Educational Goals of European Teachers
Researcher: Dipl.-Theol. Daniela Popp M.A.
Promoted by Prof. Hans-Georg Ziebertz together with Prof. Reinders (Würzburg) and Prof. Schweitzer (Tübingen)
Research Context
One of the main tasks of schooling is to prepare the next generation for a peaceful and democratic life together in society. The modern European society is characterised by a plurality of religious and cultural patterns. There is a wide diversity concerning denominational imprint, presence of non-Christian religions and individual religiousness. This variety forms a considerable condition in regard to a „learning to live together“. In this respect the role and contribution of religious education (RE) in school is judged differently within Europe; its contentual and organisational realisation differs depending on the country-specific situation.
Research Questions
An explorative survey among teachers of RE will give new insights into the European field of RE by taking the perspective of practical experts into account:
- How do teachers of RE cope with this situation of plurality?
- What is their vision of an ideal RE?
- Do teachers of different European countries agree or disagree in their vision of an ideal religious education?
- Do certain personal characteristics as religiosity and value orientation influence their way of teaching?
Research Aims
The new empirical basis will allow an appropriate reflection and discussion of the question how to teach religion in a multicultural Europe in a responsible way. The study will deal with the question to what extent national contexts of religion and religious education are actually comparable and whether institutionalised religious education could fulfil certain criteria and goals all over Europe.
Method
Quantitative survey. The analyses are based on a survey of RE-teachers from 18 European countries including Turkey, which was carried out in autumn 2006 by the TRES-Network. The data evaluation of the PHD-project concentrates on 12 nations from different geographic regions of Europe, each represented by 150 respondents (N=1800).
