Religious Education is now identified as a shortage subject as a growing number of pupils in schools opt for it. The growing emphasis on children's moral and spiritual education, the DfEE's hunt for new teachers, OFSTED's calls for improvement and reinforced links with philosophy have pushed the subject into the spotlight. Based on research and partnership with schools this book examines and explains :
* the role of Religious Education in the curriculum
* the role of spirituality in children's lives
* better teaching practice, giving practical examples.
List of figures vii Foreword viii Acknowledgements xii Introduction xiii True stories and other dreams 1(14) Clive Erricker SECTION I Reconstructing the character and purposes of religious and spiritual education A critical review of religious education 15(21) Clive Erricker A critical review of spiritual education 36(23) Clive Erricker Relativism, postmodernism and the spirit of educational enquiry 59(22) Clive Erricker SECTION II Narrative, morality and community Moral education as relationship in community 81(26) Jane Erricker Narrative constructions towards community 107(28) Jane Clive Erricker SECTION III Pedagogy: putting theory into practice Principles of pedagogical practice 135(6) Clive Jane Erricker Concept mapping: a starting point for narration 141(9) Jane Erricker Developing emotional literacy 150(13) Jane Erricker Childrens stories and responses 163(10) Jane Clive Erricker Reading pictures and telling stories 173(8) Clive Erricker Enactive storytelling 181(9) Clive Erricker Postscript 189(1) References 190(1) Bibliography 190(16) Index 206
Clive Erricker is Reader in the Study of Religions at University College Chichester. He is also the Chair of the Shap Working Party in World Religions in Education. Jane Erricker is Research Officer for Education and Senior Lecturer at King Alfred's College Winchester. They are co-directors of the Children and Worldviews Research Project and co-editors of The International Journal of Children's Spirituality.