Amira Tharani produced four brilliant discussion papers for teachers and others. These give wider access to the insights that emerged from the academic conversations. They are ideal for use in CPD and ITE or in community discussions.
Background to the papers
These papers were produced through an innovative process designed to give expression to a wide range of opinion.
Thirteen leading academics and advisers working in a variety of fields relevant to RE were recruited by the REC and gathered for five online conversations in June 2020. They represented a wide range of views on the usefulness of the worldview idea, from enthusiasm to scepticism. Their task was to reflect on the potential implications for RE in schools of the preceding REC literature review that was produced to survey the international academic discussion of the notion of worldview. The conversations were rich, despite the challenges of the online format. They moved between theory and practice, between shared assumptions and deep disagreements. Many of the group found their pre-understandings challenged and found themselves testing new ideas in ways which revealed the potential of the concept of worldview to open up exciting new vistas.
Amira Tharani, who was our consultant from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations running these online conversations (and was herself formerly an RE teacher) wrote a commentary on the online conversations to create the four discussion papers. These papers are her take on the flavour of the conversations having carefully analysed the extensive recordings from the five events. They should not be taken as representing either the consensus of the group or the opinions of any of the individuals involved. Nor are they REC policy. Rather they are stimulus material that will, we hope, support REC member organisations and others in thinking through their response to the worldview idea.