"The teacher must tell in love about the subject in love"

On September 1, in Russian schools, students of the fourth grade will begin to teach "the foundations of religious cultures and secular ethics." At the choice of parents of the student, they will teach one of the six modules: “Fundamentals of Orthodox Culture”, “Fundamentals of Islamic Culture”, “Fundamentals of Buddhist Culture”, “Fundamentals of Jewish Culture”, “Fundamentals of World Religious Cultures” or “Fundamentals of Secular Ethics”.

Publicpost talked with representatives of the Orthodox and Muslim religious faiths about how teachers were trained and what is now waiting for schoolchildren.

Andrey Kuraev, Deacon, professor of the Moscow Theological Academy

- Will the Church control how the children are teaching on the subject?

This is primarily the duty of parents. The press will pay attention, the Public Chamber should also. The Russian Orthodox Church will be checked using parent surveys, perhaps there will be an analysis of accompanying literature and teachers. When the modules were written, there was an agreement that the authors read each other. We have provided the situation if the textbook on Muslim culture falls into the hands of the Jewish boy so that nothing to scratch in this book. They consulted with psychologists.

- How were teachers who will teach "the foundations of religious culture" taught?

Several educational centers dealt with this issue. The Moscow Center invited pedogs tutors from all regions of Russia, they were trained within 70 hours for 10 days. They tried to tell about this course. They said badly: the fair part of the course was devoted to methods, in the same way you can talk about any subject. Very little time is devoted to the material material: for example, according to Orthodox culture - only one lecture. Teachers received indecently little knowledge. These are tutors, they will then tell what they learned, to other teachers. They will also receive homeopathic doses of the subject of religious cultures. I suppose it will be very difficult, and there will be a lot of problems. I hope that after the first shock, the teachers will understand that they have the opportunity to work interesting. I hope pedigree will wake up and open a specialty in this subject.

- Maybe the same teacher read all sections of the subject?

The position of the Ministry of Education is this: each teacher must be ready to teach all six modules of the subject. This is absolutely normal. When Russian literature is studied, Dostoevsky and Tolstoy are no more close, like Christians and Buddhists. A smart teacher must achieve understanding, must instill love for the subject, regardless of his personal attitude. The teacher should tell a loving voice about the subject. Maybe after the end of the lesson he will go to brush his teeth, but in the lesson he must admire. Do not need dry accounting. Dry intonation of the preacher must be avoided. You need to understand that this is not just a president’s command. This is important for children. You need to understand that this material is interesting to you. The main thing is that this is interesting to teachers, I see it.

I personally glad that ordinary teachers, and not people with theological education, were involved in the project. Now many teachers have after 20 years of work - corns in the language. And here is a new subject and an occasion for professional growth.

Marat Hazrat Murtazin, head of the Moscow Muslim community "Mercy"

- Will the Muslim community control how the children are teaching in the subject?

What to control there? It is known that there will be no missionaries from any denominations in the lessons. When the Ministry of Education accepts the program, for example, in biology, they consult with biologists, and then they do not invite any biologists so that they check the educational process.

- How were teachers who will teach "the foundations of religious culture" taught?

The Orthodox, I know, said that many teachers had prepared. Muslims have less strength. I believe that the program does not withstand any criticism. Teachers were prepared weakly and superficially.

- Maybe the same teacher read all sections of the subject?

When I studied at school, a literature teacher talked about the "Word about Igor's Regiment." She was Orthodox and constantly focused on religious moments. Now I think that teachers will be missionaries in schools, because most teachers in Russia are Orthodox. Teachers will not be able to abstract. When the teachers talk about Islam, the topics of terrorism will surely pop up. At the same time, about Pussy Riot will be silent.

My child goes to first grade this year. We have our own school of religious education - a madrassas, where children have been studying for four years. My child, by the fourth grade of an educational school, will know something about his religion. I think that I will choose another module of the subject for my child so that he receives versatile knowledge.