ABSTRACT
Since Sweden signed the European Charter on Human Rights in the 1950s, there has been a clear distinction between religion and teaching throughout its public schools. As stated in the curriculum, all students shall receive equal education about religions and no religious aspects may “spill over” on any school subject. Because no school is allowed to be confessional, the religious beliefs of students, parents, and/or school leaders should not affect the teaching in any respect. The chapter discusses the controversies that have arisen in the last decade when some religious communities, in violating curricular guidelines, enforced religious aspects on teaching; these conflicts included keeping children away from school to avoid certain aspects of curricula and exerting pressure to change what is included in classes.
