| dc.description.abstract | The relationship between education and religion in Ireland is an important starting point
when examining the landscape of Irish primary schools today. Over 93% of primary schools in
Ireland are Catholic schools, taking a confessional approach towards the teaching of RE
through the patrons’ programme, ‘Grow in Love’. Faas, Darmody and Sokolowska (2015)
argue that this does ‘not adequately address the needs of children of minority faith
backgrounds’ (p.91). Statistics show that Ireland is becoming an increasingly multi-cultural
society, which inevitably brings a broader range of religious beliefs. Yet, the majority of
primary schools in Ireland come under the patronage of the Catholic Church and thus provide
an education in this particular religious denomination, with a minor focus on world religions.
Many have argued that this does not reflect the fact that Ireland is ‘now a multi-cultural, multiethnic and multi-religious society’ (Honohan & Rougier, 2011, p.5).
This study aims to uncover the attitudes and experiences of primary school teachers
teaching RE in Catholic schools. There is a significant lack of literature and research available
in this area, particularly in an Irish context, and thus this research project makes an important
contribution to this field. The main areas of focus include participants experiences of teaching
RE, their thoughts on opting out, their opinions about teaching world religions and discussions
surrounding future change they would like to see implemented in the teaching of RE.
This study used a qualitative approach, facilitated through the use of an online
demographic questionnaire, alongside 8 semi-structured interviews. All participants in this
study were experienced in the teaching of RE in a mainstream setting and are currently teaching
in Catholic schools.
In the findings of this study, it was discovered that teachers generally feel unsupported
in their teaching of RE in Catholic primary schools. Many feel they are left solely responsible
TEACHERS ATTITUDES TOWARDS THE TEACHING OF RE IN CATHOLIC SCHOOLS iv
for the faith formation of the children. They favoured more involvement from both parents and
the parish Priest to support the faith formation of children and to reinforce the teaching that is
happening within Catholic schools in RE. This study recommends a community approach
towards the teaching of RE which involves teachers, parents, and parish Priests.
Additionally, teachers expressed the challenges associated with children opting out of
RE. This causes additional pressures being placed on the teacher, such as the preparation of
extra resources. Teachers also worry about children who have opted out still being exposed to
RE in school and feeling a sense of alienation from their peers owing to their decision to opt
out. This study recommends that clear guidelines are published which will direct schools on
what should be facilitated for children who are opting out, to provide standardised practice
across all Catholic primary schools in Ireland.
Teachers also expressed a positive attitude towards a change within the Grow in Love
programme, which would include an increased amount of time dedicated to the teaching of
world religions. All teachers in this study favoured this but acknowledged that time constraints
in an overpacked curriculum could prevent this change from happening in the future, as well
as an older cohort of teachers who may be reluctant to facilitate this change. This study
recommends that the time allocation for RE is re-examined, as it is found to be something that
the teachers in this study are already struggling with. In re-examining this, more time should
be allocated to the teaching of world religions. | en |
