A way forward

Post by **Impenitent** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:50 am

http://education.independent.co.uk/scho ... 201860.ece

We have a thread about peace in the ME

and there's a thread discussing religion in schools (or religious schools)

This article talks about a religious school which encourages interfaith understanding and, I believe, is a beacon for how we can work towards peace, by educating the next generation about what we have in common, in building real person-to-person friendships.

vison, I think if the school for your boys works as well as this one, you have nothing to worry about. Indeed, you would have cause for celebration!

Fri Feb 09, 2007 3:51 am

That's very cool, Impish!

Post by **Pearly Di** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 2:18 pm

Wow, that is simply remarkable.

The two races of Abraham coming together.

Good on that school.

And way to go Birmingham!

Post by **Rowanberry** » Fri Feb 09, 2007 6:58 pm

That's really great.

Post by **superwizard** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 12:56 am

That is one impressive school! I believe that that is an amazing way to teach children about other religions and cultures. One can only hope that if more of these schools were to be built than there would be a significant decrease in antisemitism and islamophobia!

Post by **yovargas** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 1:43 am

While it is a cool thing, it struck me as a tad weird and I think it's cuz the multi-cultural lesson only goes one way (apparently). If the Jewish kids were learning Arabic and some of the Islamic traditions, it might sit a bit more easily with me.

Post by **Inanna** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 2:25 am

I would still rather send my kid to a secular school, where they are taught about all religions.

Post by **superwizard** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 6:46 am

Mahima the situation here is a special case. Muslims and Jews need to learn more about the other person's religion and generally there aren't many schools where Muslims and Jews really do that. I agree that a secular school which talked about both religions (and other ones of course) would be better but sadly I've never heard of one.

Post by **Inanna** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:28 am

I think I get your point, sw. This also got me thinking about my early years in Christian schools (am sorry I will not be able to get more specific than that, am a little clueless about it all

). My Dad was in the Army then, so we travelled around in India, and were not in large cities. The good schools were usually English/Christian kind of schools. I spent three formative years in Sophia, which is described as a "convent" in India - which essentially means run by people of Christian order. Since I was exposed to my religion, culture etc at home, the school exposed me to another - I think I benefitted from it, rather than lost. And this echoes what the Muslim parents said about their children.