the little travelers * travel notes

ethics vs. religion

There is a big debate these days in Berlin over ethics and religion in school.  It is going to the ballots as to whether children will be taught religion or ethics.  Right now all children have mandatory ethics classes and the option to have religion class in addition.   But the religious parties want it to be ethics or religion, not religion in addition to ethics.  They feel that the ethics classes are watered down and remove the need for religion in a person's life- teaching that all you have to do it be a good person in life and that will be enough without the need for God.  

It's very interesting to watch this debate for the public school sector since we technically have separation of church and state in the US.  What are your thoughts?  Do you think mandatory ethics classes are a good idea in public school?  I know lots of you homeschool but for those of you that use curricula do you include ethics as a subject?  Or is it something you just sort of incorporate into your everyday lives?  And if so, how??

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Winner for the Family Travel Flicker Contest comes to us from The Five Mckays: This picture is sooo gorgeous- obviously speaks for itself.

Winner for the Global Crafts & Activities Flicker contest by HerbalT is:

Be sure to enter for your chance to win on of The Little Traveler's DVDs!

congratulations to our winners!

In the flickr category of Family Travel  the winner is...

This was posted by Susana , who has a blog about living in Mexico with her family.  I love the contrasts of this photo, which is really enhanced by the black and white nature.  The darker skin of the older woman in contrast to the fairness of the little one eyed newbie.  It says so much.  Thanks for a wonderful shot and giving us a little peak into your world Susana!

The winner of the Global activities, crafts and celebrations goes to...

Danielle at  Journeys in Parenting, Crafting and Keeping up with the Laundry, who is also a bloggin' mama and quite the scrapbooker!  She says, "Every other month we pick another place to "visit." We study that area for a few days, watch documentaries, do crafts or activities from that area, then have a Passport dinner. We dress up, make food, and usually play a game or watch a movie about that place or spoken in the language."

That's such a great idea!  It would be lots of fun to get a few families together or a homeschooling group.  Also, if you live near a Chinatown take a trip there.  So many possibilities.   

Thanks again for all the entries!  I'd love to see them keep coming so we can all get ideas and share inspiration.