Thanissaro, Phra Nicholas (2010) A preliminary assessment of Buddhism’s contextualization to the English RE classroom. British Journal of Religious Education, Vol. 33 (No. 1). pp. 61-74. ISSN 0141-6200

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Abstract

In a preliminary study, twenty ‘migrant’ Buddhist parents and children from England participated in semi-structured interviews to compare their home nurture with classroom presentation of Buddhism. In the home Buddhism received more time allocation and was presented mainly by the mother and monks – the content being that of ‘perpetuating structures’, often in an ethnic mother tongue and with ethos permeating all aspects of life. In school, by contrast, Buddhism was allocated little or no time, was presented mostly by the teacher – the content being meditation, Precepts and the more material aspects of the tradition – in English and with little in terms of amenable ethos. Dissonance apparent between home and school presentation of Buddhism is compared to similar findings for the Hindu and Sikh communities in Britain and the need is highlighted for more attention to avoidance of assumptions in content, better use of allocated time and increased involvement of the ‘migrant’ Buddhist faith community. To this end recommendations are made for further research.

Item Type:	Submitted Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BQ Buddhism L Education > LC Special aspects of education
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Buddhism -- Study and teaching, Buddhist education, Buddhists -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	British Journal of Religious Education
Publisher:	Routledge
ISSN:	0141-6200
Date:	August 2010
Volume:	Vol. 33
Number:	No. 1
Page Range:	pp. 61-74
Identification Number:	10.1080/01416200.2011.52325
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Restricted or Subscription Access
Funder:	Dhammakāya International Society of the United Kingdom (DISUK), Wanjai Poonum of Rumwong Thai Restaurant (England : Guildford)
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/3356

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