Christian College Criticised for Suggesting a Bible-based Curriculum

In the UK, the education system is undergoing changes as the government recently drafted out new plans for reforms. As church or Christian organisation-based schools contribute a great part to the UK’s Education system, many of them have begun to suggest and work on the curriculum so as to resist the increasing secular influences on the next generation. A document entitled, “Christianity and Curriculum”, was issued by the Emmanuel Schools Foundation.

Basically, the document suggested that all the subjects should be infused with “Christian truth” and taught in a Christian context. For instance, it says that “Religion and Art are linked together by a common goal: to serve the glory of God and celebrate the complex beauty of His creation.” It also claims that “the study of science is not an end in itself but a glimpse into the rational and powerful hand of the Almighty”

Even when teaching history, it should be presented in “a frame of reference in which God is sovereign”, that means behind every incident, there is a will of God. It was stated that “In history, we are also able to present to students certain historical actions or philosophies held in the past which are consistent with Biblical Truth”.

In the light of declining social moral values, the document emphasised the importance of the traditional family unit, heterosexual marriage, faithfulness, the positive option of celibacy/singleness, sexual purity and self-control. These should all be presented in a positive and sensitive light as God’s ideal.

The modern Christian foundation runs a series of state schools on biblical principles, which has sparked a lot of debate amongst teachers and parents after the issue of this document. The document has now been taken back and the school claimed that it is now in redesign.

The Parent’s Action Group hav expressed their concern that “Creationist” teaching and “Biblical Literalism” would give children an unrealistic view of the world. The document is commented as “outraged” that a form of “brainwashing” may be taking place.

Mary Bousted, General Secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, had written to the Prime Minister to express her concerns. She accused the Christian foundation for going beyond the measured framework laid down in the national curriculum for religious education and using the national curriculum as a vehicle to teach fundamentalist Christianity.

“It flies in the face of the basic purpose of education - to provide a rational basis for children to make considered and informed choices,” she added.

Responding to all the criticism, a spokesperson for the foundation said, “The material doesn’t represent what’s being taught on a day-to-day basis in our schools. We do teach the national curriculum.”