Another TDN Member accepts the challenge. Boar is applying to his own local SACRE for Pagan representation and we will keep you posted as to the outcome. These journal-like entries are presented as encouragement to others, that they too are inspired to take their wisdom to those teaching Religious Education to our our children at school.
No time like the present!
January 2008: People on TDN know me as Boar, but in “real life” my name is Andrew. I'm currently embarked upon a career change from videogames producer to Secondary School RE Teacher. I’ll finish my PGCE in June.
As someone who is works in Religious Education I know all about the role of SACREs and how influential they can be in the formulation of local RE syllabuses. I had always meant to get involved – but I kept putting it off (“after the PGCE”, “after the next Census” etc.). However Marianne’s recent success in getting co-opted to the Warwickshire SACRE made me decide that there was no time like the present.
I am in the fortunate position of already knowing someone who sits on my local SACRE – one of the Professors who teaches on my PGCE course is a long serving member. She has offered to help me present my case. I hope this will make things go smoothly - it will be very useful to have an insider advise me how best to present my case.
After I decided to take the plunge the first thing I did was notify TDN of my interest in pursuing a seat on the Lancashire SACRE. Bobcat took some references from me, and armed with those has cleared my approach with TDN, PEBBLE and The Pagan Federation. With the backing of those three organisations I know that I can present a credible case when asked. The next meeting of the Lancashire SACRE is on February 11th. I’m hoping to get a slot on the agenda but have yet to hear back since the SACRE machinery has paused for Christmas.
While I wait to hear whether I can attend the meeting in February I will be writing a presentation to give and preparing some statistics based on Cursuswalker’s excellent analysis of the 2001 Census data. Hopefully by the Spring Equinox I’ll have more concrete progress to report!
