Religious Takeover Of Schools?

[mushroom25]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-26482599

this is being branded "a plot".

but actually, if a school is in an area where a particular religion predominates, and it's what the parents want, why shouldn't the school cater for the communities' religious needs?

[chrisgel]

Because religion has nothing to do with education?

[Zacs-Master]

I think the following comment makes it a 'No' form me as the intention is, apparently to stop the schools.....
....."corrupting their children with sex education, teaching about homosexuals, making their children pray Christian prayers and [carrying out] mixed swimming and sport"
It's not about religious needs. It's about creating a bubble of Islam which seems to want to drag education back to the 19th C.

[Zeuhl]

All schools should adhere to an agreed National Curriculum with no exceptions or additions.

Clerics should be excluded from classrooms, management and governing bodies. The only exception would be as part of a Comparative Religions study course.

Naturally, this should apply to CofE, RC Muslim and Jewish schools as well as any set up by other cults and sects. Home schooling should also be closely monitored for adherence to the Curriculum.

[AliceTickband]

because religion is a very personal matter and has no place in schools.

[mushroom25]

nothing in the national curriculum for primary schools would preclude what is being suggested, either not mentioned at all, or not mandated until secondary level. so if the parents want a religious leaning, why not?

[Zeuhl]

/It is understood that would mean a greater emphasis on religious studies, as well as girls and boys being taught separately in some classes./

If that is true, then the school's values are at variance to those of the wider British community.

The future of this country relies on integration not separation.

[New Judge]

Absolutely agree with Zeuhl.

Religion has no place in the education of children (and I would actually go so far as to say it has no place in "Comparitive Religions" either, but I would concede that point if pressed). There is plenty of opportunity for parents to have their children educated in religious matters if they so wish but it should have no place in the national curriculum.

[pixie373]

Because the current parents may want that (some of them), but next years' parents might not. Best stick to education and let people go to churches/mosques etc. Also, the risk of bringing religion into schools is that children might see it as fact instead of choice.

[naomi24]

Religion has no place in the classroom. It’s simply wrong to teach as fact that for which there is no evidence.

[Old_Geezer]

No. Religious belief may be studied outside of school but pupils should not be indoctrinated within the education establishment.

[Zacs-Master]

I love it when the OP posts a contentious Q and then ignores their own post. Sheesh.

[pixie373]

Nobody else has agreed, zacs.

[Zacs-Master]

I've noticed Pixie. Unbelievable. My opinion of Mush has been severely depleted.

[sandyRoe]

When I went to school one lesson a day was devoted to religious studies. It that still the case?

[pixie373]

It's 2 hours a week, sandy. Now compulsory up to 18.

[DaisyNonna]

One a week more like.

[sandyRoe]

A good bit less, then. It was the first 40 minute lesson every day for us.

[Old_Geezer]

It's one thing to study the phenomenon of religious belief, quite another to teach one as the one true path.

[Zacs-Master]

Well said OG.