Andrew Copson, Director of Education at the British Humanist Association (BHA), has
given a recorded interview about the BHA's position on religious education to Teachers TV, an organisation which supports the professional development of teachers and others working in schools.
Discussing the importance of the study of Humanism within RE, Mr Copson explained, 'Sometimes people say things like because it’s called religious education, it must be about religions, why should we have non-religious beliefs in it? But if you think about what the subject is really for and what it says it’s for, that can make less sense than it initially appears to. So, what Religious Education is officially for as part of the school curriculum is to ensure that young people learn about the different beliefs about ultimate questions to do with god, to do with meaning and purpose that people hold in the world today, and that they have the opportunity to develop their own beliefs on these questions.’
Mr Copson continued, ‘Now, once we recognise that a very large number, perhaps over 70% of young people, certainly 12-19 year olds, have non-religious beliefs, we see that we can’t have a subject that has those aims which doesn’t include the non-religious perspective.’
Discussing further the curriculum, Mr Copson said that the idea of including Humanism in syllabuses has ‘already proved to be very popular with teachers and parents [and] they want more of it’ and that the government and ‘all the major religious organisations in 2004 agreed that Humanism should be part of RE.’
Mr Copson expressed disappointment, however, that in its new guidance on RE, the government has failed to ‘make it clear that Humanism should be included in RE lessons and that humanist should have the same rights as religious people to sit on those committees that draw the syllabus up.’
Notes
Watch Andrew Copson’s interview with Teacher’s TV.
The BHA believes that children and teenagers should know about non-religious beliefs, values and philosophies. We are currently running a Campaign Action giving voice to the idea that RE should be the study of both religious and non-religious beliefs and also that humanists should have the same right as religious people to be full members of the local committees determining RE syllabuses.
You can take action right now.
For more information, contact
Paul Pettinger, Campaigns Officer (Education and Faith Schools), 020 7462 4993
The British Humanist Association (BHA) is the national charity representing and supporting the non-religious and campaigning for an end to religious privilege and to discrimination based on religion or belief. It is the largest organisation in the UK working for a secular state.
Teachers TV is an editorially independent organisation, funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families, which supports the professional development of teachers and others working in schools.
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