The name is absent

3.1. The field study:    The question for the adult

respondents and the questionnaire for the students

The question was:

What is your opinion about the need for
religion and education in an Anglo-Indian
school?

In 1990, it was a brave question to ask, because nationally
the issue of religion was fraught with political problems.
So, the question had to be approached with extreme caution,
because any attempt to change or reinterpret religious
education could well be treated as stupidity or fraud (3)
by the respondents.

The question was asked to all adult respondents.
Respondents who were students were offered a questionnaire.
The answers by adults fell into three types of categories.

First, Anglo-Indians needed to be educated in Christian
schools, because they were Christians. Their needs were
enshrined in the Constitution of India which protected
these Christian minority schools.

Second, there was a need for these schools to practise and
not just preach religion and education. The need was to
create access for all Anglo-Indians to enter these schools.
There was a need for Christian administrators to practise
the Christian religion and reduce the poverty and
disadvantage in the community and

... render to the Anglo-Indians what is their
right - a Christian education. (4)

Third, the respondents treated religion and education as
separate entities. Education occurred during school hours.
Religion occurred either before or after school. The

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