Like what you've read?

On Line Opinion is the only Australian site where you get all sides of the story. We don't
charge, but we need your support. Here�s how you can help.

  • Advertise

    We have a monthly audience of 70,000 and advertising packages from $200 a month.

  • Volunteer

    We always need commissioning editors and sub-editors.

  • Contribute

    Got something to say? Submit an essay.


 The National Forum   Donate   Your Account   On Line Opinion   Forum   Blogs   Polling   About   
On Line Opinion logo ON LINE OPINION - Australia's e-journal of social and political debate

Subscribe!
Subscribe





On Line Opinion is a not-for-profit publication and relies on the generosity of its sponsors, editors and contributors. If you would like to help, contact us.
___________

Syndicate
RSS/XML


RSS 2.0

Good education and conversion

By Michael Jensen - posted Wednesday, 11 November 2015


After all, it would be a shame to study feminism, and never encounter a feminist.

Of course, what I am trying to show is that there is a rather unobjectionable meaning of the word 'proselytize' which describes an aspect of education with which most people are unconcerned. That is: we hope that education persuades children, and especially teenagers, to change their opinions, and so develop as reasoning adults who are capable of mature citizenship.

The more common, and certainly pejorative use of the word describes a kind of manipulative and deceptive kind of persuasion. It names our dark fears about religious cults, or brainwashing political camps. We think of proselytizers as those slightly unhinged and unwashed characters who stand on street corners handing out tracts, or as those who knock on our doors with name badges on, or as fanatics like Jim Jones.

Advertisement

It is this meaning of the word that is used whenever religion is discussed in connection with education, especially by those who would be rid of religion in schools. Yet, as I have shown here, simply being attractive and persuasive of a certain opinion is not necessarily anti-educational.

If the word in its pejorative sense is used to cover all forms of persuasion in education, then I think that we risk missing something vitally important about education itself: that opinions, ideological positions, frameworks, metanarratives, faith-positions, world-views – call them what you will – are essential to the human process of knowing about and dealing with and living together in the world.

  1. Pages:
  2. 1
  3. Page 2
  4. All


Discuss in our Forums

See what other readers are saying about this article!

Click here to read & post comments.

23 posts so far.

Share this:
reddit this reddit thisbookmark with del.icio.us Del.icio.usdigg thisseed newsvineSeed NewsvineStumbleUpon StumbleUponsubmit to propellerkwoff it

About the Author

Michael Jensen is the rector of St Mark's Anglican Church at Darling Point. He has a doctorate in Moral Theology from Oxford University.

Other articles by this Author

All articles by Michael Jensen

Creative Commons LicenseThis work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.

Article Tools
Comment 23 comments
Print Printable version
Subscribe Subscribe
Email Email a friend
Advertisement

About Us Search Discuss Feedback Legals Privacy