Religious and Moral education
I continue my journey exploring how to move forward with my children’s homeschooling education. I’m interested in learning about education and how we arrived here with the system we have. I am curious about our education system, the accepted expectations in our society around this topic, and decisions parents and families made in the past.
I previously wrote about my explorations on what I should be teaching my children academically – analytical learning versus creative and pragmatic learning. https://thereisnoshouldbe.com/fostering-creativity-in-everyday-life/
I’m carrying on down that line for a while by looking at teaching in the past – what was important to them, and what engaged adolescents in those times.
This week’s book
On this point I have been reading The RoutledgeFalmer Reader in History of Education, edited by Gary McCullochon. Starting at the very beginning of the book I’ve been reading about the rise and fall of Oxbridge and the University of Edinburgh between 1560 and 1880. What struck me the most was the priority of religious and moral studies, and of good manners and behaviour, far above actual academic learning. Also, I found the importance of personal tutors (or mentors) was pivotal in the development and maturing of the adolescent pupils. And finally of note was the choice in classes and topics of learning was instrumental to students actually attending classes (rather than going out on the town!)
Proportion of religious and moral studies
The book starts in 1560, with ‘the rise of the Oxbridge College tutorial system’. Parents of wealthy families would send their ‘annoying’ adolescents to live under the care and watch of a tutor. I was fascinated to learn the content and priority of the college was predominantly moral standards, religious teaching and practice, good behaviour, and most of all, keeping adolescents out of trouble! I find this so interesting. It is a far cry from the priorities in our educational institutions country wide! Families, parents and tutors recognised the importance of keeping their youth on the straight and narrow – this was the main desired outcome for the parents.
Raising leaders
The importance of good values and good morals in the adolescents was more than of personal benefit. These youth would go on to become influential in their adulthood, shaping the country in their time. p21 “But a high proportion of the other intellectual, cultural and political leaders of England were certainly deeply influenced by their university experience, mostly for the better.” This was particularly important (as it is now!) We are indeed raising the next generation of leaders. The input of religious and moral studies for our children, the ability for them to think situations through fully to fruition, the ethical impact, and with justice and mercy is imperative for a country desiring fairness, justice and morality.
Christian practice and the justice system
The (Christian) religious and moral lessons and example that was being set those centuries ago was to shape the direction of our country and its justice system as we know it now. The most fair justice systems around the world today were developed in times of Christian influence. That is not to say that there aren’t gaping holes in history there, but to overlook the benefits of a Christian justice system would be not to see the wood for the trees. Such is the importance of religious and moral education for our children.
Homeschool lifestyle with faith principles
When developing a homeschool lifestyle, it seems clear to me that teaching faith principles (through life experiences) should actually be of much higher priority than purely academic content. I can secure my belief here with the understanding that creative experiences enhance academic learning and motivation significantly anyway. Positive, explorative experiences that allow opportunities in Christian teaching seem to be a vital part of any child’s upbringing.
Especially where analytical learning is so predominant, teaching of a spiritual and faith based nature is vital for our children to have a well rounded and holistic education.
According to the book at hand, tutors main obligations were influence over religious and moral teaching and practice, finance and behaviour.
p16 “John Locke… defined as its first priorities the inculcation of virtue, wisdom and good manners. “I put learning last,” he said.”
Importance of personal tutors
What is so interesting about the fall of this successful age of education (or child care) in Oxbridge was that it was due to the toppling of the tutor system. Over the years the massive influx of students, and the hoarding of pupils by the senior fellows, meant that there was no longer the personal mentoring relationship between tutor and students. Now there were 50 pupils to one tutor, with any hope of mentorship cast to the side and personal tuition lessons now became impersonal lecturers. The meaningful discussions that must have taken place now were one sided monologues. It was now one tutor that gave all the lessons on all the topics. Education and discipline collapsed.
Importance of choice in learning
Meanwhile, in Edinburgh, the university was already in the depths of student entitlement and frivolity. The gentlemen of the university got together,strategising on how to turn their college model around. Their solution couldn’t have been better, for educational purposes nor behaviour. Lecturers of the ‘highest qualifications of scholarship, moral rectitude and teaching ability’ were brought in to teach on their specific area of expertise. Religious and moral education was still important, possibly more as an example and a nuance.
Students could choose their classes (and paid for them), resulting in a University described as, “it is not easy to conceive a university where industry was more general, where reading was more fashionable, where indolence and ignorance were more disreputable. Every mind was in a state of fermentation” (Horn, Sir James Macintosh).
Choice in studies and subjects is a huge part to self motivation for children, and a natural love of learning. This is where homeschooling is particularly rich in opportunity. Whether homeschooling, or unschooling, children are able to pursue areas of interest and have the space to actively seek out information and creative experiences around these areas.
The impressionable energy of adolescents
What is clear to me is that whatever opportunities were taught or provided for the youth those 300 years ago, whether with personal, spiritual and meaningful teaching, or the freedom to explore the pubs and taverns or the entertainment on street corners, were received by the youth one way or another. The students took whatever was in front of them with fervour, in their impressionable pursuit of connection. Connection and experience was what they sought, as it continues to be today.
Our children will gravitate towards anything that is available for them to find connection with. Tutors who lived and prayed with them was connection. Entertainment in taverns and street corners was connection, alongside their peers. One way or another children or youth need outlets for their energy – stimulating learning experiences and close, relational input. There is so much discovery and adventure to be had.
We need to think about the connection that we’re willing to provide our children with. If we’re willing to be around and present for them, or if we’d rather they were predominantly raised by their peers. https://thereisnoshouldbe.com/intuition-for-bullied-children/
Coming back to tutors
Tutors seem to have been of great importance and value in a youth’s upbringing.
What eventually brought back good education and discipline in Oxbridge a century after its demise (after the introduction of compulsory examinations) was the private hiring of tutors by parents once more. Intimate teaching and learning has such a profound impact of young ones.
I think we can see this is still the case 300 years later – they are not necessarily the best schools that record the best exam results – they are often those whose parents of pupils hire private tutors for their children. Good tutors and mentors continue to be one of the best ways to facilitate practical religious and moral studies for our youth.
Who we choose to be around them, and so to influence them, is of vital consideration. Entire generations of youth have either floundered their adolescence away or benefited from moral and educational stimulation depending on what was provided for them. It’s a consideration for parents who send their children to school, and trust in the staff and pupils there. And it’s a major consideration for parents homeschooling.
How I provide religious and moral education
I make it priority to seek out positive mentors (people older than them) and friends who will befriend and influence my children. Friends, scouting groups, Sunday school, judo classes, science and literacy tutors. These are examples of my efforts in providing my children with an accessible-for-them religious and moral, and behavioural education. So many lessons that my children don’t want to hear from me (as their parent). So many restrictions I don’t want impose. I prefer to provide for them opportunities and people that they can bounce off, so the lessons can connect from the head, to the heart.
Pingback: Innocence and for their childhood - My Blog