Comments on: To Integrate or Celebrate Diversity? http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/ A BLOG about life as a teacher of Religious, Moral & Philosophical Studies at Knox Academy, East Lothian. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 03:29:31 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: anonymous http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-82 anonymous Wed, 02 Jan 2008 22:40:10 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-82 hey! interesting blog! keep up the good work!:D x hey! interesting blog! keep up the good work!:D x

]]> By: Luke http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-74 Luke Thu, 25 Oct 2007 10:30:05 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-74 I know, I am against RMPS being included as a Social Subject since, as you say under A Curriculum for Excellence guidelines it is a discrete subject area and requires time tabling allocation which is significantly different from other subjects (i.e. core provision from S1-S4). Thank you for the comment - interesting blog! I know, I am against RMPS being included as a Social Subject since, as you say under A Curriculum for Excellence guidelines it is a discrete subject area and requires time tabling allocation which is significantly different from other subjects (i.e. core provision from S1-S4).

Thank you for the comment - interesting blog!

]]> By: Didactophobe http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-72 Didactophobe Sat, 20 Oct 2007 09:22:03 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-72 " guess I’m worried about potentially diluting the learners’ experience and presenting a shallow, stretched and restricted overview on some really interesting and, of course, complex subjects areas" I think you are right to be worried. All the evidence shows that a thematic approach to RMPS is not appropriate for S1/2. Just as learning about the biology of a frog does not help one to learn French, I am not convinced that integration of social subjects with RME (which is a discrete curriculum area under CfE) is in any way educationally beneficial. Within the context of a faculty, it is easy to see where management's priorities lie. To save money, the local authority has authorised the appointment of a PT to oversee subjects in which he/she may or may not have any knowledge, aptitude or interest. [I have no idea who your PT is and it is the principle I object to.] That IMHO is despicable and shows a contempt for learners as well as teachers. In order to pretend that this approach works, there is now the pressure for 'integration': within the social subjects, this can work up to a point, just as it can within the sciences. RMPS is not, however, a social subject. In S1/2, children need IMHO to be largely following a systematic approach to build their knowledge of the world religions you wish to cover (under CfE they do not need to study all six). Where there are opportunities for cooperative working, by all means let's take them, but it must not dilute the distinctiveness of RMPS nor undermine the specialist knowledge which you have. ” guess I’m worried about potentially diluting the learners’ experience and presenting a shallow, stretched and restricted overview on some really interesting and, of course, complex subjects areas”

I think you are right to be worried. All the evidence shows that a thematic approach to RMPS is not appropriate for S1/2. Just as learning about the biology of a frog does not help one to learn French, I am not convinced that integration of social subjects with RME (which is a discrete curriculum area under CfE) is in any way educationally beneficial.

Within the context of a faculty, it is easy to see where management’s priorities lie. To save money, the local authority has authorised the appointment of a PT to oversee subjects in which he/she may or may not have any knowledge, aptitude or interest. [I have no idea who your PT is and it is the principle I object to.] That IMHO is despicable and shows a contempt for learners as well as teachers.

In order to pretend that this approach works, there is now the pressure for ‘integration’: within the social subjects, this can work up to a point, just as it can within the sciences. RMPS is not, however, a social subject. In S1/2, children need IMHO to be largely following a systematic approach to build their knowledge of the world religions you wish to cover (under CfE they do not need to study all six). Where there are opportunities for cooperative working, by all means let’s take them, but it must not dilute the distinctiveness of RMPS nor undermine the specialist knowledge which you have.

]]> By: Sharon http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-71 Sharon Tue, 09 Oct 2007 06:24:44 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-71 Hi Luke, I fully understand your position on this subject, a subject that I also felt the need to write a post about. I think from our own persepectives we are enthusiastic about our own subject areas and feel confident in teaching them. This is not putting down any other subect in any way, just acknowledging that we are specialists in our chosen fields. Having taought Modern Studies, RMPS and Geography over the past 3 years, I know that while I try very hard to learn the content and skills involved in what I am teaching, I do not deliver the lessons with the same ease and confidence. The question has to be how does this reflect upon Learning and Teaching? As I have mentioned in my own post there are arguments for and against integration and I believe that the discussions will go on for the forseeable future. Nonetheless, the most important thing is that the final descision is made with consideration on the impact it will ultimately have on the pupils. Regards Sharon Hi Luke,

I fully understand your position on this subject, a subject that I also felt the need to write a post about. I think from our own persepectives we are enthusiastic about our own subject areas and feel confident in teaching them. This is not putting down any other subect in any way, just acknowledging that we are specialists in our chosen fields. Having taought Modern Studies, RMPS and Geography over the past 3 years, I know that while I try very hard to learn the content and skills involved in what I am teaching, I do not deliver the lessons with the same ease and confidence. The question has to be how does this reflect upon Learning and Teaching?

As I have mentioned in my own post there are arguments for and against integration and I believe that the discussions will go on for the forseeable future. Nonetheless, the most important thing is that the final descision is made with consideration on the impact it will ultimately have on the pupils.

Regards
Sharon

]]> By: lukehenryfrancis http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-70 lukehenryfrancis Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:59:08 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-70 I know, its just something which everybody appears to be getting anxious about and I was just airing my own opinion. It is definitely a mind field. Many thanks for the link. I know, its just something which everybody appears to be getting anxious about and I was just airing my own opinion. It is definitely a mind field.

Many thanks for the link.

]]> By: Don http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-69 Don Mon, 08 Oct 2007 20:47:34 +0000 http://edubuzz.org/blogs/lukehenryfrancis/2007/10/08/to-integrate-or-celebrate-diversity/#comment-69 Luke Just to clarify things. There is no drive from the centre for "integration". This might help? http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2007/06/24/disciplinary-learning-straightjacket-or-cornerstone Luke

Just to clarify things. There is no drive from the centre for “integration”.

This might help?

http://edubuzz.org/blogs/donsblog/2007/06/24/disciplinary-learning-straightjacket-or-cornerstone

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