For a long time I have felt very uneasy with the notion of Faith Schools. Having worked in Secondary Modern Schools, and latterly in Comprehensives, and Further Education Colleges, I have a profound dislike of anything that divides young people unnecessarily or that make access to progress a privilege.
My two main objections to them are these. First, they encourage division by perpetuating the divisions that already exist in society. It is hard to see how a country like Northern Ireland can heal in the long-term unless its children from both communities are encouraged to sit in classrooms together or play together. Schooling along religious lines just ossifies division. The prejudices of the parents are being inflicted on the children. And although the extreme division that exists in Northern Ireland is not so intense in all parts of the UK, the division is still strong (in parts of Lancashire, for example) and it can hardly be argued that such schooling promotes unity.
Apart from the religious division, such schooling continues to perpetuate social division - which is why the schools are so loved by the middle-classes. The schools may protest otherwise, but the facts are different (see below).
My second objection to them is a much more general one. Education is about learning to think critically and to challenge and to examine evidence, and the church is a pre-Enlightenment body that has not had a strong tradition of encouraging questioning, or of critically examining evidence, or of dealing with dissent. The former certainty of moral codes seem inflexible for modern life. I am not comfortable with people who believe that homosexual behaviour and divorce are inherently wicked, that women have less rights than men, that condoms are immoral, and that bread becomes flesh, being responsible for the development of independent, enquiring minds.
There is good news.
The BHA has been campaigning against faith schools for a long time, and yet those in favour of dividing children by religion continue to trot out the same ropey arguments for the status quo. What’s worse, all too often they are they are successful in persuading politicians that the whole question of religion in schools is too hot to handle.
That’s why we’ve been thrilled this week to see a digest of independent evidence that shows the consequences of faith schools for society. The document has been produced by Accord — the coalition for inclusive schools co-founded by the BHA — and brings together research by academics, think-tanks and the government.
So, when someone next suggests to you that the current system is popular with parents, you can tell them that 57% of people think that religious admissions undermine community cohesion, and even more want balanced RE which includes non-religious perspectives. And when they ask how a faith school could possibly get a wealthier intake than a neighbouring community schools, you will have the statistics showing that church school intakes definitely are disproportionately middle class. With some schools requiring regular attendance for several years to get a place, it’s little wonder that that some schools are off limits to all but the most religious or determined parents.
Yes, I agree on both counts. I think it is outrageous that the state funds religious schools. I can see no justification for public money being spent in this way. It makes me feel cross whenever I think about it.
The digest is interesting. The percentage that struck me as amazing was that 26% of people in the UK are in church at least once in a year. I suppose that is because of funerals predominantly and baptisms and weddings to a degree, so really just where church is a “venue” rather than to attend for worship.
I do understand why people choose faith schools in areas such as London where the alternatives in the state sector are not appealing and where parents cannot afford the private sector. But the existence of these schools just allows the poor standards to continue as the middle class people who might campaign for improvements are removed to the Faith Sector. I have no idea what I would do in such a situation - probably move if I could but I would NEVER send my children to a Faith school (despite having received a good education in one myself).
Reluctant Blogger
I agree that the fact that some of our money is being used to subsidise the system is even more galling.
I had to laugh at the figure of 26%. My experience is that it is far lower than that - and as you suggest, the figures do need some further explanation.
Let’s face it - if we were living in a liberal democracy and had to invent an education system, nobody would come up with the notion of Faith Schools.