Faith Schools,
Inspired wholly by the C4 documentary last night , obviously. I didn't watch the entire programme as I really dislike Richard Dawkins, and his "you're stupid for not believing what I believe" attitude. He makes me want to believe in God, just to piss him off. For the record, I'm not religious, I haven't even been christened. But I don't feel I'm in anyway intellectually superior to those who do believe in God (or Gods). My partner, jeffthelion is quietly religious, and although I find some of his beliefs a little bizarre, I still respect them. In fact, in some ways I'm envious of those with religious faith, as it's something they can draw comfort from. It's always nice to believe in something.
Anyway, I never went to a faith school (though there were religious assemblies and hymns at my Primary School). Nor would I want any children I may have to be schooled at one. I'm not sure how I feel about the existence of Faith Schools, really. I can understand the point of view that they have the capacity to indoctrinate young minds, especially as Religious Education classes are exempt from OFSTED inspection, and that they can potentially create divisions in societies - an Asian man was interviewed in the documentary about this, and he was saddened that the generations of Asian migrants who struggled to settle and become part of their communities are now watching other Asian families willingly segregate their children from mainstream society by putting them in faith schools. That guy should have presented the programme, it would have made the whole thing a lot more interesting and objective.
However, I can also respect the cultural and religious importance of having faith schools, for those families who truly believe that their children should be taught in a certain way. And I certainly don't see faith schools as a "menace", which the title of the programme suggests they are. Surely if more faith schools are being set up, it shows that mainstream schools need to cater more for those with specific religious beliefs?
So what's the answer? Well if you ask Professor Dawkins, the answer is to thoroughly patronise anyone who in anyway supports faith schools. Personally, I think the answer is in more open and comprehensive education about other religions, both in mainstream and faith schools, which would hopefully lead to a future where faith schools are no longer necessary, as everyone would have a understanding of what others believed. This may sound like a utopian daydream, but I've worked in offices where people of different religions got along happily together for 8+ hours a day, I don't see why the same couldn't be applicable in a school.
Professor Dawkins seemed to argue for the abolishment of faith schools, but for the time being I'd disagree with that. I think that would just lead to certain schools being stigmatised as faith schools anyway, and perhaps more children being schooled at home, and further social division.
I dunno. I'm rambling. I think it's one of those problems that's going to take an awful lot of time and education to sort out - abolishing faith schools could potentially make everything worse by making some groups of people feel their beliefs and culture are under attack, but if we don't try to phase them out, then we'll have a society where some people may never have had exposure to beliefs or ways of life other than their own, and that's not healthy for society either.
Eek.
Anyway, I never went to a faith school (though there were religious assemblies and hymns at my Primary School). Nor would I want any children I may have to be schooled at one. I'm not sure how I feel about the existence of Faith Schools, really. I can understand the point of view that they have the capacity to indoctrinate young minds, especially as Religious Education classes are exempt from OFSTED inspection, and that they can potentially create divisions in societies - an Asian man was interviewed in the documentary about this, and he was saddened that the generations of Asian migrants who struggled to settle and become part of their communities are now watching other Asian families willingly segregate their children from mainstream society by putting them in faith schools. That guy should have presented the programme, it would have made the whole thing a lot more interesting and objective.
However, I can also respect the cultural and religious importance of having faith schools, for those families who truly believe that their children should be taught in a certain way. And I certainly don't see faith schools as a "menace", which the title of the programme suggests they are. Surely if more faith schools are being set up, it shows that mainstream schools need to cater more for those with specific religious beliefs?
So what's the answer? Well if you ask Professor Dawkins, the answer is to thoroughly patronise anyone who in anyway supports faith schools. Personally, I think the answer is in more open and comprehensive education about other religions, both in mainstream and faith schools, which would hopefully lead to a future where faith schools are no longer necessary, as everyone would have a understanding of what others believed. This may sound like a utopian daydream, but I've worked in offices where people of different religions got along happily together for 8+ hours a day, I don't see why the same couldn't be applicable in a school.
Professor Dawkins seemed to argue for the abolishment of faith schools, but for the time being I'd disagree with that. I think that would just lead to certain schools being stigmatised as faith schools anyway, and perhaps more children being schooled at home, and further social division.
I dunno. I'm rambling. I think it's one of those problems that's going to take an awful lot of time and education to sort out - abolishing faith schools could potentially make everything worse by making some groups of people feel their beliefs and culture are under attack, but if we don't try to phase them out, then we'll have a society where some people may never have had exposure to beliefs or ways of life other than their own, and that's not healthy for society either.
Eek.