Religious Moral and Philosophical Studies

Principal Teacher
Joan McFadyen

RMPS Team
Fiona Williams          

‘The Unexamined Life is not Worth Living’ (Socrates 469 – 399BC)

Here in Peebles High we agree with what Socrates said all these years ago. In RMPS we focus on questions of meaning, value and purpose in life. RMPS is concerned with examining the responses humankind has made to these difficult questions. We look to the major religions, belief systems and famous thinkers, religious and non-religious, for inspiration. Our aim is to develop an awareness of the ways in which beliefs and values are central to the fabric of Scottish society. From this focus we try to help our students sort out their own beliefs, values and priorities.

The RMPS department is working hard to produce informed, articulate, open-minded and tolerant students who are able to empathise with those who are different from themselves and who are also able to reflect upon their own experience of life.

All students attend classes in this subject for one period per week in S1-S4

Students in Middle School and Senior School have the opportunity to study RMPS and/or Philosophy at Higher or Intermediate1/ 2 level.   

In addition, as part of the Learning Toolkit, S1 students attend an eight- week block in Philosophy for Children (P4C). 

In our lessons we try to make our learning and teaching vibrant yet grounded in our students’ own life experience. To this end

·         students are asked to speak about their views and values and be willing to discuss them openly.

·         we invite as many visitors and speakers as possible to the department so that students have the opportunity to learn first hand from members of our community and beyond.

·         ICT is used as appropriate so that students can gain knowledge and understanding from a multiplicity of sources.

·         Art and Drama are employed to help students explore new ideas/concepts 

We see our students’ experience in the classroom as ‘learning for life’. We hope that the skills of asking questions and reflective/critical thinking will become a habit that will remain with them long after they have left school.

JUSTICE   WISDOM    COMPASSION   INTEGRITY

Based on these core values and in line with Curriculum for Excellence, our courses are as follows:

S1 Units  

Introduction to RMPS – Amazing, Puzzling and Mystifying

Unit 1- Communicating Big Ideas - symbols

·         The Importance of symbols in everyday life

·         Symbols of the World Religions (PC work)

·         Symbol in Story/Art - Ramayana

·         Community Event - Divali; Samhain

·         Symbolic Meals - Passover

·         Faith Symbols (Christian)

·         Community Event – Christmas Symbols – Booklet

Unit 2 – Islam( or Judaism) Part 1

• Who was Mohammad?
• 3 of the  Five Pillars  -  The Profession of Faith- Shahadah; Prayer-Salah and Charity- Zakah
• How Scottish Muslims keep the Five Pillars 

 Unit 3 – Morality – Justice - Issue Poverty

• What is Poverty?
• What does Islam/Judaism teach about Poverty and Wealth?
• What does Christianity teach about Poverty and Wealth?
• Inner City Poverty - Edinburgh ( Speaker)
• Christian Aid
• What can we do?  (Preparation for Charity appeal)

 Unit 4 – Ideals and Heroes Heroines

·         What is an ideal? (justice, compassion, tolerance, equality)

·         Beatitudes - Jesus

·         What makes a hero?

·         Present day heroes  

·         Unsung heroes – in our community?

·         Rules for heroes – poster competition

S2 Units: (approximately 6 lessons each)

1) Religion in Scotland – diversity, multiculturalism, Protestants and

    Catholics, Reformation

2) Looking for God

3) Prejudice – Martin Luther King /Sectarianism in Scotland

4) Learning for Life

5) What is a religious/non religious system? Islam/ Humanism

6) Animal Rights 1

 S3 Units:

1) Animal Rights 2

2) Abortion

3) Looking for Proof of God

4) Problem of Evil

5) War and Peace/Gender Issues

6) What is Life for?   

7) Revision/assessment

Assessments identify the extent to which students can reflect on the beliefs values and traditions they have studied. It is taken into account that there is no ‘right’ answer where issues of belief and morality are concerned. Students demonstrate their progress through

• How well they respond to questions and issues
• The depth to which they engage
• Their developing abilities to think critically
• Their awareness of how they can put their own belief, values and attitudes into action and show respect for those who hold different beliefs

S4 Units  (Part of core element)

Students study the unit ‘Morality in the Modern World’- one of three that make up the SQA  Intermediate/ Higher RMPS course. This unit has several optional areas of study.

At PHS we offer the following options;

Intermediate 1 /2   - International issues  (Globalisation; International Aid) / Crime and Punishment – Mr Murray

or

Intermediate 2 / Higher – Medical Ethics – Genetic Engineering; Euthanasia – Mrs McFadyen

S 5/6 Full Courses   (there is no core RMPS in Senior school)

Students can choose from or do both of the following:

Higher/ Intermediate 2 RMPS

• Morality in the Modern World (some students may have already successfully completed this unit in S4)
• Belief and Science
• Buddhism

Higher/Intermediate 2 Philosophy

• Critical Thinking
• Moral Philosophy – Utilitarianism/Kantianism
• Metaphysics – the Problem of Freewill
• Epistemology – Descartes’ Method of Doubt