Visits and Visitors

Visits and visitors can give pupils the opportunity to observe the living experience of a believer; to understand something of what religious faith is. As RE teachers, we must remain objective and unbiased, but a faith member can convey to the pupils all the passion and commitment that his beliefs and practices involve. Moreover, the pupils can respond directly to the person or the place rather than seeing it through the teacher's description or interpretation.

METHOD

a) Obviously, most of the guidelines for visits and visitors will be common to all subject areas. The distinctive difference in RE is the very personal and potentially sensitive nature of the experience.

b) It is important that some visiting speakers should be ordinary members of the faith community, as well as inviting in community leaders. Children and young people can be particularly interesting ambassadors for their faith, as they will be able to engage with your own pupils at an appropriate level.

c) A member of a faith community may be willing to simulate an act of worship, demonstrate an artefact or read /chant from his scriptures.

d) Do not miss the opportunity to ask about a visitor's personal faith; it is this which touches pupils most deeply.

e) The kind of visit peculiar to RE is obviously the visit to a place of worship. Pupils will need to find out what the building is, who uses it and why and to identify its most important features. But the visit should also afford the opportunity to experience the special atmosphere of a place of worship. Pupils should be allowed to sit quietly and take in their surroundings; both the building and the people (see page on Stilling).

f) These are general guidelines for visits to places of worship. It is best to check with the faith community involved, before the visit, about any special observances which should be carried out in the place of worship, in order not to give offence. In general these practices would include:

Buddhist - Temple You may be asked to remove your shoes before entering. You will probably not be required to cover your head, but modest dress is advised.

Christian - Church, Chapel, Citadel Practice varies depending on the denomination and even within denominations. Find out what the practice is and where, if anywhere, children should not go.(e.g. behind the altar rail). There are usually few dress restrictions, although a few groups may prefer women to cover their heads.

Hindu - Mandir Practice varies- you may be asked to wash your hands before you enter the mandir. It is usual to remove your shoes and for women to cover their heads.

Islam - Mosque Before entering the prayer hall, both sexes may be asked to wash their hands (and feet). Girls and women should cover their heads, wear long- sleeved dresses, shirts or blouses, long skirts or trousers. (Check whether this will be required of younger girls.) The girls and women may be kept separate from the boys and men in the main prayer hall area.

Jewish - Synagogue Upon entering the synagogue, boys will be expected to wear a kippah (skull cap). Sometimes the synagogue will provide these. Girls will not be expected to cover their heads. In an Orthodox synagogue, boys and girls will probably be seated separately.

Sikh Gurdwara - Both sexes may be asked to wash their hands before entering the prayer hall. They must remove their shoes and cover their heads. Many gurdwaras provide head coverings for visitors, but you may wish to take your own. (A headscarf or handkerchief will suffice.) The sexes sit separately in a gurdwara. When sitting on the floor, you should not point your feet towards the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book) as this is regarded as being disrespectful. At the end of the visit, you may be offered some kara parshad (a sweetmeat) to taste as a symbol of sharing and equality. NB If you smoke, you must not take tobacco into the gurdwara; all tobacco, alcohol and other drugs (except those medically prescribed) are prohibited within its confines.

POSSIBLE PITFALLS

a) The members of the faith community may require guidance on what is expected of them during a visit , and in particular should be advised not to encourage the children into anything that could be construed as worship. The opportunity to be present during an act of worship, however, would be a very valuable experience for the pupils.

b) Parents should be informed that the purpose of the visit is to achieve a better understanding of the faith, and that participation in the practices of the faith is not part of the visit.

c) Careful and sensitive preparation for the visit and follow-up evaluation is vital. It is important for pupils to understand that the view of the faith member they have spoken to may not be the same as that of all the members of the community.

RESOURCES

The Inter Faith Network for the UK, 5-7 Tavistock Place, London SC1H 9SS. Tel: 0171 388 0008 is a useful source of information.

Helpful printed resources include:

Sensitivity and Awareness CEM. ISBN 0-85100-090-9

Religions in the UK: A Multi- Faith Directory - pub. by the University of Derby (should be available in local RE centres) ISBN 0901437-069.

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