ERIC Number: EJ1128633
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2017
Pages: N/A
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0145-9635
EISSN: N/A
Religiously Dedicated, an Uncommon Approach
Haviland, Margaret; Eppler, Kevin; O'Brien, Jennifer
Independent School, v76 n2 Win 2017
Almost countercultural today, focusing on the humanities--examining what it means to be human, understanding our cultures, and learning to embrace what Jonathan Sacks calls the "Dignity of Difference"--provides students with the tools to reclaim our public spaces, our public dialogue, and our businesses and corporations from the venal, shallow, amoral, and even criminal. While all the humanities have their place, this article focuses on the ways in which religious studies bring a particular focus to this work. At Westtown School (Pennsylvania), where Margaret Haviland is the assistant head for faculty and program, the faculty wants their focus on Quakerism and religious studies to help create empathetic changemakers in all fields of study. While most schools are opting for fewer religion courses and requirements, Westtown has more than doubled the requirements and instructional time. This article discusses how Westtown has transformed their religious studies program to afford students the opportunity to develop and test their own ethical grounding and their empathetic approach to understanding other's beliefs and worldviews.
Descriptors: Humanities Instruction, Cultural Awareness, Religion Studies, Religious Education, Religious Cultural Groups, Empathy, Change Agents, Required Courses, Ethical Instruction, World Views, Time Factors (Learning), Time on Task, Religious Factors, Private Schools
National Association of Independent Schools. 1620 L Street NW Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20036. Tel: 800-793-6701; Tel: 202-973-9700; Fax: 202-973-9790; Web site: http://www.nais.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Pennsylvania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A