My eldest daughter started secondary school last week. Not the school we would have preferred, not the nearest and not the school where all her friends were going.
The reason we could not get our preferred choice is that over the last 2-3 years neither myself or Mrs Moose has gone to church. You see, our nearest school is what’s called a ‘faith school’ and the governors, with the help of the local church, set the admission policy and will openly discriminate against children whose parents don’t go to church.
‘But it’s a faith school, doesn’t the church pay the running costs?’ I hear you say. I used to think so, but the answer is no. You (as a taxpayer) pay. Faith schools are state funded for 80-90% of the costs and that means YOU and ME!
You hear a lot these days about racism, sexism and ageism but not so much about ‘faithism’ which is just as deplorable. The church talks it up big about inclusion, forgiveness and community spirit, and if I was to go down to the local church this Sunday morning I wouldn’t mind betting I would be welcomed with open arms and encouraged to attend more. BUT, if my children want to attend their local school they are denied. Not because of their parents faith but on the evidence of church attendance (trust me, the two are not mutually inclusive).
I therefore conclude that faith schools are nothing but a recruitment tool for the church.
We are constantly told of the dangers of global warming and are encouraged to walk to school and avoid the high polluting school-run but all the time kids who live miles away get priority over my local school. There are actually some people who must pass up to four other schools to get to ours.
In Northern Ireland they have learnt that segregating children on the basis of their parents faith is probably not the best thing and are taking steps to set up community schools like there used to be here.
You would not exclude children from a school over the colour of their skin and I don’t see why religion should be any different.
Religion in churches and education in schools - it is that simple!