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possibly the most important subject on the curriculum
The department of Religion and Philosophy at Poole Grammar school is forward-looking and dynamic.
The aims and objectives of the department of Religion and Philosophy relate directly to the aims of Poole Grammar School, the main aim is:
"Personal Excellence through Commitment and Service"
However we particularly support aims 4 & 5 which are:
4. To encourage respect for positive human achievement and an awareness of the contribution of individuals to the welfare and progress of humankind.
5. To support students in their spiritual development including an appropriate respect and tolerance regarding religious and moral values of others.
The study of religion and philosophy at Poole Grammar School seeks to offer pupils structured guidance in understanding the spiritual and moral dimensions of their lives; will assist the pupils in adopting a flexible and measured approach to preparation for later life in a complex changing society and will achieve these aims by encouraging the pupils to enjoy learning, thinking and doing in an environment firmly based upon Christian principles.
"The principal aim of Religious Education is to help children mature in relation to their own patterns of belief and behaviour through exploring religious beliefs and practices and related human experiences."
Read G. Westhill Project 1986
This department feels that:
"If education is restricted to understanding, pupils will be ill-equipped to perceive religion and religions as relevant to them as a possible and legitimate interpretation of human experience"
Michael Kinkaid 1991.
This last idea is well summed up in this little poem:
The Taste of the Moon
When I was a child I sat an exam.
The test was simple.
There was no way I could fail.Q1. Describe the taste of the moon. It tastes like creation I wrote, It has the flavour of starlight.
Q2. What colour is love? Love is the colour of water A man lost in the desert finds, I wrote.
Q3.Why do snowflakes melt? I wrote, they melt because they fall Onto the warm tongue of God.
There were other questions They were just as simple.
I described the grief of Adam
When he was expelled from Eden.
I wrote the exact weight of
An elephant's dream.
Yet today, many years later.
For my living I sweep the streets
Or clean out the toilets of the fat hotels.
Why?
Because I constantly failed my exams.
Why?
Well, let me set you a test.
Q1 How large is a child's imagination?
Q2 How shallow is the soul of the Minister of Exams?
Brian Patten, New Internationalist
(Issue 248) October 1993.
