NSW high school students will be taught in English classes to question the meaning of life through a new resource from Christian educators aimed at promoting ‘values-based’ education in schools.
Anglican Youthworks and the Council for Christian Education in Schools (Victoria) have teamed up to produce the Worldview resource for English teachers and Year 10 students.
It is the first time the publishing arm of Youthworks, Christian Educational Publishing, has produced material for the general curriculum. Until now CEP has supported religious education only in state and non-government schools and children’s and youth ministry in parishes.
“It is an appropriate time to address the question of what worldviews are shaping society,” said Grant Maple, Director of Anglican Education Commission. “No longer can we expect students to have some knowledge of the Christian basis of Western societies. Learning in Religious Education classes is often compartmentalised in students’ minds. This resource challenges the way [they] think about life.”
Students will analyse values in texts such as Romeo and Juliet and To Kill a Mockingbird. Advertisements, films and TV serials will also be studied.