Page 4 - The Portal magazine - March 2025

THE P RTAL March 2025 Page 4
Help needed

- RE in schools Aun t ie

Aun t ie
Joanna Bogle J
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RE YOU worried that boys and girls in our mainstream schools a
Aare not learning much about Jesus Christ? At one time, lessons - often wri t t es
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simply called Scripture – with a study of the basic outline or the Old Testament,
and some fairly detailed study of Christ’s life in the New – were standard in Britain’s schools.
Today, Christianity is specifically in the curriculum, of teachers – they are grateful for a well-structured,
and some schools do a reasonable job of introducing interesting and organised project that can be put into
pupils to the basic notions of the Christian Faith. This action and suits pupils of varying abilities.
is done, of course, by presenting Christianity as one
among the various religions of the world – albeit one The incidents the pupils must study include those
with a particular place in the history and traditions of that reveal Christ’s full identity as God. He was not
our country. a prophet. He was not a figure giving general kindly
messages about love or peace. He is God the Son, one
But things are often made difficult by the simple of the Blessed Trinity with the Father and the Holy
fact that many of our younger teachers simply do Spirit. In the Gospels, He heals the sick, calms a storm
not have any real familiarity with Christianity. at sea, makes the blind see and the deaf hear – even
“Church” is something that is outside their everyday raises people from the dead. He called Lazarus out of
experience. Whereas at one time, all sorts of events the tomb where the dead man had been lying for three
and activities revolved around local churches – days. He took the hand of Jairus’ little daughter and
Scouts and Guides, carol services at Christmas, lots of she sat up. Christ challenges us to ask ourselves: “Who
weddings throughout the year - today some of these is this man – that even the wind and sea obey Him?”
have been peeled away from direct contact with prayer
and worship. And, of course, the place of Sunday in The incidents from which pupils choose for their
our common lives has changed. It’s now standard to essays include at least one post-Resurrection event, and
assume that it is a day for relaxing, eating out, maybe always a powerful healing miracle. Pupils are expected
enjoying some outdoor hobby or some gardening – or to show evidence of having studied the Scriptures and
just a day for watching a lot of stuff on the internet. we often find that they have spent weeks on the project,
Some young teachers honestly have no idea of what reading through each incident and discussing it before
goes on in a local church. choosing one.

Rather than saying “Well, there is nothing to be A large number of prizes - Bibles, Christian classics
done…a lot of what goes on in schools today is ghastly such as C S Lewis “Mere Christianity” and other
anyway” and switching the conversation to the latest books - are won by schools every year. Teams of
horror in sex education or whatever, we need to take volunteers pack and post the books, and each prize
up our responsibilities. It is perfectly possible to offer carries an attractive bookplate with the young winner’s
some good Religious Education in schools. The annual name. And, as mentioned, the main winners come to
Schools Bible Project, running successfully for over 30 London to receive their prizes. They are given a tour
years, offers attractive prizes and an annual celebratory of Westminster Abbey with their parents and teachers,
gathering in Westminster – all well-funded. and the prizes are presented in a formal ceremony. This
is always popular – it is a myth that young people do not
Essentially, pupils at secondary schools across want or appreciate formal events and a taste of history.
Britain are invited to study events in the life of Christ,
and to write about them as if they had actually been Want to help? Contact me. An email to me via The
present. Every year, an attractive brochure is sent Portal – or direct at schoolsbibleproject@gmail.com
to every secondary school in the country – by mail – will gain you all the info you need. I am keen to
and by email – and pupils get to work. As one of the involve Portal readers and Ordinariate members in
organisers, I can testify to the goodwill and interest this important work. Please help!