The Morning Prayer in Greek Kindergartens as a Field of Exercising Multiculturalism / Η Πρωινή Προσευχή στα Ελληνικά Νηπιαγωγεία ως Χώρος Άσκησης της Πολυπολιτισμικότητας

Morning prayer at a Greek elementary school

The morning prayer in all Greek schools is a custom and an obligation for the Greek teachers and is held everyday in all schools of the country. Students can be excepted from the prayer after a request of their parents or guardians. This option satisfies the constitutional claim.

A current trued for Greek educational policy is to associate religion with cultural events following (Efstathiou et al., 2008). Coulby’s (2008) position according which religious teaching can be more effective through cultural events than explicit teaching.

It can be said that the full exercise of social and cultural rights and the religious freedom of other religious groups such as Catholic Christians or Jehovah’s Witnesses, is not enough provided. Religion is an in strict part of the Greek culture and the collective morning prayer is a part of this reality. Only a small part of the Greek society seems to support the view for a division between church and state.

* K. Tsioumis, A. Kyridis & Z. Konstantinidou,
"The Morning Prayer in Greek Kindergartens as a Field of Exercising Multiculturalism"
["Η Πρωινή Προσευχή στα Ελληνικά Νηπιαγωγεία ως Χώρος Άσκησης της Πολυπολιτισμικότητας"],
Journal of Educational and Social Research,
Vol. 3 (2) May 2013,
p./σ. 67 [65-74].

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