Towards an Understanding of the Notion of the Spiritual in Education

Abstract

The notion of the ‘spiritual’ is notoriously difficult to define. While it has been a legal requirement for schools to develop the spiritual aspect of children's lives Since 1944, it is only recently that any serious attempt has been made to define what is meant by the term.

It is not surprising then that teachers have to a large extent left the exploration of the spiritual to one side. If they are unsure of what is meant by the term they are hardly likely to build it into the daily curriculum of the children. I would argue that for any talk of the spiritual to make sense in practical terms it is essential that some understanding of the notion is arrived at. We cannot hope to begin developing the spiritual in children unless we have some idea of what it is we are trying to develop.

Key Word:

• Spiritual
• understanding of
• education