Scenario 4
You have been asked to attend a Divali ceremony at the school. What is your response?
Clues
Seek further details:
- If the ceremony is part of classroom work on Hinduism, attend and show an interest.
- If the ceremony is part of the worship programme ensure that the school understands the need to separate the assembly and worship components, i.e. a) in a County school, the worship can pick up the themes of the story for a reflection; b) in a Church school, worship can include prayer for people of all religions and their working together for good.
Be aware of the dangers of:
- Confusing re-presentation with someone else's worship
- Inviting participation in a Hindu act of worship.
Resources
The 1988 Education Reform Act
- Primary School Worship
Brown, A & Brown, E
National Society ISBN 0 901 81923 9
(Guidelines on worship)- Inspection Handbook for Section 23 Inspections
Brown A & Lankshear D W
1997, National Society ISBN 0 901 81957 3
(Section on worship)
(See also diocesan guidelines on worship - for Church schools)
For background information about Hindu worship
- Hinduism: A Very Short Introduction
Kim Knott
1998, Oxford Paperbacks ISBN 0 192 85341 4