According to the Swedish Preschool Curriculum one of the tasks of the preschool teachers is to pass on “a cultural heritage - its values, traditions and history, language and knowledge - from one generation to the next” (2010:5). As it is not explicitly stated whether religion is seen as part of the cultural heritage, the formulation opens up for different interpretations. The aim of our project is to explore how preschool teachers understand and enact the relationship between cultural heritage, tradition and religion and whether religion is regarded as an essential part of cultural socialization in everyday preschool practice.
We will use multiple methods, combining survey, video ethnography and interviews. The reason for using mixed methods is to identify both overlapping and distinct aspects of “doing religion” as well as to extend the scope and breadth of our study. The three sets of data will be analyzed both separately and combined. The study will provide new insights into how religious considerations impact on everyday practice in Swedish preschools. This knowledge can inform decision-making on educational policies at both societal and institutional levels. The study will increase the preschool teachers’ awareness of cultural, ethnic and religious diversity as well as of the dilemmas that arise from the Preschool Curriculum and the Educational Act. In a broader perspective the study will raise awareness of the role religion may play in a secularized society.
