Religious Beliefs and Moral Values the Influence of the Schoo

Abstract

Summary The influence of teachers on the religious beliefs and moral values of pupils in two multi‐racial comprehensive schools was studied. Nearly all the teachers had come from homes where the traditional religious beliefs and moral values had been affirmed. Only one half of them, in each school, still supported a religious view of life and just over half still accepted the Christian ethic as their basis for morality. The majority, however, saw character development in one form or another as their primary aim in teaching and counted religious and moral education as part of their task. Most of the teachers wished religious education to continue in the schools but approximately half of the sample thought that it should be more broadly based than at present. The head teachers held rather conservative views. In conclusion, evidence is cited suggesting that the teachers’ influence was not substantial and the view put forward that change to a more open approach in this area of school life is needed.