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Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Humanists and Christians argue against faith schools -12/12/05

From Ekklesia

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has added its voice to teachers’ unions and some Christians warning against the possibility of segregation and sectarianism resulting from the UK government’s new Schools White Paper. In its evidence to the Education and Skills Select Committee, the BHA advised against the “creeping gift of the education system to religious interests”. Teaching unions expressed the same concerns in their own evidence. Hanne Stinson, executive director of the British Humanist Association explained: “Trusts will be an easy route for religious sponsors to take over community schools – and many sponsors (as the academies programme has already shown) will be fundamentalists with religious axes to grind.”

She added that, under the proposals in the White Paper, “a small number of religious parents who organize a campaign will be able to command public resources to develop proposals for new religious schools, Local Education Authorities will be under pressure to commission such schools when proposed, and the Schools Commissioner will be mandated to assist.” The Church of England, the Roman Catholic Church and representatives of Jewish, Muslim and other faith communities have backed the further development of faith-based schools through the White Paper. But other Christians and those of minority religious traditions question or oppose them. Ms Stinson stresses that many humanists are willing to work positively with faith groups in public life, but that the British Humanist Association opposes special privileges for religious communities – or giving them power over those who hold different convictions.

She declared last week: “All opinion polls show massive resistance – from 64% to 96% – against religious schools and it is time the government brought its policy into line with the wishes of the public.” The lower figure comes from an ICM poll. The higher one derives from a survey carried out by the New Statesman magazine, which some observers say exaggerates the balance of UK opinion. Commented Simon Barrow, co-director of the UK Christian think tank, Ekklesia: “No doubt representatives of some established religious communities will want to argue that properly regulated faith-based schools can contribute towards a plural mix of educational opportunities – but the BHA has put forward a strong case against this view, and Christians who believe that the Christendom mentality harms rather than helps healthy religion are also extremely skeptical.”

Ekklesia has argued a theological case for the disestablishment of the Church of England, an end to a privileged role for religion in public education, removing unelected Episcopal favour in the second chamber, repealing antiquated blasphemy laws, and removing tax advantages and anti-discrimination exemptions from public religious bodies. In God and the politicians the think-tank says: “[Our challenge] is first and foremost to the churches. Are our Christian communities willing and able, on the basis of the distinctive vocation of the Gospel, to disavow the use of money, power and privilege for their own sectional advantage?”

The British Humanist Association is the largest organization in the UK campaigning for an end to the expansion of faith schools and for the assimilation of those that currently exist into a system of inclusive and accommodating community schools.

11 comments:

dbackdad said...

What is the deal in the UK right now? Some of these things are starting to sound like our dear old U.S. of A. I used to think of the UK as my bastion of sanity in faith-based matters.

CyberKitten said...

To be honest I'm not entirely sure. There certainly seems to be a move to have more faith-based schools over here, but there is a lot of opposition to them. Unfortunately though they seem to be getting support from Tony Blair in particular on the grounds of 'greater choice for parents'.

Sadie Lou said...

why do you care if there are faith-based schools? Is it because the government would have to fund them?
I guess I always thought faith-based schools were privately funded.

CyberKitten said...

sadie lou said: why do you care if there are faith-based schools? Is it because the government would have to fund them? I guess I always thought faith-based schools were privately funded.

I'm not entirely sure who exactly funds faith-schools. But I'm not really concerned about the funding. I'm more concerned about the teaching. I encourage comparative religion to be taught at school but I don't agree with schools teaching a particular brand of religion as the 'answer, the way and the truth'. Children should be exposed to as many religions and philosophical stand points as possible in order to build up their critical faculties rather than being 'indoctrinated' into a particular religion during their formative years.

I agree with the Humanist Society that no new faith schools should be formed and those that already exist should be assimilated back into the mainstream.

Juggling Mother said...

Faith schools can be funded through puiblic funds ATM, and the new proposels will encourage publically funded schools to become faith schools to increase their funding (both public & private).

Faith schools do not have to teach the national curriculum. if public schools are encouraged to become faith schools it will be discriminatory against any local residents who are not of that faith, regardless of any other moral, ethical or sociological reasons against them

Although I have any number of moral, ethical & sociological reasons against them - mostly based on evidence from around the world & here in the UK.

Privately funded faith schools have always been available in the UK, and will continue to be so.

Unknown said...

There is also an argument with educational standards - at a time when there is concern in the UK about falling standerds I do not beleive faith schools are required to teach the national curriculum.

And while some schools generate higher pupil achievement than state schools others do not, particularly in key areas (e.g. science)

The relegious cirriculum is in many ways the least important issue here...

Sadie Lou said...

huh.
interesting.
I see your concerns but I guess it's none of your business if parents want to send their kids to faith based school. Cyberkitten, when you have kids of your own, perhaps you will understand the validity of being the primary care giver responsible for your child's well being. If these parents find that a faith based school will give their children the best education--that's their choice and none of your business. You shouldn't try to squelch their efforts to provide education for their kids in the manner they want to. I get frustrated with the influence other children have on my kids but I find that to be valuable as a means to teach me kids how to stand up for what they believe in and to equip them with the tools to handle the real world.
For now.
If public school starts failing my kids and I can't keep up with the crap--I'll pull them out and I'll need alternatives.

Aginoth said...

SadirLou - the problem is that PUBLIC faith schools will recieve ADDITIONAL funding. therefore most good local schools will become faith based, leaving secular (or alternative faith theists) stuck with sending their kids to the local good school that teaches something against their personal morals, or sending them further away to a "bad" school. That is discriminatory against the majority - who are not in favour of faith schools at all.

Plus there have been some serious issues with the curriculum taught in privately funded schools - specifically when funded by individuals or churhes from non-mainstream religions.

Here in the UK we have a welfare state that specifically promises free education for all - that education should be secular - religion is taught at home/place of worship imo.

CyberKitten said...

sadie lou said: You shouldn't try to squelch their efforts to provide education for their kids in the manner they want to.

As i have no power to do so either at the national or local level I can hardly be accused of squelching anyone's efforts. I am expressing my opinion regarding faith-based schooling.

Mr A said: Here in the UK we have a welfare state that specifically promises free education for all - that education should be secular - religion is taught at home/place of worship imo.

Agreed. A Secular state should provide secular education & not be a party to spreading faith of any kind.

BTW - Hope the hospital is treating you well. Are you blogging from your phone or the laptop? Did you get a female nurse this time???

dbackdad said...

Public money should never go to fund faith-based schools ... at least in the U.S. That's just fundamental. It's a complete violation of the separation of church and state.

I have no problem with private faith-based schools. For two years of pre-school, my son has gone to a Lutheran-based school. He's enrolled in a charter school for kindergarten.

When public funding starts going for religious education, there goes the final obstacle to a full-blown theocracy. Who's to say what type of religious schools get funding? Schools of Scientology would have just as much right for funding as Catholics. I don't even think that Christians really want to open up that can of worms.

Juggling Mother said...

Doh - Aggie is fine in hospital & trying to set up mob-blogging, but is not able to do much surfing - that comment was from me! sorry.