Calvin Synod Herald, 1980 (80. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1980-03-01 / 3-4. szám
6 CALVIN SYNOD HERALD REGULATIONS CONCERNING RELIGIOUS EDUCATION IN HUNGARIAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS Religious instruction in the Marxist-Leninist educational system of the Hungarian People’s Republic is legally assured. According to the interpretation of the government, paragraph 54 of the Constitution not only includes the right to free religious practices but also the opportunity of all citizens to expose or not to expose their minor children to religious instruction.1 The exercise of such a right, since 1949, however has been recognized as the private matter of religious parents, therefore the subject of religion is available as a voluntary elective course in elementary and secondary schools. Today every effort is being made that for those puipls whose parents opt for religious courses they must be taught on the premises of the educational institutions of the state. Only in exeptional cases, when school facilities are inadequate is it permitted that the class might meet in a religious environment; e.g., in a church building. Once a year, in the month of September, during a single day can parents or legal guardians register their youngsters for religious instructions. In case they miss this time for whatever reason, parents must wait for the next year, since neither early or late registration is permitted. To avoid such a situation school principals are under obligation to publicize in the press and on the radio the exact location and timing of registration for religious classes. Parents, either through a written request or by personal appeal, can enroll their children. The next day, following the enrollment, the principal of the particular school shall report the name, mother’s name, denomination and registration number of each puipl both to educational and religious authorities. Special care is made that the participation in religious instruction must be open only to those children who were officially and properly matriculated and be closed for all others. It is the responsibility of the religious instructor to remove from the class room any other pupil who might desire to participate. Classes of religion are organized along denominational lines and follow the age and numercial groupings of regular classes. In case of low enrollment, students from other similar institutions can be included in a class; also different age groups are allowed together to the extent that the size of the religious class should not exceed the usual classes. The course of religion is offered during the span of the legal school year, between September 15 and May 31, and it must be scheduled around school activities either before or after instruction. It cannot last longer than two hours per week. The instructor must use officially accepted textbooks which are selected and approved by the Ministry of Education. At the present time e.g., in the case of the Hungarian Reformed Church, there are two available textbooks; a comprehensive book for grades I-IV (Religious Textbook For Lower Grades) and the other tor grades V-VÍII (Religious Textbook For Higher Grades). The teacher is required to keep a precise advancement record about the progress of the class though students taking religious classes cannot be graded or even assigned a Pass/Fail. Also, pupils who miss class meetings for any reason cannot be held accountable for it or disciplined. These regulations do not follow the general practice of the school where grade assignment is an integral part of the educational process and punishment is certain for careless attendance. Instructors of religious classes are expected to be employed by a religious institution and to possess necessary preparations. The suitability of teachers is determined by the Ministry of Education. To the qualified person a teaching permit is issued which is renewable yearly and can be withdraw at any time at the discretion of the educational authorities in the case of improper behavior of the holder. Several legal consequences are projected if the teacher might try to force any students to take or not to take the course or to use religious instruction for political purposes e.g., against the social economic order of the People’s Republic. Since the instructor of religion is not considered to be member of the teaching staff it is forbidden that such a person participate in any of the regular school activities. This also means that such a person can be present on the premises of a state school only for the duration of the class; when it is over the instructor must leave immediately.2 The supervision of religious education is part of the school principal’s responsibility, even in rare cases when the class meets in religious buildings. Church authorities too may exercise supervision, but they must first arrange their visits with the school involved. A teacher of religion is considered a full time instructor if his total number of hours exceeds twentytwo per week. In this case the person is entitled to receive regular salary including a family supplement. If the weekly teaching responsibility is less than twenty-two hours the instructor’s salary is processed on an hourly basis. In 1970 the hourly wages were 6.60 Forints (approximately $0.31). Payments are made, after approval by the local school director, through the State Office of Church Affairs. In Hungary the subject of religion is available to students on both elementary and high school levels; higher educational institutions and universities of the state are closed to such instruction. It should be noted that this writer is not aware of the existence of data the number of students who participate in the officially approved program, or the number of schools involved in it. In addition to public schools, there is another alternative for students desiring instruction
