Faith schools are the problem
You will doubtless have heard about the government’s recent investigation into allegations of extremist teachings and practices at several schools in areas of Birmingham that have high Islamic populations.
Whilst it is fair to say there is an element of a witch-hunt in the government’s approach, which has been flawed from the start, it makes sense to investigate allegations as serious as these: that boys and girls were segregated, that homosexuality was ignored at best and condemned at worst, sex education was banned and head teachers thought to be hostile to radical Islamism were faced with calls to quit. However, it would be wrong to pinpoint Islam as a religion being to blame here. The problem is really that too many British schools are run along faith lines.
The way state education evolved in this country began with charities and religious groups seeing education as a charitable contribution to society. Even when a proper system of state-run schools was established, many were still partially funded by either the Church of England or the Catholic Church, and as such were allowed to focus more on those religions, and put forward moral teachings based on them. In recent years, schools with Jewish and Islamic emphases have also opened.
…an Orthodox Jewish girls’ school in London was recently caught blacking out GCSE questions about evolution, and a Catholic school in the same city condemns both abortion and contraception
The interesting thing about many of the allegations about the Birmingham schools is that many of the changes it is alleged Islamist-influenced governors were trying to bring about would have been perfectly legal had the schools been designated faith schools rather than secular ones. Many schools rated as ‘outstanding’ by the regulator Ofsted have a clear religious bias, and this is often taken to extremes: an Orthodox Jewish girls’ school in London was recently caught blacking out GCSE questions about evolution, and a Catholic school in the same city condemns both abortion and contraception. That these schools could have been rated ‘outstanding’ shows how it is impossible to separate the religious emphasis from the overall quality of the school.
This is not to say that many faith schools do not offer a moderate approach to their faith, or that they do not offer outstanding teaching and pastoral care, as many of them do. In fact, a friend who attended the Catholic school mentioned above stated how one of the plus points of the school was its concern with the holistic development and wellbeing of the pupils, and this is something all schools should champion, especially given the rise of some business-oriented academies who allegedly focus more on creating good capitalists rather than well-rounded citizens. However, this goal could be met in a secular school. It’s also important to stress that the problems have been worsened by the current government’s hands-off approach, with has left many schools lacking oversight in the name of ‘independence’.
In fact, a friend who attended the Catholic school mentioned above stated how one of the plus points of the school was its concern with the holistic development and wellbeing of the pupils…
We cannot expect children to be tolerant of all faiths and walks of life if they are not told about other beliefs, or are told that the one their school abides by is superior. We cannot expect them to understand the secular morality that makes Britain such a wonderful place to live if they are taught values that sometimes conflict with these. Britain is a tolerant, progressive country with respect for different religions, sexualities, races and creeds and a strong tradition of equality, democracy and the rule of law. None of these principles conflict with a moderate interpretation of any faith. But the idea that promoting one faith above all others can possibly create an open and tolerant society is nonsense. People can believe what they want. But state money should not be spent on intolerance and separatism and as such, as difficult as it would be, all faith schools should be banned.
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Photo: flickr/kevinomara
Comments (2)
I attended a Catholic Grammar school and I am slightly confused how you can argue separatism as a flaw to discredit faith school education. Religion promotes accepting other faiths and treating people with respect and these are values which I have certainly developed through attending a Catholic school.
Whilst the very act of being religious does create a separation, society is constantly separated by interests, class, politics etc, as thankfully everyone has different beliefs and backgrounds.
Moreover, the concept of a faith school allows Children of a similar religious background to be educated together. This is no different from the concept of private schools where children of similar economic backgrounds are educated together. Surely you should be just as angered at private schools (and I have seen evidence) as they create a group who are less tolerant to the working class and thinking themselves to be above all others? But that would be taking the attitude of a few to generalise about the whole sector. In much the same way, it is wrong to look on a few bad examples of faith schools to discredit all faith schools.
Society is brilliant because there are different sections of different types of people and I can’t see why any opportunity for these different groups to gather and share in their common background should be regarded as a negative thing.
Also, faith schools receive 10% of their funding from their respective religious organisations, the diocese or other group. As a result, the religious nature relieves some of the financial costs of education from the government.
FInally, remember that Britain is a Christian country and so we should not be afraid to promote our own Christian ideology through all means. Christianity is part of what it is to be British and to deny this is to ignore our own heritage. Moreover, it is a credit to the country that it allows educational organisations of other faiths to open and this serves to demonstrates a level of understanding between faith communities.
I understand that not everyone is religious, if that is the case, there are plenty of non-faith schools. But for those who do hold religious beliefs, a faith school is, and should always be, an environment where a child can flourish and grow both academically and as an individual.
Agree 100%.