Comments on: The Religious Education Debate: Does Religion Need the State? http://www.gladysganiel.com/uncategorized/the-religious-education-debate-does-religion-need-the-state/ Building a Church Without Walls Tue, 07 Feb 2012 06:49:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Tim Moore http://www.gladysganiel.com/uncategorized/the-religious-education-debate-does-religion-need-the-state/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Tim Moore Fri, 15 Jan 2010 22:00:17 +0000 http://www.gladysganiel.com/?p=63#comment-93 As a student and later as a trainee teacher in the UK, I have experience of both Catholic and Anglican schools and sixth form colleges. I have taught in CofE schools with children of different ethnic and religious backgrounds; I have witnessed them praying together and attending assembly in church together. The outward appearance of harmony and of obedient children looks rather quaint from an adult's perspective. Many parents like the idea of their children being taught "good values" at a faith school. It is indeed how faith schools are promoted in the UK. In addition to the evidence referred to above, however, anecdotal evidence from the experience of many of my peers who were educated in faith schools seems to be a major factor in them being turned off from religion, or even growing to resent the church institutions that once educated them. It throws into doubt the perceived benefits of a confessional education in schools, particularly when integrated into children's secular education and school day. As a student at an admittedly very liberal Catholic college, I had the happiest two years of my life and was able to grow as a whole person. Religion wasn't forced upon me, I was never made to pray, sing hymns or go to church at that time (although I do so now voluntarily). I was in an environment where the "Gospel values of love and freedom" were fostered, creating an open-minded, non-threatening, and safe environment where I could make my own choices and be supported in them. This is how I think faith schools could operate and be of most benefit to the localities they operate in. My belief is that faith groups should have every right to set up schools as a way of serving the communities they are based in. Such schools ought to be inclusive of all children regardless of faith group, if they are not already. Confessional religious education, however, should be the responsibility of the children's families and fellowships. Schools should have an ethos which teaches young people to respect each other and aspire to high achievement, but this does not need to involve religious observance or acceptance of particular religious doctrine. As a student and later as a trainee teacher in the UK, I have experience of both Catholic and Anglican schools and sixth form colleges. I have taught in CofE schools with children of different ethnic and religious backgrounds; I have witnessed them praying together and attending assembly in church together. The outward appearance of harmony and of obedient children looks rather quaint from an adult’s perspective. Many parents like the idea of their children being taught “good values” at a faith school. It is indeed how faith schools are promoted in the UK. In addition to the evidence referred to above, however, anecdotal evidence from the experience of many of my peers who were educated in faith schools seems to be a major factor in them being turned off from religion, or even growing to resent the church institutions that once educated them. It throws into doubt the perceived benefits of a confessional education in schools, particularly when integrated into children’s secular education and school day.

As a student at an admittedly very liberal Catholic college, I had the happiest two years of my life and was able to grow as a whole person. Religion wasn’t forced upon me, I was never made to pray, sing hymns or go to church at that time (although I do so now voluntarily). I was in an environment where the “Gospel values of love and freedom” were fostered, creating an open-minded, non-threatening, and safe environment where I could make my own choices and be supported in them. This is how I think faith schools could operate and be of most benefit to the localities they operate in. My belief is that faith groups should have every right to set up schools as a way of serving the communities they are based in. Such schools ought to be inclusive of all children regardless of faith group, if they are not already. Confessional religious education, however, should be the responsibility of the children’s families and fellowships.

Schools should have an ethos which teaches young people to respect each other and aspire to high achievement, but this does not need to involve religious observance or acceptance of particular religious doctrine.

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