Religious artefacts in classrooms

[R1Geezer]

http://news.bbc.co.uk...d/europe/10456956.stm
It seems it's up to the ECHR, but we could end up with a total ban on religious artefacts in classrooms. Is this desirable? Enforceable? Personally I don't care which set of fairy tales it is, children should not be brainwashed by adults who themselves where brainwashed. Is this a chance to break the cycle of indoctrination, or at least hamper it a bit?

[woofgang]

I went to a high Church of England school more than 30 years ago and even then there were no religious artefacts/images in the classrooms. The school did have an active religious life but it was definitely kept separate from the learning.

[Gromit]

Totally agree with you Geezer. Schools should be non religious, and definitely should not receive any state funding whether they be RC CofE or Muslim.

If parents want to bring their children up in a faith, they should do it at home or in their chosen place of worship after school.

[jno]

brainwashing is the purpose of schools. Children go there to be taught the things adults think they should know, whether this is Christianity, civics, or the five-times table. If Italian children are taught different history from British children, this seems okay to me; likewise if they are taught different religion.

[Gromit]

Under the new crackpot Con/Dem 'Free Schools' scheme, any group of barmy parents with a religious interest can set up and run a school in the nearest empty terrace house and indoctrinate their children with the Koran or Bible, to their hearts content.

http://www.cypnow.co....e-schools-microscope/

[LoftyLottie]

jno. A wish I could have said what you have just said, i.e." brainwashing is the purpose of schools. Children go there to be taught the things adults think they should know"

It's what I have thought for many years yet haven't really been able to express!!

[jno]

that's fine by me, Gromit. It's the words 'state-funded' I disapprove of.

[Gromit]

Me too jno.

And the 'Free' Schools will actually get even more State Funding.

[woofgang]

lol jno...another phrase for it is "civilising the savages"

[youngmafbog]

totally agree Geezer.

Schools should teach about religion though, if only to make youngsters aware of indocrination, sects etc. It should be purley subjective though.

[Dolly1308]

Why the heck can't they (whoever they are) leave the schools the way they were .Long ago when I was at school we all left knowing how to read ,write and do Mathematics.We had Assembly every morning and sang at least one hymn before we started lessons and then said prayers -I didn't see it doing anyone any harm .
We also had P.E.classes every week ( no elf and safety in those days !) we also learnt a lot of things by rote which I think paid off . Todays' children are brainwashed with too much political correctness etc. We called each other Catlicks (Catholics) and Proddy dogs ) Protestants and next day were playing together again .I went to school from 1939 - 1948 and loved it .
Don't know if I've got my point across but at least I know what I mean ,leave things alone !!!

[jno]

what sort of social control would you like Steve? Any or none?

[askyourgran]

Dolly is absolutely right, I didn't start going to school until 1946 -1957 but we were taught useful things, Mine was an all- girls school.Domestic science e.g learning to cook and hand wash items, Science, music, French. We had assembly each morning, said a prayer and sang one or two hymns, (This is still a Christian country) We also had PE and Sports days.
We don't need religious artefacts in schools, but the system didn't do us any harm, we could all read write and spell,etc when we left school, Unlike some of todays specimens.

[karenmac60]

At my daughter's school they get Religious Education - but it teaches the beliefs and theories of all the different religions and many cultural aspects also. They are taught from an objective point of view and no religion is given emphasis over another, the theories behind Christianity are taught in the same way as the theories behind Bhuddism. I think this is the right way to go - they do not 'worship' but they are taught a little of the many belief systems throughout the world and this encourages tolerance of different cultures. They have no other religious practices in the school - no prayers at assembly or hymns etc, which is how it should be. Worship is for church or the home, you cannot teach 2+2 = 4 and God made the Earth both as fact.

[123everton]

The council of europe suggested that problems with things like the veil could be avoided with religious education in schools.
Personally I feel all the major faiths should be taught in schools and that it should be compulsory.
The more we all understand about one another the less chance there is of friction.

[naomi24]

It's reasonable to teach children about different cultures, but religious education and religious symbols have no place in the classroom.