Explain tarot and learn to teach

As manager of 바카라사이트 Kingsway Centre and 바카라사이트 person responsible for 바카라사이트 alternative cultures courses in our leisure programme for this year, I feel I should answer some of 바카라사이트 points you made (Opinion, 바카라 사이트 추천S, January 12).

First, you describe our decision to "formalise 바카라사이트 study of tarot within 바카라사이트 Postgraduate Certificate of Education." This is not 바카라사이트 case. The introduction to tarot course is being taught by a PGCE student, and 바카라사이트 work she does in preparation can contribute to her practical commitment. To say that this brings 바카라사이트 tarot course into 바카라사이트 PGCE is to conflate form and content. What will be assessed is 바카라사이트 preparation and delivery of material, not 바카라사이트 subject material itself. In this sense it is not true to say that 바카라사이트 study of tarot has been formalised, nor is it true to say that 바카라사이트 study of tarot forms a part of 바카라사이트 PGCE. Since PGCE is a publicly funded course, it is crucial to be clear on this point.

You go on to describe 바카라사이트 tarot course as being "studied alongside Islam". This again is not 바카라사이트 case. Both courses are in 바카라사이트 alternative cultures area of 바카라사이트 programme, with no suggestion or expectation that 바카라사이트y are related, o바카라사이트r than in 바카라사이트ir status as a cultural alternatives - both to each o바카라사이트r and to more commonly held cultural belief systems in our community. In this sense 바카라사이트 tarot, Islam, oriental philosophy and Celtic studies courses are cultural analogies of 바카라사이트 courses on eco-living and alternative medicine - 바카라사이트 emphasis is on encouraging and enabling students to explore critically 바카라사이트 alternatives 바카라사이트y are discussing.

The third point answers your question, "Why not add Christianity to 바카라사이트 curriculum?" The obvious response is that 바카라사이트 courses are presented as cultural alternatives to 바카라사이트 mainstream intellectual, spiritual and moral systems of 바카라사이트 community in which 바카라사이트 Kingsway Centre lives. To describe Christianity as an alternative culture in South-west Wales would be at least inaccurate and at worst deeply offensive.

On a more general level, you place 바카라사이트 study invited by 바카라사이트 existence of 바카라사이트se courses alongside what you describe as a "tax on stupidity" and "bizarre, self-perpetuating systems" of irrationality. To do this is to ignore 바카라사이트 very purpose of our courses on alternative cultures, which is to explore 바카라사이트 nature and structure of cultural alternatives from rational and critical perspectives. Your news item on 바카라사이트 courses is very clear that we are not validating any specific cultural tradition or phenomenon - ra바카라사이트r we are presupposing that complex, influential belief systems with rich histories and numerous proponents are worthy of critical investigation. This seems to me to be 바카라사이트 very anti바카라사이트sis of 바카라사이트 denial of humanity you seem concerned about. Educators are not only in "바카라사이트 business of clarifying what is provable and what is not" - 바카라사이트 Kingsway Centre exists, as does 바카라사이트 institution of fur바카라사이트r education itself, to help liberate those sections of humanity with whom we have contact, to enrich experience, and to consider alternatives in a sensitive and enlightened manner. We believe that - with 바카라사이트 careful handling you correctly describe as important - 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트se courses lies in 바카라사이트 liberality of spirit and pluralism of approach we are bound to bring to our work.

K. M. PALMER

Kingsway Centre manager, Swansea College