Back in the Dark Ages when I attended the Boys’ Model School in Northern Ireland, the law required pupils be taught two specific subjects. They were subjects that are not normally required for a good education in USA today - Religious Education and Physical Education. I thought that the “
Troubles” in Northern Ireland and the development of modern curricula would cause a retreat from teaching religion to all pupils. However, looking at the current website for the
Boys’ Model, I was very surprised to read, “
The legal requirement is for every pupil to study RE, unless parents request his withdrawal.”
The school webpage covering Religious Education makes some interesting claims for the subject. These include “
a substantial contribution to the spiritual, moral, cultural, intellectual and physical development of all pupils.” Certainly much of Western culture and the basis for our ethical systems tie directly back to our religious heritage. Still, I wonder about that claim for “physical development.” Maybe the author was thinking about the admonitions against strong drink and immorality.
The webpage notes the goals of the RE course. They include the usual communication, thinking skills and personal capabilities. They also include:
- a knowledge of where religious and moral beliefs come from;
- an awareness of Christian teaching;
- a sensitivity towards the beliefs of others;
- an ability to think and judge about morality;
- an awareness of self.
Those seem to be pretty basic skills for anyone growing up in today’s world. The course includes an “
Introduction to Judaism & Islam” so the content looks as relevant as the latest news. Given our concerns about moral, ethical and business standards, I wonder if this is another small example of “
How the Irish Saved Civilization”.
2 comments:
Just curious...the boys MODEL school - does that word mean the school was to be a model itself or that the boys who came out of it were to be models in the society (not as in fashion but as good examples)?
To quote the website,The Model system was set up in Ireland in order to encourage persons of character and ability to become teachers. Ireland was to be divided into school districts and in each district there was to be a Model School.
This school was to be a 'model' for all other schools in the district. The Belfast Model which was the thirteenth of its kind was opened on 19th May 1857. There is a parallel Girls' Model school. I don't recall an emphasis on turning out teachers when I attended - just to provide a solid education.
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