Changes to RE teaching due

Express and Echo 20 June 2007

Devon Humanists have welcomed a call from the School's Inspectorate for changes in the teaching of religious education.

The report said teachers should include ways in which religion is not always a force for good.

Devon Humanists are affiliated to The British Humanist Association.

Roger Green, for Devon Humanists, said traditional claims that religious teachings are the only source of moral beliefs was rejected by Humanists, who claimed that the widely held consensus on moral values is a function of our evolution and our psychological development as individuals.

He said: "Humanists have been encouraged by the recent proposal from the Department for Education that teaching about religion should also include teaching about Humanism and other non-religious beliefs."

The Devon group has already drawn the attention of Devon secondary schools to this change and has offered support to schools via pages for teachers on its local website – devonhumanists.org.uk – and visits by Humanist speakers.

Mr Green said: "The new proposals, which make non-religious elements a "non-statutory" option, will be incorporated into Devon's new syllabus for RE which is due to come out in the autumn. Meanwhile, the Humanists will be hoping for the support of traditional religious groups in Devon's response to Ofsted's call."