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. doi:10.1080/01416200.2011.52325

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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 ( -2013)
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
Official Date:	August 2010
Dates:	Date Event August 2010 Submitted
Volume:	Vol. 33
Number:	No. 1
Page Range:	pp. 61-74
DOI:	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)

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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