Two Sides to the Coin

1
Two Sides to the Coin

• Teaching Religion in the Classroom
• -A Presentation By the Middle East Center
  Outreach Program, University of Utah

2
Two Sides to the Religion in the Classroom Coin

• Teaching your students about other religions.

• Handling the different religions of your students
  in the classroom.

3
Handling Religion- What is Required, What isnt?

• Creating a classroom of tolerance
• Awareness of your students cultures
• Openness in discussing cultures in your classroom.

• Special considerations- legally, the parents must
  request that special accommodations be made.
• But teachers are NOT responsible for ensuring
  religious compliance of their students.

4
Tolerance

• What does Tolerance mean?
• The capacity for or the practice of recognizing
  and respecting the beliefs or practices of
  others.
• Why is fostering Tolerance important in the
  classroom?
• How does one begin creating it?
• http//www.tolerance.org/teach/index.jsp
• http//www.inclusioncenter.org

5
Openness and Awareness

• Dont be afraid to take questions, and if you
  cant answer them, dont be afraid to admit it.
• Use your students as a tool to help discuss
  different cultures, they are an encyclopedia.
• Discuss stereotypes and teach your students to
  recognize them.

6
The Flip Side-Teaching Religion

• No proselytizing
• Objectiveness
• Looking through the cultural lens
• Learn the dividing lines between where the
  curriculum ends and transgression begins

7
Teaching Resources

• Young Voices Video and Teacher Manual
• UMFA Holiday Box
• Outreach Website (www.mec.utah.edu/outreach)
• Feel free to contact our office for additional
  help!

8
Questions on Curriculum?

• Voice your concerns.

9
Thank You!
Middle East Outreach Program University of
Utah 260 South Central Campus Dr.153 Salt Lake
City, UT 84112 801-581-5003 www.mec.utah.edu/outre
ach