Ministers are expected to drop plans to allow Christian, Jewish and Muslim state schools to admit all their pupils from one faith after warnings that the move could heighten community divisions in Britain.
A U-turn would jeopardise dozens of new free schools planned by faith groups, some to cope with the influx of Catholic families from Poland and other east European countries.
Catholics said this weekend they would not open new state schools if they had to reserve half their places for children of other faiths, raising new school funding problems for the government.
Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of schools, told The Sunday Times that she was “uncomfortable” about allowing more single-faith schools and hinted that manifesto proposals — due to be confirmed this summer — would be dropped.
“Admission 100% on faith leads to increased levels of segregation within communities,” she said. “I am uncomfortable with anything that leads to increased segregation.”
[TOP RATED COMMENT 63 votes] "“Admission 100% on faith leads to increased levels of segregation within communities,” she said."
This is surely glaringly obvious. The danger of putting children into schools where they will never meet people of different faith backgrounds, never ponder on whether it's really fair that a generous girl like Parvati is going to hell for not believing in Christ, or that a kind boy like Oliver is damned by Allah for not being a Muslim, could not be more clear.
As a teacher I passionately believe that we are there to teach children how to think, not what to think - with the exception of the values needed for society to function, such as tolerance, honesty, empathy and fairness - and I think the whole concept of faith schools is bizarre, dangerous and opposed to the very essence of proper education.
[2ND 59] As a Sikh I find faith schools abhorrent-including Sikh faith school they are totally against the inclusive nature of Sikhism enshrined in the Guru Granth Sahib .
I have nothing else to add.
[3RD 44] Faith schools should be banned, period. Teaching and brainwashing young children to believe in faith is irresponsible. Investment should be made in science, tech, art, sport schools that would better serve social integration and solid grounding for young minds to question and grow factual knowledge for the challenges future generations will face.
[4TH 40] Ministers are expected to drop plans to allow Christian, Jewish and Muslim state schools to admit all their pupils from one faith The fact that they even considered this is a disgrace for not only is it morally wrong but in it flies in the face of public opinion. Religion (except as a historical study) and politics should be kept out of the classroom.We may then have a chance of eradicating the prejudiced views of the parents through their children.
[4TH 40] Why not just ban religious teaching in schools - anyone who wants their children to follow a faith can do so outside the school environment.
[6TH 37] “Admission 100% on faith leads to increased levels of segregation within communities,” she said. “I am uncomfortable with anything that leads to increased segregation.”
Talk about stating the bl@@ding obvious,the stupidity of some politicians almost beggars belief. [The Sunday Times (£)] Read more
