How do Catholic religion teachers approach death education in Chile?

Abstract

Talking and thinking about death in school education encourages the spiritual development of students and constitutes an objective of the Catholic religion subject in Chile in both primary and secondary education. This article aims to examine the teachers’ perspectives who teach the Catholic religion on the matter. In particular, what disposition they have when approaching death with their students, what theological knowledge they possess on the subject of death, and what relationship exists between the domain of this theological knowledge and readiness for education about death. Based on quantitative methods, the results show a high willingness of teachers towards death education and high confidence in the abilities to carry it out. Nevertheless, a medium theological knowledge is identified, which is not related to the disposition to death education. The study concludes by discussing the difficulties of death education, which is not entirely based on theological knowledge.

Keywords:

• Death education
• Catholic religion subject
• Catholic religion teachers

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Programa de Pedagogía en Religión Católica de la Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile’

Notes on contributors

Guillermo Zamora Poblete

Guillermo Zamora Poblete is Associate Professor at the School of Education, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He holds a PhD in Education from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. His research deals with philosophies in teacher education.

Mario Inzulza González

Mario Inzulza Gonzalez is associate professor of systematic theology in the school of theology of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. He earned his doctoral degree from Boston College, USA. His research interests include theology of creation and eschatology.

Catalina Lecaros Besa

Catalina Lecaros Besa is a Spanish Professor and a Visual Artist from Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. She founded Fundación Libro Abierto and works as a professional at the Faculty of Education of the, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and as an independent illustrator.

Helena Montenegro Maggio

Helena Montenegro Maggio is a researcher at the Laboratory of Education of the Center for Mathematical Modeling at the University de Chile. Her background comprises a degree in Educational Psychologist and a PhD in Education.

Maili Ow González

Maili Ow González is a Professor of Philosophy and Spanish at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and a PhD in Didactics of Languages and Literature from the Universidad Complutense de Madrid. She is an associate professor at the Faculty of Education of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.