Page 114 - TWO OF A KIND • Erik Renkema

CHAPTER 5
To guarantee the school’s identity and preserve its principles, a permanent committee was established in 2001 comprising four parents (two from the non- affiliated, public orientation and two from the Christian orientation) and two teachers (one from each orientation). The regulations of this committee state four principles of the school identity:
a. the school is accessible to students from all denominations;
b. encounter fosters the formation of the student’s identity while guaranteeing
religious education;
c. discrimination is excluded;
d. Christian religious education is offered in compliance with principles of
Protestant churches and is offered in such a way that parents can identify with these principles.
We see the focus on diversity in the admissions policy and the value of encounter expressed in these principles.
Focusing on values of religious education, the school guide specifies that “in our education, encounter takes place between children from various backgrounds” (school guide 2014-2018, 4).Parents can choose between two types of religious education: Christian and general (non-affiliated).
The Christian type is described as “faith education” (school guide 2014-2018, 4). In line with the value of encounter, we see that this education aims at exposing students to differing subjects and points of view, learning to develop a personal perspective.
In the general type of religious education, the multiform character of the former public school has to be recognizable. The school guide interprets this as follows: “by means of dialogue, we try to teach the students understanding of existing values and norms and the meaning of these in personal life and society” (school guide 2014-2018, 5). In this type of education, students have to attain respect for the convictions of others by exploring beliefs and communicating with each other; it is not based on a specific religious or philosophical ideology. Although dialogue is referenced in this text, it is the only time it is mentioned.
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