The role of God in education was the subject of a Theos debate at the RSA last night.
Debating before a packed auditorium, Andrew Copson (British Humanist Association), Canon Dr
Introducing the debate, Professor Cooling explained that he had decided to write on this difficult and sensitive topic because “learning to live together in the face of strongly held differences of belief is becoming increasingly important in the world today.”
Prof Cooling acknowledged that “people of all faiths and none want to work together to give children the best possible educational experience”, but argued that this cannot take place in an artificially value-neutral public square. People’s beliefs are central to their understanding of the world, he stated, and education ought to rest on a premise in which belief is treated as a resource to be valued, rather than as a problem to be marginalized.
The debate, chaired by journalist and broacaster Sheena McDonald of Teachers TV and Channel 4's The World This Week, went on to explore the contentious question of the extent to which worldview affects education and should affect teaching.
A lively question and answer time followed, with audience-members pressing the panellists on aspects of their views and arguments, frequently offering their own, strong opinions on the subject.
The debate was streamed live online by the RSA and the the video recording is available here.
Professor Cooling's Current Debate on the issue can be read here.
---------------
Coming up: Theos event in partnership with Charities Parliament
A Welfare System for the 21st Century:
How compassionate are the new welfare reforms?
23 March 2011
Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Location: Oasis Centre, London, SE1 7HS
Tickets: £6
An evening debate with Iain Duncan Smith MP the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
For more details, and to book your place, click here.
