Secularism in Greek school textbooks

From the accession to the European Community, until the 21st century

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A book on Religion and Education in School Textbooks

Αsince the foundation of the modern Greek State in the 19th century, its educational system has carried a school discourse imbued with the orthodox religion. But what happens when Greece joins the European Community in 1981 and is now obliged to comply with European rules on the issue of freedom of personal belief? Does it manage to respond to the challenge of Europeanization that defines the formation of European citizens through a secularized school discourse promoting respect for pluralism and otherness?

This study deals with the concept of secularism (laïcité) and the means used by the Greek educational system to integrate it into its school discourse. The research is carried out by analyzing the content of religious, history and social and political education textbooks in primary and secondary education from 1981 to 2018 and its aim is to identify possible changes in the way in which the ideal of worldliness. The analysis is based on its main components: a. to the fundamental values of freedom and equality regardless of religion or other personal beliefs, b. to Reason (man's reasoning ability) in the context of a democratic state and c. in the distinction and simultaneous autonomy of the state and religions.

Author Biography

Η Dr. Eleni D. Kalesis is a primary education teacher. Her academic path was drawn, primarily, at the French-speaking Free University of Brussels (Université Libre de Bruxelles), of which she is a proud graduate and member.

Her doctoral studies (ULB, 2018) were carried out with an excellence scholarship from the Onassis Foundation. Her research interests focus on the evolution of the issue of secularism (laïcité) / secularisation (sécularisation) in education in Greece and in Europe and on the position held by the Orthodox religion and fundamental human rights in Greek school textbooks.

In addition to her experience in the academic world of Belgium, France and Canada, as well as teaching in the Greek-speaking department of the European School III in Brussels and in French-speaking schools in Belgium, Dr. Eleni D. Kalesis has significant professional experience in European institutions institutions, as well as in the management and research support of educational Projects funded by the European Union.

He has the honor to be a member of the Scientix Ambassadors Teachers' Panel of the European School Network in Brussels (European Schoolnet) and to figure among distinguished teachers from all over the world.

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Contents

Series Manager Introduction

Prologue

Thanks

Introduction

1. Concept of secularism: from the beginning to the present day

1.1 Religious pluralism, international crisis and secularism

1.2 Etymology and definitions of the concept of secularism

1.3 Retrospective

1.3.1 Antiquity: From ancient Greece to the Roman Empire

1.3.2 18^th century: Enlightenment and the French Revolution

1.3.3 19^th century: After the French Revolution

1.3.4 20^o century: Secularism according to the French standard

1.4 Constructing the ideal of secularism (secularism) ...

...and its ingredients

1.4.1 Fundamental values - Human rights: Freedom of religion

1.4.2 Reason and Democracy

1.4.3 Distinction, simultaneous autonomy and state neutrality

1.5 Summarizing

1.6 Secularity or secularities?

1.7 Secularisation and laïcisation: the distinction

1.7 Role of the secular school

1.8 The place of religion in education: towards a European overview

1.9 The case of the American continent

1.10 Ad hoc education for citizens, the only remedy against the crisis of values

2. Formation of the modern Greek identity in history: the role of religion

2.1 What we mean by the terms Greece and Greeks;

2.2 Greece, part of the Balkans

2.3 The Christian Church...

2.3.1 …in Roman times

2.3.2. ...in the Ottoman and pre-revolutionary era

2.3.3. ...during the Independence Struggle and the first post-revolutionary years

2.3.4. ...today, after joining the European Community

2.4 Orthodox religion and identity of the modern Greek citizen

2.5 Orthodoxy, a cultural event in modern Greek social life

3. Education and religious elements in Greek law

3.1 Freedom of religious or philosophical education: subject of international and European law

3.2 Religious freedom and prevailing religion in the Greek Constitution

3.2.1 Application of the prevailing religion in Greek education

...and its modern and traditional interpretation

3.3 What is the evolution of the position of the Orthodox religion in education according to Greek law?

3.3.1 Training objectives

3.3.2 Name of the Ministry of Education

3.3.3 National Council of Higher Education

3.3.4 Institute of Educational Policy

3.3.5 Writing school textbooks

3.3.6 Church schools of orthodox religion

3.3.7 Exemption from the Religious Studies course

3.3.8 Mention of religion in school documents

3.3.9 Morning prayer in the school environment

3.3.10 Attending the Orthodox Divine Liturgy

3.3.11 Religious holidays at school

3.3.12 Private confession of students to an Orthodox priest

3.3.13 Pastoral visits to schools

3.3.14 Religious symbols in the classroom

3.4 First conclusions

4. Education and religious elements in the Greek political discourse

4.1 Relationship between political parties and secularism: what is the status quo?

4.2 Composition of the Greek Parliament since 1981

4.3 Placement of parties regarding the place of religion in the Greek school

4.3.1 Communist Party of Greece (C.K.E.)

4.3.2 Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PA.SO.K.)

4.3.3 New Democracy (N.D.)

4.3.4 Golden Dawn (H.A.)

4.3.5 Coalition of the Radical Left (SY.RIZ.A.)

4.3.6 Popular Orthodox Alarm (LA.O.S.)

4.3.7 Environmentalists Greens (O.P.)

4.3.8 Democratic Left (DIM.AR.)

4.3.9 Independent Greeks (AN.EL.)

4.3.10 The River

4.4 First conclusions

5. The path of research: problems and methodology

5.1 School, a place of compulsory transit for all citizens

5.2 Greek education system: in a few words

5.3 Sociology of the syllabus

5.4 Formulation of the research question and construction of the hypothesis

5.5 Analysis and development of methodological tools

5.5.1 Content Analysis

5.6 Connecting the theoretical framework with the research methodology

5.6.1 Analysis grid - criteria

5.6.2 Indicators

5.7 Data Collection

5.8. Research body

6. The concept of secularism in Greek school textbooks: the results

Category 1. Fundamental values

Category 2. Reason and Democracy

Category 3. Distinction and simultaneous autonomy of the state and religions. State neutrality regarding different beliefs and particular philosophical norms

Category 4. Christianity/orthodox religion and formation of the Greek national identity

Discussion

Category 1. Fundamental values

Category 2. Reason and Democracy

Category 3. Distinction and simultaneous autonomy of the state and religions. State neutrality regarding different beliefs and particular philosophical norms

Category 4. Christianity/orthodox religion and formation of the Greek national identity

Conclusions

Indicative bibliography