Teaching Buddhism to all Schoolchildren?

[JanieDough]

I think it sounds like an OK idea.

What little I know about Buddhism is peacefulness and acceptance of all things - even of Christianity.

Buddhism as I think most people (beside those really worshipping Buddha) is seen as a way of life, not a religion.


Is it possible to be Buddhist and Christian?

Actual Article here:

Goldie Hawn - Hawn Wants To Teach Buddhism To British Kids - Contactmusic News

 

[edgray]

A friend of mine who's a yoga teacher was involved a few years back in a project that taught meditation to school kids... the results were incredible. The school was a pretty bad one, poor area, badly behaved kids, and the meditation made a massive difference - better behaviour, better attendance, better results in class...

of course the govt decided not to fund the project after the test stage, which was all paid for by donations... it's not in their interest to have happy, well behaved and smart pupils...

 

[JanieDough]

i tutored in the projects, and we used calming techniques

instead of just sending them to time out or detention (Depending on the age)

we also had to calm them down or give them some kind of stress relieving techniques. they started to do this before we even had to correct them.

they just all became very manageable because if they started to get upset they would try to calm themselves down first.


One little boy got so relaxed he unbuttoned his pants!! I laughed and explained you couldn't do that at school.

 

[edgray]

i tutored in the projects, and we used calming techniques

instead of just sending them to time out or detention (Depending on the age)

we also had to calm them down or give them some kind of stress relieving techniques. they started to do this before we even had to correct them.

they just all became very manageable because if they started to get upset they would try to calm themselves down first.


One little boy got so relaxed he unbuttoned his pants!! I laughed and explained you couldn't do that at school.

It's a real shame that more schools and teachers don't adopt those kinds of policies. A 30 minute yoga and meditation session every morning would make such a difference...

 

[Peter Parka]

I have nothing against religious education as long as its done factually. Teach kids what different religions believe but the moment you present their beliefs as facts, that's going too far.

 

[Tyler Durden]

I have nothing against religious education as long as its done factually. Teach kids what different religions believe but the moment you present their beliefs as facts, that's going too far.

^^ This. I like the idea of all major religions being taught in schools. Certainly I would have appreciated a fair minded knowledgeable person around to point out all the basic principle beliefs of each so I could make an informed choice........however........how many people do you know that are THAT religious who are also able to make well informed decisions about teaching all forms of religion fairly to people?

I see it causing more problems than it would solve unfortunately.

As for teaching just Buddhism........no, not unless we can do it fairly with all major religions

 

[Zorak]

Richard Gere is a Buddhist.

'Nuff said :thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown:thumbdown.

 

[Minor Axis]

I have nothing against religious education as long as its done factually. Teach kids what different religions believe but the moment you present their beliefs as facts, that's going too far.

When you have devote Christians implanted into school boards who *know* Jesus is the path to heaven I don't think you're going to get the desired result. I can't speak for any other country than the u.S.

I like the idea of multiple religions/philosophy being taught. It would have to include Atheist and Agnostic. The key would be to allow kids to make their own decisions. This religious exposure would possibly be better in public school than the indoctrination they get in a church.

 

[Zorak]

When you have devote Christians implanted into school boards who *know* Jesus is the path to heaven I don't think you're going to get the desired result. I can't speak for any other country than the u.S.

I have a small question about US schools, are the curriculums created nationally or federally?

 

[Minor Axis]

I have a small question about US schools, are the curriculums created nationally or federally?

There is no US national school board that I am aware of. I believe control is at the State/School District level, however my impression is that to some degree States influence each other.

 

[AnitaBeer]

I don't want my childrens school teaching them anything about religion. It's not their place.

I have no problem with kids saying the pledge of allegiance and not even all kids need to say that. But they just don't have the right to teach all children a religion when all families don't even agree with the same religion in the first place.

 

[Zorak]

I don't want my childrens school teaching them anything about religion. It's not their place.

I have no problem with kids saying the pledge of allegiance and not even all kids need to say that. But they just don't have the right to teach all children a religion when all families don't even agree with the same religion in the first place.

The Pledge of allegiance is fascinating, because originally there was no mention of God in it, as I'm sure you know

It adhered to Washington and co's original vision of a secular, enlightened society. Funny how time makes a mockery of that lol

 

[Minor Axis]

I don't want my childrens school teaching them anything about religion. It's not their place.

I have no problem with kids saying the pledge of allegiance and not even all kids need to say that. But they just don't have the right to teach all children a religion when all families don't even agree with the same religion in the first place.

My suggestion was for exposure to religion, the broad spectrum of religions, not indocrination into a single dogma as carried out by parents and churches. However I also agree that parents should have a say in the matter being able to opt their kids out, because as a parent I definitely would not want my kids being taught a single condoned religion in school as decided by a school board.

As far as "not schools place" there would be more possibility there to get a neutral view of different beliefs versus in a church. However I acknowledge that it might be difficult to find neutral people to teach it.

 

[porterjack]

kindness
compassion and foregiveness should be taught at every school

just dont give it a name and dont credit it to anyone deity

 

[Zorak]

My suggestion was for exposure to religion, the broad spectrum of religions, not indocrination into a single dogma as carried out by parents and churches. However I also agree that parents should have a say in the matter being able to opt their kids out, because as a parent I definitely would not want my kids being taught a single condoned religion in school as decided by a school board.

As far as "not schools place" there would be more possibility there to get a neutral view of different beliefs versus in a church. However I acknowledge that it might be difficult to find neutral people to teach it.

:homo:

I couldn't agree more really. Children need to be educated, not indoctrinated. It's hard to be tolerant when from a young age you're taught that your religion is right, and everybody else is going to Hell :24:

 

[Minor Axis]

:homo:

I couldn't agree more really. Children need to be educated, not indoctrinated. It's hard to be tolerant when from a young age you're taught that your religion is right, and everybody else is going to Hell :24:

That is a hilarious notion as if they are sure there is a Hell...

 

[JanieDough]

I have nothing against religious education as long as its done factually. Teach kids what different religions believe but the moment you present their beliefs as facts, that's going too far.

Yes - I agree - educated them on what else is out there and let them know that the world is not a Christian one, that there are many religions.

There is no US national school board that I am aware of. I believe control is at the State/School District level, however my impression is that to some degree States influence each other.

The federal government regulates the state systems through benchmarks and aptitude tests like LEAP and IOWA.

I don't want my childrens school teaching them anything about religion. It's not their place.

I have no problem with kids saying the pledge of allegiance and not even all kids need to say that. But they just don't have the right to teach all children a religion when all families don't even agree with the same religion in the first place.

What if they were teaching them about the religions like you would teach people about history?? Not trying to persuade them one way or the other - just informing the kids what is out there and what other people believe.

I think it would be beneficial for some people to know that Jews, Muslims and Christians all worship the same God, they just have different saviors.

I think it would create a more open minded society because the first spark of a closed mind is ignorance.

 

[AnitaBeer]

Yes - I agree - educated them on what else is out there and let them know that the world is not a Christian one, that there are many religions.



The federal government regulates the state systems through benchmarks and aptitude tests like LEAP and IOWA.




What if they were teaching them about the religions like you would teach people about history?? Not trying to persuade them one way or the other - just informing the kids what is out there and what other people believe.

I think it would be beneficial for some people to know that Jews, Muslims and Christians all worship the same God, they just have different saviors.

I think it would create a more open minded society because the first spark of a closed mind is ignorance.

I guess my issue is that some people don't believe in God at all so it would be wrong to teach anything about God. I understand many worship the same God and my family believes in him. But not all do and I don't believe it right to teach something that can not be proven is there.

History is different there are facts that can prove those things happened. Where as there is so much controvery over if there is really anything that can prove there is a God.

My opinion is it's best to teach anything about religion outside of schools. It's not a hard thing for parents to teach their kids. My kids are learning a little bit about different religions, but its through me because I don't want them to be stuck on a one minded track when it comes to religion, but I also want to keep it separate from their school learnings.

 

[Pabst]

i oppose teaching them buddhism because it goes against the very concept of not having a state sponsored religion. if you want to teach it in private schools, fine, but public schools should be religiously neutral. i'm not against religion in case anyone wants to flame me and think i'm some anti religion person, i'm not. i even like buddhism but in a public school setting it shouldn't be there.

it also isnt fair to other religions who are excluded from this and i oppose it for that reason too.

 

[Pabst]

kindness
compassion and foregiveness should be taught at every school

i'm more inclined to believe that's what parents should be doing. expecting schools to teach kids every thing is possibly why kids arent doing very well, aside from the fact standards have slipped and many other factors i wont go into here.

kids DO learn social skills just as a result of being in a group setting and all but parents have a role in teaching their kids too and things like this should come from them. more and more parents are expecting the schools to do this and are becoming less and less involved in what their kids learn. my mother in law saw this as a math teacher in high school. she'd get parents bitching at her because she would give bad grades to kids who didnt show up with the right materials for class, didnt study for tests, didnt participate in class, etc. they blamed HER for this, not their own child.

we're a lets blame someone else society. it makes it easier for a lazy parent to excuse their piss poor parenting skills if they think someone else should be doing it.


this probably isnt why you're saying that and dont think im accusing you of this but that's what lots of parents are doing more of these days.

i was taught some things like you're talking about in school when i was quite young but my parents taught me these things more. i went to school to learn, but my parents taught me to read and helped reinforce the importance of being able to read, they encouraged me to read as much as possible. i dont think i'd have read as much if they hadnt because school sure didnt teach me that. schools can only do so much is my point, parents need to shoulder some of the burden also.