!!!Religionsunterricht
Religious Instruction, introduced in Austria by Protestants and
Catholics in the 16%%sup th/% century to make children aware of the
differences in the religious denominations and to strengthen their
beliefs. Religious instruction was so important that it took first
place in curricula and on school reports (in 1938-1945 that position
was held by physical education). In the age of Liberalism the state
took on the administration and control of all aspects of education
(School/Church Act 1868), only religious instruction was left to the
church. The Religious Instruction Act (1949, amendments 1957-1988)
provides that legally recognised churches and religious communities (
Religious Denominations) can teach religious instruction at most
public school and at schools with public status as a mandatory subject
(providing for the possibility of non-attendance). In schools where
the majority of pupils adhere to the Christian faith, crosses have to
be put up in the classrooms. The curricula for religious instruction
are set up by the churches; religious instruction teachers and
inspectors are either employed by the federal or provincial authority
(upon recommendation) or they are appointed by the respective church.
Catholic religious instruction is currently regulated by a Treaty
between the Holy See and the Republic of Austria (1962, amended in
1971), Protestant and Greek Oriental religious instruction is
regulated by federal law (1961, 1967).
%%language
[Back to the Austrian Version|AEIOU/Religionsunterricht|class='wikipage austrian']
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