Learning about Judaism: a contribution to the debate on multi‐faith religious education

Abstract

Following the recent publication of the Model Syllabuses for Religious Education, this paper considers some of the arguments surrounding multi‐faith teaching. Focusing specifically on children learning about Judaism, it reports the findings of two studies. The first, involving 12‐ and 13‐year‐olds, offers prima facie support to those who criticise a multi‐faith approach on the grounds that it inevitably leads to confusion. The second, carried out with a younger age group, undermines the force of this criticism, for it was discovered that the children had acquired misconceptions about Judaism outside the sphere of formal education. The implications of the second study are discussed in the context of claims made on behalf of multicultural education.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Geoffrey Short

Geoffrey Short is currently a Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Hertfordshire. In recent years he has published articles on teaching about the Holocaust and on the school's role in combating anti‐Semitism. Bruce Carrington, Senior Lecturer in Education at the University of Newcastle‐upon‐Tyne has published widely in the area of ‘race’, ethnicity and education.