Interesting Times!

Monday 9 July 2007

I went on to the launch of the Leeds Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education...

We are building brilliant learning places where all our young people can be happy, healthy, safe and increasingly successful. The Agreed Syllabus has been revised following consultations with our schools an sets out a clear and relevant rationale for religious education and the contribution it makes to wider learning. The Syllabus embeds the knowledge, skills, understanding and themes from the National Framework for Religious Education in a new and powerful local document that actively promotes truth, justice, respect and care.

Speakers at the event included Cllr Peter Harrand, Chair of SACRE, The Deputy Lord Mayor, Cllr Reverend Alan Taylor and Liz Guild our SACRE consultant. The Syllabus reflects our ongoing commitment to equality, inclusion and community cohesion and seeks to break down barriers, tackle prejudice and provide opportunities for young people to learn about, and listen to, and learn to respect people from a variety of faiths. This agenda is probably more important than ever before and I hope all our schools will use the new Agreed Syllabus to help them shape this vitally important aspect of their provision.
Chris

2 comments:

Anonymous said...: Congratulations on your new syllabus.
Some questions?
Is there a humanist representative on Leeds SACRE?
When you say "...learn about, and listen to, and learn to respect people from a variety of faiths." is it made clear in the syllabus, that the word "faith" is to be understood in a way so as to include theistic and non-theistic religions as well as non-religious life-stances, such as Humanism.

Best wishes
Josh Kutchinsky
Humanist representative (and ex-Chair) of the London Borough of Brent SACRE; 11 July 2007 at 08:25
Chris Edwards said...: Hi Josh,
Yes there is a humanist representative in attendance at our SACRE and it is made clear in the syllabus, that the word "faith" is to be understood in a way so as to include theistic and non-theistic religions as well as non-religious life-stances, such as Humanism.
THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST
Chris; 11 July 2007 at 14:57

Brilliant Quotes!

“I must accept life unconditionally. Most people ask for happiness on condition. Happiness can only be felt if you don't set any condition.”
Margaret Lee Runbeck

“Happiness is not in our circumstances but in ourselves. It is not something we see, like a rainbow, or feel, like the heat of a fire. Happiness is something we are.”
John B. Sheerin

“Most true happiness comes from one's inner life, from the disposition of the mind and soul. Admittedly, a good inner life is difficult to achieve, especially in these trying times. It takes reflection and contemplation and self-discipline.”
William L Shirer

“The pursuit of happiness is a most ridiculous phrase: If you pursue happiness you'll never find it.”
C.P. Snow

“Doubly rich is the man still boyish enough to play, laugh and sing as he carries and emanates sunshine along a friendly road.”
Charles R. Wiers

"Faith is not a shelter against difficulties, but belief in the face of all contradictions."
Paul Tournier

"Convictions are the mainsprings of action, the driving powers of life. What a man lives are his convictions."
Francis C. Kelley

"To do anything in this world worth doing, we must not stand back shivering and thinking of the cold and danger; but jump in, and scramble through as well as we can."
Sydney Smith

"It is often just as sacred to laugh as it is to pray"
Charles R. Swindoll

"Things never go so well that one should have no fear; and never so ill that one should have no hope"
Turkish proverb

"Teachers open the door, but you must enter by yourself"
Chinese proverb

"Don't bother to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
William Faulkner

"In times of change, learners will inherit the earth,while the learned will find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists"
Eric Hoffer

"Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans."
John Lennon

"Few will have the greatness to bend history itself; but each of us can work to change a small portion of events, and in the total of all those acts will be written the history of this generation."
Robert F. Kennedy

"The difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems."
Mahatma Gandhi

"Determine that the thing can and shall be done, and then we shall find the way."
Abraham Lincoln

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."
Martin Luther King Jr.

"There is nothing in life so difficult that it cannot be overcome. This faith can move mountains. It can change people. It can change the world."
Norman Vincent Peale

"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe."
Albert Einstein

"Life isn't measured by the number of breaths we take but the moments that take our breath away."
Anonymous

"Patience and perseverence have a magical affect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish."
John Quincy Adams

"Whatever you do, you need courage. Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising that tempt you to believe your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage. Peace has its victories, but it takes brave men and woman to win them."
Ralph Waldo Emerson