If you need urgent support, call 999 or go to your nearest A&E. To contact our Crisis Messenger (open 24/7) text THEMIX to 85258.
Faith?
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
Wanker Blair continues to support these bloody faith schools, why?
We are meant to live in an atheist society where the state is seperated from education yet Blair persists with his support for these divisive institutions because they "get good results". Does this man have any principles?Will he sacrifice anything gor results or to meet targets?
Faith schools are bad news, they divide children into groups when there is no need.... <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
We are meant to live in an atheist society where the state is seperated from education yet Blair persists with his support for these divisive institutions because they "get good results". Does this man have any principles?Will he sacrifice anything gor results or to meet targets?
Faith schools are bad news, they divide children into groups when there is no need.... <IMG SRC="mad.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
0
Comments
I disagree with his stance, but can understand that now may not be the best time to start protesting (not that there ever could be a 'best time').
Its just political correctness. He is torn between seperating religion and state, and appeasing minority groups. I think we all know that appeasing minority groups will win every time.
I thought the main CoE schools and the like were all private. I wasnt aware that the government funded the so called 'faith schools'.
What exactly is wrong with them again? AFAIK, these schools are not exclusive of non Christians. I went to a CoE primary school up in solihull and we had all religions present.
The problem (as I see it) is with later stages of schooling. Children of the religion associated with that school WILL have a better chance of gaining entrance (whatever they say)
There are then issues with pray time, RE and assemblies etc.
I have read stories about Catholic families that have had difficulty finding a school for their child because the local school is C of E and they understandably don't want there child going there.
In urban areas it is easy to picture all the Muslims going to one school, all the Catholics to another etc. Hardly a boost for race relations or the integration of different communities.....
Nice one - I agree...to an extent. Kids should be educated in objective terms, but I'm all in favour of them being taught the general ideas behind all religious institutions. That should be a part of education in the same way as History and Politics is. All have made the world into what it is today, and will continue to structure it. Maybe an unbiased, open-minded approach would instill a maturity to deal with minority belief systems.
It's even more important for kids brought up with a specific faith to be taught such things too, I think.
It was a similar situation at my school. Although there were almost no ethnic minorities I think its safe to say that a fair number of pupils were atheists. Yes I am a christian, but I don't feel the need to force my religion onto other people, particularly those from a completely different religious background.
[ 20-03-2002: Message edited by: punkinlondon ]
The correct term is secular, not atheist. The latter is quite specifically the denial of the existence of a particular kind of deity. The former is the correct term to describe the separation of religious and educational / political / whatever affairs.
As for separation of state and education: when was that announced? Recall that before the widespread institution of state-funded education the providers of education were precisely private institutions and church schools. Would you prefer a return to that situation?
He is a politician. Question answered. <IMG SRC="biggrin.gif" border="0" ALT="icon">
Actually, there is a need. It is a sad fact that for a good proportion of the human race the use of religion is the only way to inculcate any kind of moral calculus whatsoever.
I entirely agree that History and Moral Philosophy would be a great course to teach young people, to educate them and encourage them to think. Unfortunately, such a course would be the death knell for several established institutions. Moreover, not everyone would be capable of understanding it, and there would be few -- were it to start tomorrow -- capable of teaching it.
[ 20-03-2002: Message edited by: MacKenZie ]