Teaching religion

Orion

Posting here a question for primary teachers - as a result of a discussion on A&A.

Are teachers in denominational schools required to teach religion outside of rostered hours? Is teaching of religion voluntary or part of the core curriculum and required? And can a teacher be made to teach religion in their own time (as in non-paid/after school/lunch break).

My own educated opinion to those three questions is No/Core - non optional/No. Some people are suggesting otherwise in A&A and I'm disputing their "facts".

Lady_North1

I work in a catholic primary school (not a teacher tho). Two teachers from my school go to two different educate together schools and teach religion after school. And get paid for it.

Not sure if this is of any help in your discussion but no teacher in these educate together schools teach religion after school so my friends go there and give the lessons. Might be different in other schools.

byhookorbycrook

Traditionally religion WAS taught on the lunch break, the lunch hour once allocated became a half hour lunch and half hour teaching religion . Hence in primary, religion was taught from 12-12.30 to allow those not taking part to go home for the hour.

Big Bag of Chips

Orion wrote: »

And can a teacher be made to teach religion in their own time (as in non-paid/after school/lunch break).

I'd hope a teacher couldn't be made to teach anything unpaid in their own time!

SamforMayo

Is it a core subject though? If an inspector walks in you are not obliged to have a yearly scheme or fortnightly notes for Religion. Neither does it appear on the Monthly reports.

MouseTail

SamforMayo wrote: »

Is it a core subject though? If an inspector walks in you are not obliged to have a yearly scheme or fortnightly notes for Religion. Neither does it appear on the Monthly reports.

it is part of the core curriculum. Educate Together also teach religion, or rather an ethics based programme, and community national schools teach all religions.