'Inclusive' Faith Schools Face Opposition
Faith groups have rallied against the planned introduction of a quota for new faith schools in England to fill a quarter of all places with non-believers.
by Anne Thomas
Posted: Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 6:30 (BST)
Mr Johnson said he saw good sense in Lord Baker's move: "There is an issue about community cohesion."
He referred to the Church of England's recent move, adding: "I think that is very good and the feeling in Parliament is that should be repeated by other faiths."
Earlier this month, the Church of England announced that all new schools would have at least a quarter of their places open to families that were not practising Christians, with the aim to provide schools that were both Christian and inclusive. The plans have been announced by Kenneth Stevenson, Bishop of Portsmouth and the board's chairman, in a letter to Alan Johnson in a move welcomed by the Government.
The Conservative Party also welcomed the proposals.
The measures will apply to new state-funded faith schools of any religion and are not targeted at the Muslim community, Education Secretary Alan Johnson told BBC radio.
"What the debate about Muslims recently has highlighted is that education is such an important part of ensuring that a society does not become divided," he said.
Shadow education secretary David Willetts said Catholic schools had achieved a better social and ethnic mix than other local schools.
"It may be the case that when it comes to Muslim schools, part of
the problem is that the Muslim faith group is also associated with a set of social and ethnic divides," he said.
But Tahir Alam, who chairs the education committee of the Muslim Council of Britain, said the proposals would not help integration.
"I think this particular amendment that's going through has not been consulted on at all - although the arguments relating to integration are laudable.
"But I don't think this is the only way - or the best way - of achieving that.
"Locking two people in the same room... is not the best way of creating integration."
The chief executive of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, John Benjamin, was sceptical, although he said non-Jewish children were welcome at Jewish schools.
"It does happen in places where the demographics don't support a completely Jewish school - and that is a matter of parental choice.
"But I think it would be nonsensical, where the demand exceeds the supply of places at Jewish schools, for Jewish children to not have the opportunity to go to Jewish schools because of a quota system," he said
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Added: Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 14:27 (BST)
In working to stop quotas for faith schools in Britain, I would advise Jews, Catholics and Muslims - who all oppose quotas - to adopt the same arguments that Northern Ireland Unionists used, against the principle of quotas for their police service.
Quotas are deemed to be illegal, by European laws.
I read the most logical and concise opposition to the principle of quotas in an Ulster Unionist document, written by Ken Maginnis, now in the house of lords. Never before have I read such logical arguments in my life, as his, against the 'unfairness' of quotas.
I recommend his, and his co-religionist Protestant's, arguments on this matter to you.
Good luck.
Jan Brooks, Mid Glam., U.K.
Added: Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 9:01 (BST)
It is my belief that education is for all. Free and complete. It is also my belief that State education is offered by a secular State. If faith schools wish to offer education, and at the same time receive State funding, then they should offer education as free and unconditional to all children. If they wish to exclude certain children, then they should not receive state funding of any kind and should move totally into the fee-paying sector. It is grossly unfair ot have some schools receiving the benefits of public money
Jenny, Barry, Wales
Added: Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 8:52 (BST)
Shouldn't the question be more about improving the teaching of our respective faith's rather than arguing about the impact of splitting amongst the faith's...?
Scott Jones, London, UK
Added: Wednesday, October 18, 2006, 8:20 (BST)
Being inclusive should not mean that the C of E. denies its own story for the sake of the included ones. In too many places in Australia and else where "my" church ( Anglican - here in Australia) sells itself short.
This does not mean we push "truth" down the throats of others BUT it does mean we are not ashamed of the story we have to tell to the nations.. We give a reason for the hope that is within us.... Because they have asked the question. Too often our agenda has been to either provide the answer whether or not others have asked the question OR we dissipate into an amorphous humanism .... with nothing to offer. Having lived in an Islamic country where Christians had few rights to be Christian even in the few remaining Chirstian schools there your example could be used to remind followers of Islam that Christians can be authentically tolerant.
John Swanston, Kenmore Hills australia
