RE STAFF

Staff praised in a recent letter to the Bath Chronicle belonged to The Corsham School, outside Bath and North East Somerset. But the letter could well have been targeted at staff within our Authority. For our own RE staff work hard and achieve far more than society in general realises.

'My children', parent Jan Colomb wrote, 'have always been encouraged to research without censor and discuss with both peers and teachers all aspects of Christianity, as well as investigating a very wide range of other religions and their practices'.

'It is my experience that they have been taught, with sensitivity and understanding, the great breadth of belief entailed with world religions. They have been encouraged to foster a curiosity as well as a sense of inquiry about the multicultural world which they will without doubt encounter'.

'I genuinely believe', the writer concluded, 'that RE lessons taught in the school have enabled, and do enable, my children to grow in maturity... and promote an independent sense of tolerance and citizenship'.

Jan Colomb's letter nicely sums up what good RE aspires to achieve and what indeed it is accomplishing in many schools within and beyond our Authority's boundaries. Your SACRE believes RE staff deserve public gratitude and support.


NASACRE WEBSITE LAUNCHED

The National Association of Standing Advisory Councils on Religious Education (NASACRE) is pleased to announce its long-planned website is up and running. Embracing all local SACRES in England and Wales, NASACRE provides guidance on government RE policy and legislation as well as opportunities for SACRE members to share problems and best practice. Its staff say they 'are keen to make the website a means of communication for you and a source of information'. Do visit www.nasacre.org.uk


RE SELF EVALUATION TOOLKIT

The Association of RE Inspectors, Advisers and Consultants (AREIAC) has produced a helpful toolkit. Following the same format as the OFSTED school self-evaluation form (SEF), the toolkit is designed for subject leaders to use. There is a comprehensive guide to using the RE SEF and three completed exemplars: a primary, a secondary and a special school. The document is freely available on RE Online's BetterRE site, and will soon be loaded to both the AREIAC and NASACRE websites.


YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE A DREAM

This is the title of a new book by author, broadcaster and theologian Ian Bradley. Subtitled 'The Message of the Musical', he explores and exposes the spiritual power of musicals. He shows how they are much more than light-hearted, escapist entertainment.

The author points out that many people now turn more to songs from these shows than to traditional hymns to express their feelings and thoughts at life's turning points.

The history of the genre is traced with special reference to the dream theme, as in Oklahoma! The Sound of Music and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (where he takes issue with the idea 'any dream will do'). There's an important section on explicitly religious musicals like Godspell and Jesus Christ Superstar.

In later musicals, set in challenging situations and dealing with difficult issues, it is broken dreams and the resulting disillusionment that are discussed, with special reference to the spiritual implications. Of 'Les miserables' Bradley says 'it is essentially expounding two deeply spiritual themes - the power of forgiveness to beget forgiveness and the redemptive quality of sacrificial love'.

'You've got to have a dream' provides an eye- and mind-opening introduction to the spiritual power and religious nature of many popular musicals. Used imaginatively, they can be a rich source for the RE teacher.


NATURAL DISASTERS AND RELIGIOUS FAITH

The last 12 months have been as bad as any in living memory for severe natural disasters - first the great tsunami, then a series of hurricanes and, most recently, a massive terrestrial earthquake.

Each has caused terrible loss of life, homes and jobs as well as bereavement and injury. Each has sparked off a range of emotions: shock, pity, anger, guilt, and compassion.

Perhaps the commonest and wholly natural response is that of profound puzzlement, summed up in the cry: 'Why should they happen?' And, once again, RE teachers have had to face this challenging question with their students.

But what can you usefully say without resorting to pious platitudes? Here are a few thoughts.

Firstly, we need to recognise that the word 'why' is ambiguous and may refer either to the cause or the purpose of something. If our 'why' is concerned with the cause of natural tragedies, we must turn to science for an answer. If our 'why' is concerned with the purpose of such catastrophes - if we are really asking 'What possible justification in the grand scheme of things might there be for these nightmares, afflicting as they do people of every faith and social status', then we are asking a philosophical question. For people of theistic faith we are actually asking: 'How can a God who is supposed to be all-powerful as well as wholly good, sometimes even identified with love, allow such seemingly undeserved suffering?'

The question is a very old one. It was raised, for instance, in the Jewish Book of Job, in the Christian Gospels (the disciples of Jesus wanted to know why anyone should be born blind), and by a range of philosophers of religion down the centuries. It is also a timeless question, asked by anyone of religious faith who comes face to face with the pain of the innocent.

Clearly, the impact of suffering caused by human ignorance, folly or selfishness, needs to be considered. We may rightly blame so-called Homo Sapiens for the great bulk of human misery, as place names like Hiroshima and Auschwitz grimly testify. Added together, the number of those deliberately slaughtered by human brutality, folly and greed, probably totals 100 million in the 20th Century alone! Since human conduct is increasingly affecting even the climate, probably making flooding and hurricanes move severe than they would naturally be, human conduct is now in some measure responsible for the effects of at least some natural disasters.

But there remains a proportion of suffering for which humans cannot be held wholly or even largely responsible - notably that caused by volcanoes, earthquakes and tsunamis. These occur because planet Earth is still forming, a process which necessarily involves movements of Earth and Water of sometimes awesome power and which may consequently inflict terrible damage on human communities.

When such natural disasters happen, many people question both God's almightiness and God's all-lovingness. They may echo the words of Jesus on the cross: 'Why, God, have you forsaken us?'

Some believers answer: 'These things are sent to try us'. Other believers claim this notion is simplistic. It doesn't differentiate between human and divine responsibility: what is attributed to God's intention may, on closer analysis, be the result of human ignorance, folly, carelessness or greed. The notion may imply that whatever happens is necessarily the deliberate will of God, a stance that denies humans the dignity of free will. The notion could even imply God deliberately does all sorts of really nasty, brutal things to us to toughen our spiritual fibre, things which only the very cruelest of humans do. Most disturbing of all, the notion raises the awkward question: why is God so arbitrary? Why does God inflict incessant suffering on some widely regarded good and kind person yet let off scot-free a notorious rogue? Why does God hammer an already deprived community but leave in peace a well-off, but perhaps far more blameworthy community?

The unwelcome truth is: mega-disasters do challenge the traditional idea of God being both all-powerful and all-good. Surely God can or should intervene!

May be, we have simply to accept that our planet, like the entire Universe, is still forming and the cost of this is an element of unpredictable danger with its sometimes regrettable results. It may be God has given Creation a degree of freedom to develop and evolve, but the price of such freedom is uncertainty and risk with the possibility of undeserved suffering.

What people of probably every religious persuasion agree is that, however unwelcome any suffering is, our human responsibility is to meet it with generous and indiscriminate compassion.


'TREMENDOUS PROGRESS!'

Speaking on Thought for Today (Tuesday 27th Sept) Indarjit Singh, declared: 'Tremendous progress has been made in schools'. He wasn't talking about improvements in exam results but something far more important: the quality of life in Britain, particularly in community relations.

'Where children from different religions were once seen as a 'problem' by teachers', he observed, 'enlightened initiatives have been taken in the teaching of other religions and in the use of displays of language and art to show respect and appreciation of different cultures'.

'Looking back over the years, we've made huge strides in our policy of encouraging integration through respect and understanding; a far-sighted policy in which we should take legitimate pride'.

Who can take credit for this TREMENDOUS PROGRESS in community cohesion? Among others, hard working, imaginative, empathetic RE teachers. 'Secular fundamentalists', please note! Well done and thank-you to all such teachers in B&NES.


SEARCH ENGINE ALERT!

Beware! Not all internet search engines are reliable, the Association of RE Advisers warns. Often among the first ten sites listed there is one or more 'revisionist' sites giving only negative, incorrect or extreme views on the topic. At least two SACRE members also have found this to be the case. If you are a teacher, please warn pupils researching a topic in RE to look out for rogue sites - though they may well need your help in sifting wheat from chaff.


FARMINGTON FELLOWSHIPS

Farmington Fellowships give RE teachers an opportunity to have a sustained study break and those who win one invariably testify to their value. Applications are now invited for the 2006-2007 academic year from:

Apply directly through the Farmington website - www.farmington.ac.uk - or telephone 01865 271965.

Meanwhile, SACRE congratulates Imogen Woods of Shoscombe Primary School for winning a Farmington Fellowship for the current year. She is spending this term on secondment developing a culturally relevant Christian curriculum for Key Stages 1 and 2. Imogen told the Bath News Chronicle, 'For me, the project is a very special one. It will have an impact on our children's progress of study' and she concluded 'Religious Education is important for many reasons as it is not just about the different religions but questions about life as well'.


NEW RESOURCES FROM CHRISTIAN AID

Christian Aid has introduced two new 'Live Differently' assembly and class activity units. Both have different sections for Key Stage 2 and 3 and use true stories to highlight issues of poverty and how Christian Aid and partners work to overcome them.
'Meet an Expert' introduces Suriya, a Bangladeshi chilli farmer. The unit covers:

'Send my Friend to School' introduces Venkatamma, a school girl from southern India and ties in with the Make Poverty History campaign. This unit covers:

For more information contact Daniel Sinclair, Schools Programme Manager at Christian Aid. Tel 020 7523 2237 or e-mail schools@christian-aid.org


RS A LEVEL TAKERS ROCKET

Yet again, the number of students sitting RS at A level has shot up. The subject has enjoyed a massive 16.9 percent rise in takers, almost twice that of the one with the next greatest increase (Political Studies with 9.8%). In 2005, 16,859 took the A level RS pushing the subject ahead of French (14,484) and even Information Communications Technology (14,883).

Interpreting statistics is always tricky but the figures do appear to put RS in a good light. Ellie Searle, director of the Joint Council for Qualifications, said the modules RS students chose showed a growing interest in philosophical and ethical questions among young people. "The most popular units", she observed, "were those that tackle philosophy and ethics, which reflects an overall interest in the wider world".

While we must await the local figures, it is certainly encouraging for RE at the national level.


GCSE TAKERS RISE TOO

In terms of entries, RS, at number ten, remains within the 'top ten' GCSE subjects. No less than 147,516 candidates sat RS in 2005. This was a 4.6 percentage increase in RS takers being surpassed only by PE (at 7.5%).

Raw figures never tell the whole truth but the fact remains that more and more students are being publicly examined in RS. Which poses the question: if, in students' eyes, the subject is no longer the Cinderella of the Humanities, are schools and LEAs providing the resources and support the subject needs and deserves?


CONGRATULATIONS TO YOUNG CITIZEN OF THE YEAR!

Teenager James Brooke, former pupil of Culverhay School, Bath, has won the 2005 Bath Young Citizen of the Year Award. He became a keen member of the school's youth action group at the age of 11 and, ever since, has given much of his free time at evenings and weekends to a wide range of community service.

Mayor Peter Metcalfe said: "The panel felt that James' commitment to so many things and the contribution he was making in his community - helping elderly people, charities and even working with schools - meant that he met all the criteria".

SACRE congratulates you, James. And we also congratulate your RE teacher, SACRE member Jackie Williams, who has been a constant supporter of the youth action group. Here, RE's concern with human values, attitudes and needs has had a happy, practical outcome.


NEW BOOK: DAWKINS' GOD

RE teachers will be familiar with the boy or girl who dismisses religion, especially belief in God, as intellectually naïve, if not absurd. While there's nothing new in this attitude, its current prevalence must be due, in considerable measure, to the influence of Richard Dawkins.

Since the 1970s, when his books The Selfish Gene and The Blind Watchmaker were published, Dawkins' ideas have had a profound influence on popular thinking about the nature of the universe, the meaning of life, and the status of religion. When Oxford University made him Professor of the Public Understanding of Science in 1996, his impact burgeoned still further, not least through radio and TV programmes.

Dawkins' knowledge and skills as a biologist are indisputable, especially in the field of evolutionary theory and the pivotal role played by genes. But his abilities as a philosopher - in particular his assertions on cosmology and theology - are a totally different matter. Not surprisingly, a range of highly qualified academics has challenged Dawkins on an ad hoc basis.

This year, however, a book has been published that tackles Dawkins head-on. It is called 'Dawkins' God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life' and is written by Alistair McGrath, a molecular biophysicist but also Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford. While fully acknowledging his scientific expertise, McGrath exposes the serious flaws within Richard Dawkins' philosophical, cosmological and theological claims.

Offering vital and timely correctives, McGrath's scholarly work will prove of great value to RE teachers, especially those in the Secondary sector. Covering just 160 pages, Dawkins' God is a manageable proposition for summer holiday reading. Published by Blackwell and costing £9.99, its ISBN is 1-405-12538-1.


GOOD NEWS FOR RE TRAINEES

In this context, 'GOOD NEWS' refers to pay! Because, from September 2006, the bursary given to trainee RE teachers on PGCE courses will rise from £6000 to £9000. What's more, they will get a one-off welcome payment of £2,500 when they start teaching. These improvements mean the financial incentives for trainee RE teachers will be equal to those in English, computing and modern languages.

The increases reflect the need for more RE teachers resulting from the sharp rise in students taking the subjects at GCSE and A level. The Department for Education and Science must now attract more than 700 new RE teachers a year. So the Teacher Training Agency views RE, certainly in terms of recruitment, as a 'priority subject'. Your SACRE, of course, believes RE is a priority subject for more fundamental reasons!

To be fair, the added incentive might make all the difference to anyone for whom the PGCE year would otherwise be financially unrealistic. Please spread the good news.


SHE GOES THE EXTRA MILE

The subject of this New Testament metaphor, appropriately enough, is SACRE member Jackie Williams who teaches R. E. at Culverhay School, Bath. As reported in the Bath Chronicle, Headteacher Duncan Fleet comments: 'She always goes the extra mile for the kids, whether its coming in during the holidays from extra revision classes or running clubs linked to her subject. She also promotes the international links and leads the Youth Action Group'.

It's no wonder Mrs Williams has been nominated for the Working with Business and the Community award. Along with three other dedicated teachers in the Bath area, she is a finalist in the West of England heat of the Teaching Awards 2005.

Congratulations, Jackie! We are delighted that your commitment and inspiration have been publicly recognised in this way.


AGREED SYLLABUS REVIEW

Yes, it's five years since the current Locally Agreed R.E. Syllabus was adopted. So now, by law, it is up for review.

To this end, Bath and North East Somerset L.E.A. will convene an Agreed Syllabus Conference later this year. In preparation, a workshop was held on Monday 23rd May at Keynsham Town Hall. Heads of Religious Education from Secondary schools in the Authority area and co-ordinators of R.E. in Primary schools joined members of SACRE to consider the available options.

SACRE Chair Mary Dadley believed the Agreed Syllabus Conference would need to choose between four basic options. These are:

  1. Keep the status quo for at least two years
  2. Modify the present syllabus as Somerset SACRE has done (B&NES having basically adopted Somerset's in 2000)
  3. Adopt a syllabus from a totally different L.E.A.
  4. Produce an entirely new syllabus of our own.

After group discussion (Secondary teachers in one group, Primary in another), the workshop re-convened to see if a consensus could be reached about a recommendation to the Agreed Syllabus Conference.

The outcome was an agreement to support the first option. While many, if not most, representatives felt option 4 was, in principle, highly desirable, the meeting agreed it would be unwise to take such a radical (and expensive) step until government policy concerning the new National Framework for R.E. was clear. At present, the Framework is non-statutory but this could change. Either way, it was thought this national guideline must be borne in mind in deciding syllabus policy.

Workshop attendees also agreed that membership of the Agreed Syllabus Conference should be open and inclusive and preparation for it should be thorough, involving widespread consultation (look out for questionnaires!) As a rider, members urged that whatever is finally produced must be clear, accessible and realistic!

For news of progress, watch this news page


SIXTY YEARS OLD - BUT MORE ACTIVE THAN EVER!

High on the West front of St Paul's Cathedral, a huge banner declared 'We believe in life before death'. Above, in even larger letters, were the proud words 'CHRISTIAN AID'.

A hundred or so feet below, people from all over the UK as well as far off partner countries filed through the imposing doorway for the special service celebrating Christian Aid's 60th Anniversary.

"It was an exciting and inspiring occasion", SACRE member Edward Hulme comments, "which made me deeply thankful for all that Christian Aid has achieved, since its birth as a refugee relief project in 1945 to its present role as a leading agent in the quest for a fairer world".

The great congregation, seated concentrically under the famous dome and extending deep into the nave and transepts, joined enthusiastically in prayers, symbolic gestures and rich variety of hymns (one specially composed for the celebration). The Chair and Director of Christian Aid both contributed, partners from Burkina Faso and the Republic of Congo spoke about Christian Aid's frontline work, and the congregation broke bread as a sign of their oneness. The crumbs left over were later sent to political leaders to persuade them that the poor of the world must no longer make do with rich nation's 'left-overs'.

Archbishop Rowan Williams told the congregation: "This is a historic year in which Britain has the chance to make its mark in a move towards a trustful world, through its presidency of the G8 nations and the EU... The scandal of our current global economy is not simply that it leaves children dying, that it leaves over a billion in extreme need. It is that it reinforces a picture of the world in which rivalry and mutual isolation are the obvious forms of behaviour. The rich protect their markets while talking about the virtues of free trade. Global agencies have often held up sustainable economic growth in poor countries by insisting that it can only be allowed to develop in the way they dictate".

All told, Edward Hulme concludes, the service, while starkly exposing the grave injustices of our times, left participants in no doubt that, more than ever, ordinary people really can bring about change and make poverty history.

Christian Aid centres on issues and attitudes central to religious faith, matters of major concern, therefore, for religious education.


WELL DONE ST MARK'S!

As the Bath Chronicle recently reported, the general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Steve Sinnott, visited St Mark's School, Bath, to find out what the school is doing in the Make Poverty History campaign.

Mr Sinnott said "St Mark's School has a national reputation for being involved in international issues that involve youngsters, such as human rights and Amnesty International... There are 100 million children in the world who do not go to school and St Mark's is at the forefront of the campaign to try to ensure everybody is aware of that".

Pupil Craig Williams, 15, keenly backs the campaign. "It is a very good idea. What we are doing at the school does make a difference to people".

Church of England school St Mark's has shown, yet again, that real religious faith engages with the real world.


GLOBAL GANG

Sophie Shirt - editor of the Global Gang website

Or www.globalgang.org.uk to be precise. Its an excellent website containing new, views, games and fun from around the world for children aged 7-13.

Packed with games, real-life stories, competitions and celebrity features, Global Gang enables children to broaden their understanding of the world.

An innovative partner linking project ensures that the site is regularly updated with stories from children in the South, and children from around the world can leave messages for one another on the site's own message boards.

The topic-led 'Homework help' section provides children with a valuable information bank. 'Planet Teacher' extends the children's content with innovative classroom ideas and support material for teachers.
Sophie Shirt - editor of the Global Gang website


WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!

Unlike - in many schools - some of their colleagues, RE teachers certainly DO watch their language in class: however provocative their pupils, they never swear at them (well, hardly ever?)

It's actually 'religious' language that's in the spotlight, at least in Norfolk where new guidelines say Holy GHOST is out, Holy SPIRIT is in. The term 'Old Testament' must be used cautiously, especially if Jews are present. Great care must be taken in connecting the word 'blood' and 'drink this' when studying the Christian Communion Service.

Actually, there's nothing new about this advice. Most teachers will have long since abandoned Ghost, not because 'it's spooky' but because it's not so accurate a translation of the Greek. Teachers will already be sensitive in their use of the term Old Testament, not because it makes those writings 'sound old-fashioned' but because they are, for Jews, nothing less than their Holy Book or Bible. Teachers will already handle the language of the Communion Service with due care: aware that a strictly literal interpretation might have cannibalistic undertones, they will explain that bread and wine are ultimately no more than representations or symbols of Christ's body and blood, so that when communicants take them they are opening their hearts and minds to Christ's spiritual influence. (Traditional Catholics are at liberty to object to this last sentence!)

In short, we don't watch our language simply to be 'pc' but because we wish to be accurate and considerate!


CHURCH OF ENGLAND COURSES

The Diocese of Bath and Wells Education Department offers high quality training for school staff, governors and others involved in education, through a broad range of courses. Here are just some of the subjects on offer:

Their brochure, 'Summer Term 2005 Courses', gives full details of themes, dates, venues and costs. You may write for it via The Old Deanery, Wells, Somerset, BA5 2UG, email jayne.brown@bathwells.anglican.org or telephone 01749 670777


BEADS AND WHEELS...

Or rather, prayer beads and wheels, are just two of the artefacts soon to be available for borrowing by teachers and schools in the Authority's area. There are also mezuzahs, qibla compasses, icons, and a large range of other carefully selected items associated with Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism. Now that accommodation has been arranged - in a Keynsham school - the artefacts will be moved there, labelled, listed and boxed ready for lending out from the start of the September term. We are sorry if the process is proving rather slow but the work is being done by volunteers with limited time.


WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE A DRUG EDUCATOR?

If you are...

you could...

If you are interested, Hope UK will train you at a reasonable charge. Please contact Hope UK at 25(F) Copperfield Street London, SE1 0EN, telephone 020 7928 0848 www.hopeuk.org

SOMEBODY ELSE'S PROBLEM?

If only indirectly, all teachers are involved in helping children and young people develop responsible attitudes to legal and illegal drug use. RE teachers, however, may well find they have a special niche to fill in drugs education. Thankfully, help is, at hand, not least through HOPE UK.

HOPE UK's latest 'Drug News' headline is 'Somebody's Else's Problem?' Under this, there's a hotchpotch of news clips, such as:
'Between 780,000 and 1.3 million children are affected by parental alcohol problems. Marriages where there are alcohol problems are twice as likely to end in divorce'
and
'Chris was 13 when he first smoked cannabis. By 14, he had started drinking. At 15, he took his first LSD tablet and when he was 17, he developed a heroin addiction that would last 11 years'
and 'In the UK about 450 children start smoking every day'.
Far from being 'somebody else's problem', these children are society's, everyone's responsibility because we are all caught up in a 'drugs culture'.

HOPE UK publishes a range of excellent resources (including eye-catching and informative leaflets) and offers talks and training. To find out more: phone 020 7928 0848, email a.wilson@hopeuk.org visit www.hopeuk.org


ALL SCHOOLS ARE FAITH SCHOOLS!

Writing in the Independents' Faith and Reason slot, Elaine Storkey questioned the division of schools into 'faith' and 'non-faith'. Whereas some schools are overtly faith based, presenting faiths such as Christianity, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism as part of the process of education, all schools aim to promote certain values and ideals, often encapsulated in a mission statement, and therefore are, in a sense, 'faith' based.

The real problems for schools today, she claims, is not the faith-dependency of education but the dulling of faith in pupils through exposure to a powerful media culture with its hype of image, entertainment, fame, sex, and the unqualified rewards of advertised products. In such circumstances, all schools should aim to nurture students' faith potential, particularly their belief in the importance of truth and its pursuit.



MAKEPOVERTYHISTORY

In case you haven't heard, MakePovertyHistory is a national campaign supported by over 150 organisations. Running throughout 2005, it aims to put pressure on the UK government to use its influence over the G8 and European Union governments to really make a difference to global poverty. The campaign is focusing on: Trade Justice, Drop the Debt, More and Better Aid. The campaign symbol? A white band. You can make you own to wear round your head, arm or wrist - or you can buy wristbands at Oxfam shops, Christian Aid or via the website www.makepovertyhistory.org.

MakePovertyHistory offers vital topical material for a range of RE and Citizenship topics - as well as an opportunity for personal involvement.

The MakePovertyHistory group says that each day poverty is killing 30,000 people around the world while billions do not have access to clean water.

'2005 will be a year of great opportunity', Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa asserts. 'We could really do something to change the world. If everyone wanting to see an end to poverty, hunger and suffering speaks out, the noise will be deafening. Politicians will have to listen'.

MakePovertyHistory will push for all western nations to provide 0.7% of their national income in aid and make aid work more effectively for poor people. While British aid has increased significantly in recent years, it is still well below the 0.7% promised many years ago.

(News based on article in The Guardian, 14 Sept. 2004)

CHRISTIAN AID: Who's who - and how to reach them
Here are up-to-date details about the Gloucestershire, Bristol and Somerset Christian Aid area:

Who's who:
Area Co-ordinator: Nigel Quarrell
Area Assistant: Jane Gardner
Youth Co-ordinator: Martin Parkes
New Churches Adviser: Roger Allen
Black Majority Churches Worker: Maureen Robinson

How to reach them:
Address: 3 College Green, Gloucester, GL1 2LR
Tel/Fax: 01452 309 115

Email: gloucester@christian-aid.org
Website: www.christianaidconnect.org.uk


YOUR PLACE OR MINE?
New Christian Aid middle and secondary teaching and learning pack.

'Your Place or Mine?' includes a teacher's book and CD-Rom and uses the subject of land to encourage children to examine issues of justice, equality and sustainable development, as well as look at their own rights and responsibilities. Comparisons between Scotland and South Africa show the links between people's lives both locally and globally, and reveal how people face similar issues and struggles all over the world.

Reference P411, cost £25, from Christian Aid at PO Box 95, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU12 4BR or tel. 08700 78 77 88 (24 hours)
To find out more about Christian Aid's work and publications, visit:
www.christianaid.org.uk and www.globalgang.org.uk


NATIONAL FRAMEWORK PUBLISHED

The non-statutory national framework for Religious Education is now available. The framework and materials that support the teaching, learning and assessment of religious education can be found on the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) website, www.qca.org.uk There is also a booklet which can be acquired from the same body at 83, Piccadilly, London W1J 8QA.

The Framework is NOT an Agreed Syllabus but sets out guidelines for LEAs/SACREs to use for their Agreed Syllabus development. It also sets out national guidance on standards in RE through the programmes of study and accompanying eight-level scale. Its first part offers a rationale for religious education and how it can contribute to the wider picture of learning. The framework is likely to be influential, affecting such matters as initial teacher training, the development of ICT initiatives and publishers' products.


WHAT ABOUT PLATO?

The RE national framework barely wiped and dry after its birth at the end of October, National Secular Society Vice-President Terry Sanderson wants to scrap the name 'Religious Education' and replace it with something like 'philosophical and ethical studies'.

Writing in the Education Guardian on 2nd November, he asks 'How do schools tell children about religion in a way that is fair, objective, unbiased and, most important, doesn't close them off from alternatives? How do we best explain to them that while some religious believers find comfort in their faith - as well as motivation to do good - others find that it feeds a seething hatred?'

Mr Sanderson's answer is to widen the scope of RE by including studies of great philosophers, such as Plato, Socrates and Hume, and to widen the responsibility of the management of RE by involving secular organisations. While acknowledging that the new QCA framework for RE goes some way to allowing children to question faith, the guidelines do not encourage objectivity. 'Enthusiastic [religious] believers', he argues, 'who are drawn to teaching sometimes cannot stop themselves. This week I was on a radio phone-in show in which parents told horror stories of their own experiences: how a five-year-old had been told by the RE teacher that if she didn't believe in God she would go to hell, and how a nine-year-old who asked in class "if God made everything, who made God?" was told to shut up!'

Your local SACRE's response to Terry Sanderson's concerns? There's been no chance yet to discuss them but former Chair of SACRE, Edward Hulme, is confident that members would:

  1. denounce all indoctrination whether by 'religious' or 'secular' teachers;
  2. point out that absolute objectivity in religion (as in history, science or any subject) is an unrealistic and not necessarily desirable goal;
  3. agree that children should be introduced to the great philosophers once they can cope with the concepts involved;
  4. concur with Mr Sanderson's conclusion that children should be taught 'to judge religion on its real, rather than its trumpeted, merits'.
Source: Education Guardian,2/11/04. Visit: www.abcprimaryschools.org


THE CHRIST WE SHARE

This excellent pack is useful for both RE and collective worship and includes pictures of Christ from many cultures. The new edition has a CD Rom containing all the pictures ready to use on electronic white boards or to print onto OHTs. Copies are available from the Diocesan Resource Centre for £10 - but don't delay!

Tel: 01749 670777; E-mail: resourcecentre@bathwells.anglican.org

(Source: Bath and Wells Diocese Schools Newsletter, Nov. 2004)


NEW FAIRTRADE PAGE

If you want to know more about Fairtrade and how individuals, groups and businesses can support it, visit: www.bathnes.gov.uk/bathnes/business/fairtrade



SACRE RESOURCE CENTRE

An initial collection of artefacts relating to Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam and Sikhism has now been acquired. Once sorted, catalogued and conveniently housed they will be available for schools to borrow. This will all take some time but we will publish further details as we make progress.

Click here to view just a few of the artefacts that you will be able to borrow.


ISLAM RESOURCES INITIATIVE

The Muslim Council of Britain has prepared new resource packs for schools - books, videos and CDs - to help overcome 'barriers' in the teaching of Islam. Backing the initiative, Education Secretary Charles Clarke says the move is vital to creating 'understanding' between different cultures.
Find out more from theREsite Magazine.


INTERNATIONAL DEBT SUCCESS!

Does your exam, or non-exam, RE syllabus include such themes as International Relationships, War and Peace, Compassion and Justice? If so, did you know that the UK has announced unilateral action to break the logjam holding up cancellation of World Bank and International Monetary Fund debts? Chancellor Gordon Brown announced on 26th September that the UK will commit up to £100 million per year to write-off the UK's share of the debts owed by up to 30 of the world's poorest countries to the World Bank. He has also called for IMF gold to be revalued or sold to enable the debts owed by those same countries to the IMF to be fully written off. Speaking at a meeting hosted by the Trade Justice Movement, Mr Brown said his aim was to create a precedent for other countries to follow (principally the rest of the G7) with the objective of 100% cancellation of the debts owed by poor countries to the World Bank and IMF.
For contact and background information, please see the archive.

(Source: Jubilee Debt Campaign, 27/09/04)


NEW WEBSITE

The Hindu Temple in Redfields, Bristol, now has a website. It is www.bristolhindutemple.co.uk The site opens with a concise welcome including an introduction to the faith and a mission statement. There are pages on Services, Building Links with the Local Community, People, How to Make Contact and much more. Do visit it and, if you can arrange it, go to the temple itself. Judging from my own past experience of taking secondary school parties, for a period of 15 years, you will receive a warm welcome and find the time well spent.
Edward Hulme


SACRE C of E GROUP VACANCIES

Are you a Church of England teacher, head, governor, or parent keen to support RE and school worship? If 'yes', you may be just the right person to fill one of the two vacancies in Bath and N.E. Somerset SACRE's C of E group. Find out more from this web site or contact Mike Brownbill (e-mail: mike.brownbill@bathwells.anglican.org or telephone 01749 670777).



SHARED GOOD PRACTICE

Your SACRE is expanding the 'Professional Support' section of this web site. with a section entitled 'Shared Good Practice'. This aims to offer concrete support for Religious Education, covering Key Stages 1-4 and the specific study units of the Locally Agreed Syllabus.

Support material will be available to download from the website itself and will include brief lesson plans and guidance notes for the tasks and the learning objectives within the study units.

But we need YOUR SUPPORT AND INPUT to make it all work.

If you are willing to help, please send your resources to SACRE for placing on the site. They should include:

Resources can be sent by email as attachments to:
secretary-bathnes-sacre@fsmail.net
or, as hard copies, to the coordinator of the site, A. D. Bradley, Head of Religious Education, St Mark's School, Baytree Road, Larkhall, Bath BA1 6ND.

Your school should have received a full letter on this project: if it hasn't, please let us know and we will send you one.



GOAT FOR IT!

Goat for it! GOAT FOR IT! is Christian Aid's fundraising and information resource slogan for teachers, youth leaders and students.

GOAT FOR IT! is designed to inspire young people with creative ways to tackle poverty, learning loads and having fun in the process. The printed pack includes:

  • group activities and fundraising ideas
  • stories from around the world
  • a sketch and song (words and music)
  • stickers and posters
  • an easy-to-assemble goat moneybox
To order your GOAT FOR IT! pack, apply to Christian Aid, PO Box 95, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU12 4BR (including your name, address and telephone number) or phone 08700 787788.
For Web materials, log on to www.christianaid.org.uk/learn/goats



OO.7

The Chancellor The dot means these familiar three figures relate to Gordon Brown, not James Bond. OO.7 is, in fact, the percentage of Gross National Income the UK promised, many years ago, to spend on international aid. Honouring this pledge could mean the difference between life and death for millions in the developing world. UNICEF, CAFOD, CHRISTIAN AID, ADD, OXFAM, TRAIDCRAFT and BOND (not James but Networking for International Development) are all pressing the Chancellor to make sure Britain keeps its promise - by 2008 at the latest.

Why not ask your RE or Citizenship class what 00.7 means? Or talk about it in Assembly. Maybe your students could write to Gordon Brown (at HM Treasury, 1 Horse Guards Road, LONDON, SW1A 2HQ)





OTHER NEWS



OUTSTANDING SERVICE HONOURED

The Diocese of Bath and Wells has formally recognised the very special contribution certain people have made in local Church schools. One such is Laurie Coombs for building links with St Andrew's Church of England Primary School, 'Many of our parents and children aren't deeply religious people', he says, 'but we try to instil a Christian ethos in the school'. This, he claims, has persuaded many non-Christian families to send their children there.

Awards have also been given to John Norris, retired chairman of governors at Saltford Church of England Primary School, recently retired headteacher John Pine, learning support assistant Margaret Patrick at Stephen's Primary School and Sarah Bell, a church worker and volunteer at Marksbury Primary School. Spokesman Prebendary John Andrews comments: 'These are the sort of people who quietly serve their community without thought of reward'.

(Source, The Bath Chronicle, 18th October 2004)


FAITH IN CHURCH SCHOOLS

Writing in a major feature in the Bath Chronicle (Wed.10th Nov.), reporter Tom Bradshaw focused on the role of Church Schools today. Setting the scene, he said 34 of B&NES 66 state primary schools are Anglican, 2 are Roman Catholic and 30 are non-denominational. At secondary level, Bath has 2 faith schools - St Gregory's Catholic College and St Mark's Church of England School. Bath and North East Somerset Council, he reports, wish to preserve the status quo and a survey by the authority this autumn shows that 75% of parents support denominational schools.

Head teacher of St Gregory's College, Raymond Friel, said he believed faith schools had an important part to play in the education system... Faith schools do very well. When Education Secretary, David Blunkett memorably said that he would love to get what faith schools have and bottle it. Mr Friel went on to say: 'As a Catholic school, we are open to, and seek and learn about, other faiths. The heart of our message is tolerance and understanding. What we do ask is that non-Catholic pupils support the Catholic Christian ethos of the school'.

Bath NUT representative Rob Henderson said he was aware some parents played the system in order to get their child to a faith school. Nevertheless he remained supportive of such schools citing both St Mark's and St Gregory's as excellent faith schools open to children of other faiths. 'They are part of the community, and don't see themselves as separate'.

(Source, The Bath Chronicle, 10th November 2004)


NEW WEB-SITE

bathchurches.org.uk contains up-to-date info about Churches Together in Bath and has links to web-sites of individual churches.



RESOURCE IDEAS

QCA (Qualifications and Curriculum Authority) produce 'Religious Education Update' termly. It provides info on curriculum assessment and qualifications developments in RE (email: religiouseducation@qca.org.uk)
They also publish a Citizenship/PSHE Update (www.qca.org.uk)

Linking Churches and Schools - a new booklet - encourages links between churches and local schools. Topics include: Why get involved? Church Visits, Prayer, Working together, RE in schools, Collective Worship, What is a SACRE? Supporting Teachers, Legal Issues, Being Guests, Church Schools. There's also a large reference section. A5 booklet, 28 pages, by Gillian Wood, Free Church Education Officer. Cost: for up to 5 copies, 2 first-class stamps each; 6-499 copies, 40p each; 500+ copies, 30p each (charges include delivery to one address). Write to: Churches Together in England, 27 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HH; or telephone 020 7529 8141; or email: education@cte.org.uk



NEWS ARCHIVE >>
(The News Archive page contains archived news items which previously appeared on the news page and may be of interest.)

Items include:




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