While “schools have the objective to provide a safe and respectful learning environment for their students”, teachers, educators, social workers, and other front-line professionals working with pupils at school are increasingly confronted with challenges linked to religion-inspired extremist ideologies that polarise European societies and are echoed in classrooms.
On 14-15 November, teachers, principals, social workers, researchers, and practitioners from the education sector that cope with these challenges gathered in Antwerp (BE). The meeting addressed how to pedagogically deal with claims, grievances, real or perceived injustices, controversial questions, and sensitive issues related to the religious sphere of children. This is considered crucial for promoting a democratic space of reflection and protecting students from extremist propaganda. Read more