Guide to Learning:
Lesson Two

Use this "Guide Sheet" page to structure your progress through the learning task.  (Buttons for the various steps are at the left, and also below).  To get the most learning benefit, work through the steps in order, and attend closely to the narrative that accompanies each step. 

Introduction

»1»  Challenges for Educators (Reading)

»2»  Reconsider the Religion Realm (Activity)

»3»  Check Feedback

»Introduction»

Safeguarding freedom of conscience for all students is something for which you as a public school teacher can be seen as accountable. You will be pursuing intertwined pathways:  (1) establishing a religiously neutral classroom climate, and (2) exhibiting evenhandedness in personal conduct concerning worldviews.  Yet, capacity for religiously neutral conduct comes more readily to some persons than to others.  And there are impediments, too.  

»Step 1»    Challenges for Educators (Reading)

Go to Reading (Step 1)

»Step 2»    Reconsider the Religion Realm (Activity)

 When read to such a purpose, the succinct information can help you “loosen up” on characteristic preconceptions.  It can lead you to peer at, and beyond, your own outlook.  Study the material.  Use it to identify and correct any misconceptions you may have.

Go to Activity (Step 2)

Many teachers feel reticent about their adeptness to manage open classroom discussion of religious topics.  They may want to do it evenly and fairly, but the range of possible pitfalls makes it seem a formidable task   As the table in this activity makes clear, it is no wonder they feel great uncertainty. However, as you will see in later lessons, a teacher's  route to comfort and facility, and to neutral conduct, involves some important refocusing on similarities across the customary life stance categories, rather than giving undue attention to the differences. 

»Step 3»    Check Feedback

If you hope to get the most learning benefit from this lesson, it is best that you complete all of the activities above before you examine this feedback.

Go to Feedback (Step 3)

______________

»Moving on to Testing»

This is the end of  Lesson Two Learning Tasks  We suggest you return to the Lesson 2 Home page and revisit the structure of this lesson.  Then, go to "Testing Your Knowledge" and: 1) review for your test, 2) take the test, and 3) self-check the test. 

Lesson 2 Home