Historical Perspective on Spiritual Education in Australian Schools Part II: A Personal Development Basis

Abstract

While practically all of what could be regarded as ‘spiritual education’ in Australian schools occurs within religious education, there is a range of activities that, while not necessarily religious, set out to promote the spiritual and moral development of pupils. This article provides a big picture, historical summary of some of these developments. Referring to ongoing work by the author on education and young people's spirituality, it also proposes how spiritual education might be progressed in across-the-curriculum studies through a critical, student-centred, research pedagogy addressing contemporary issues.