Regular readers will know that I went to the hustings meeting for the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency. There was a question about how each of the candidates would support faith schools and the Green candidate did not like the state supporting faith schools. To me it is obvious that it is the other way round and faith schools support the state. The cost of some of the bills for the school is partly paid by the school's parish. On the other hand state schools foot the full bill. There is the same level of education but less cost to the tax payer.
Faith schools are important for those with faith. I read about a proposal to end unfair discrimation on grounds of faith but this is the raison d'être of faith schools. If discrimation is only allowed to continue in the selection of the staff who are principally involved in religious education then the reason for the faith schools has been lost. Faith is not an academic subject but a way of life and a reason for all aspects of education.
Change the world
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Not only parishes, remember that there are some 200 Muslim and Jewish schools in the UK
ReplyDeleteI've got to disagree with you. Look north to Scotland where Catholics and non Catholics are educated separately from primary upwards. The Catholic hierarchy has actively intervened to stop joint schooling even to the point forbidding of shared facilities on the same site. This perpetuates the sectarianism that scars central Scotland. The same will apply in areas where Islamic schools are set up - the already troubling divisions are growing. It is the parents' responsibility to teach whatever religion they wish not the state's.
ReplyDeleteI am against any form of faith schooling since taken to extremes it enshrines bigotry and prejudice.
Thanks Matthew. I have a motto of treating others the way that I would like to be treated so please understand "parish" in a generic sense.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment Richard. I am sorry for the delay in publishing it as it was hidden behind Matthew's comment. Those wih faith don't see themselves as bigots but as having a wonderful gift that they wish to pass on.
ReplyDeleteI think we will have to disagree on the value of faith and faith schools but I don't think you can disagree with the points about faith schools supporting the state or faith schools being important for those with faith or even the title of my blog which is faith is not an academic subject.