Programme 311, Gerry O'Connell on Religious Education (10-1-18)

Presented and produced by Seán Delaney   On this week's programme I speak to my colleague in the Marino Institute of Education, Dr. Gerry O'Connell about religious education. Gerry is a primary teacher and a teacher educator with vast experience and his ideas are grounded in this experience and in his scholarly work in the field. Among the topics discussed this week are the following: The difference between teaching religion and religious education The importance of starting with the students’ experiences The challenges of working with diverse student experiences The teaching methodology “Godly Play” Social media as a force of oppression Why contemplative space, depth of conversation or wonder and symbol or story are central to religious education Whether sacraments should be taught in school or in parishes What makes a teacher? Teaching as a vocation A perceived secularist agenda in some media organisations