Social & Moral Issues Education

DEPT OF EDUCATION PROMOTES ACCEPTANCE OF AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION 10 September 2003 Yesterday, 9 September 2003, the Department of Education distributed a document 'Commemoration Days: A guide to public holidays, special and religious days celebrated in South Africa' and a multi-religious calendar together with its religion in education policy. It appears to be a kind of text book or guide for teachers about religion education and includes information about all South African religions. It explains about ancestors, healing, divining, visiting sangomas, witchcraft and initiation. The section on African Traditional Religion includes the following questions for learners: "Have you ever attended a traditional ritual? Share your experiences with the class (if you feel comfortable doing this?" "Do you know anything about your ancestors? Explain" "Do you think there is any similarity between a traditional diviner and a psychologist?" "Have you, or do you know anybody who has visited a sangoma or inyanga? Share your experiences and ideas (if you feel comfortable with this) about traditional healers with the class." "Do you think it is important for people to keep their traditional beliefs? Explain." "Do you think you have a responsibility to take traditions that belong to past generations into the future. Explain." "How did you feel about traditional Southern African beliefs at the start of this learning process? Has your attitude changed in any way?"   Clearly, all these questions are designed to break down a Christian child's natural abhorrence of witchcraft and ancestor worship and allow those who do practice these things to influence other children. The document then includes a reiteration of Kader Asmal's anti-single faith religious instruction policy with extracts from the Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy, Gauteng Education Act, and GDE Circular 13/2001. The Religion in Education policy forbids Christian teachers to speak negatively about other religions. Thus, they would not be allowed to warn children about the evil of involving themselves in these activities.  How many Christian parents would be comfortable with their children being taught material like this in this way? This gives us additional motivation to fight the proposed Religion in Education policy. Protest to Edcent Williams at   Philip Rosenthal CHRISTIAN VIEW is a news and information service on issues of concern to Christians in South Africa. To receive Christianview, email receive@christianview.org To view past messages, visit www.archive.christianview.org Please forward and photocopy Christian View to give to friends and put on church or society notice boards. For more information, email the editor or phone 082 676 8966. Please  with any information, details of planned activities and organisations' statements on issues. _______________________________________________ Please read our disclaimer   Back to Social Issues