Should Religious Rituals Be Banned In Schools?

[naomi24]

//The headteacher of a school facing legal action over a ban on prayer rituals has defended the policy, arguing that it was vital in order to “maintain a successful learning environment where children of all races and religion can thrive”.

The case against Michaela community school in Brent, north-west London, which has been the subject of a two-day hearing at the high court in London this week, has been brought by one of its Muslim pupils, who claims the ban is discriminatory and is seeking to have it overturned.

 

Coppel said the prayer sessions led to growing segregation between non-Muslim and Muslim pupils in the playground, and that a number of Muslim children were observed by teachers applying peer pressure to other Muslim children, encouraging them to be more observant.

In one alleged incident described to the court, a child who had never previously worn a headscarf was pressured to wear one. A Muslim girl was said to have dropped out of the school choir after she was told by other Muslim children that it was haram (forbidden), while a number of other children were told they were “bad Muslims” for not praying and had begun to pray, according to written arguments before the court.//

 

https://www.theguardian.com/education/2024/jan/17/london-headteacher-defends-school-prayer-ban-high-court

[webbo3]

Its them again...

[davebro3]

Yes - schools are for learning, temples are for praying. 

[andy-hughes]

The parents were aware of the school policy in regard to religious observance before enrolling their child.

They cannot now try and alter that policy to fit their beliefs.

The answer is to send their child to a Muslim school which better suits their requirements. 

The worry is, if their case is proven, it opens the floodgates for every school to be compelled to provide similar facilities for each and every denomination for pupils attending. 

This is vexatious, and should be thrown out.

[naomi24]

//it opens the floodgates for every school to be compelled to provide similar facilities for each and every denomination for pupils attending. //

 

I don't think other religions require such indulgence.

[webbo3]

Hence my comment ^

[andy-hughes]

Possibly not, but we can rest assured that every bolshie Muslim parent will, and that's a major problem on its own.

[andy-hughes]

Interestingly, my wife used to be Deputy Head at a deprived inner-city Catholic primary school.

The majority of the pupils were Muslim, because their parents appreciated the discipline and caring ethos that was provided, and did their prayers at home or in the mosque, outside school hours.

[andy-hughes]

Interestingly, my wife used to be Deputy Head at a deprived inner-city Catholic primary school.

The majority of the pupils were Muslim, because their parents appreciated the discipline and caring ethos that was provided, and did their prayers at home or in the mosque, outside school hours.

[Ringlet]

Yes

[tomus42]

I don't think religion has any place in schools.

I may be wrong but I think France adopts that policy.

[Redhelen72]

Yes ALL religion should be banned from schools

[Atheist]

France is a secular state. Then again, so is the USA (for the moment).

I think that faith schools should be done away with; they only serve to perpetuate division. Religious beliefs could be taught as a subject of societal and historical interest, but religious instruction should not occur in schools.

[vulcan42]

Yes, it's time to ban religious education, the school is there primarily to teach facts, not beliefs. There are so many religions in this country now that to allocate specific and equal time to each one on a daily basis would be detrimental to all the other essential subjects.

[naomi24]

//I think that faith schools should be done away with; they only serve to perpetuate division. //

 

This isn't a faith school, but that said, the Christian faith schools I'm acquainted with take all comers now.

[ladybirder]

I think a lot of Jews have their own schools.

[royfromaus]

Should Religious Rituals Be Banned In Schools?

Yes and so should praying in the middle of the road. What The Funicular is that all about?

[naomi24]

I think it's about 'Look at us', roy.

[Redhelen72]

are you talking about getting rid of just 1 religion  in schools Naomi?

[naomi24]

I haven't mentioned getting rid of any religion, Redhelen.

[Redhelen72]

Sorry  - is it just one religion's rituals that you are discussing Naomi?