Church schools policy dubbed ‘un-Christian’ as criticism grows
-04/10/06
Responding
Church schools policy dubbed ‘un-Christian’ as criticism grows
-04/10/06
Responding to the latest statement from the Church of England on admissions policy for faith schools, the UK Christian think tank Ekklesia has said that the Churchís stance is ìwholly inadequateî and that ìusing church-going as a way of assigning publicly-funded school places is wrong and un-Christian in principle.î
It says that ëa Christian schoolí would be one especially concerned for disadvantaged children in society, not for the special advantage of church members.
Other groups, including the British Humanist Association, have been equally critical from the perspective of educational and social impact.
Recently, leading Jewish Rabbi Jonathan Romain went so far as to say that single-faith schools are ìa recipe for social disasterî.
The chair of the C of E Board of Education, the Rt Rev Dr Kenneth Stevenson, Bishop of Portsmouth, has written to Education Secretary Alan Johnson to say that all new Church of England schools should have at least a quarter of admission places available to non-Christians but Parliament should not expect the same commitment from other faith communities.
But Ekklesia says that the heart of this policy is still discriminatory, and that it is nonsensical to claim that it promotes social cohesion and inclusivity to allow a range of religious schools to practice a variety of admissions policies with religious observance as a criterion.
Say Ekklesia co-directors Jonathan Bartley and Simon Barrow: ìThis is a gesture towards social and educational inclusion in the face of an overall policy which is, at heart, designed to privilege church-goers over others in publicly funded schools. This is wholly inadequate. In our view it is un-Christian for Christians to seek to give themselves advantages of this kind. Self- interest is the opposite of what the Gospel is about.î
The think tank advocates a radical change of direction. Explains Mr Bartley: ìA truly ‘Christian school’ would be one that seeks to be open to all ñ and which pays particular attention to the needs of marginalized and poorer communities. Using church- going as a way of assigning state school places is wrong in principle.î
Opinion polls over the last six years have shown a clear and consistent majority opposed to faith schools, and for many ñ religious and non-religious alike ñ it will be difficult not to perceive the Church of Englandís announcement as mainly an attempt to stem such criticism.
Ekklesia also points out that remarkably, the Board of Education does not know how many of its schools actually operate discriminatory admissions policies.
Andrew Copson of the British Humanist Association is equally sceptical. He declared yesterday: ìWhat has been announced today is not an end to selection by religion – it is the reinforcement of selection by religion. Young people will still be subject to a religious test to gain access to faith schools, only now it will be selection of two different kinds.î
He continued: ìSupporters of inclusive community schools do no find fault with faith schools simply because of their admissions policies. They are concerned about faith schools which can discriminate in their employment polices, which don’t have to follow the same broad and balanced Religious Education syllabuses as community schools – the threat of segregation is only one part of the case against faith schools and their expansion.î
In any case, the BHA points out that these new arrangements will only apply to new Church schools: ìThe vast majority of faith schools, even of Church of England schools, will not be affected,î concluded Mr Copson, BHAís education and policy officer.
Keith Porteous Wood of the National Secular Society added: ìThe Bishop of Portsmouth is proud to say that ëmostí Church of England schools are ëinclusiveí, which could mean
ënon-discriminatoryí, but this is not the case. There is no question of giving a commitment that pupils will be admitted into publicly-funded C of E schools on an equal basis regardless of parentsí beliefs or church attendance. So the child living next door to a church school may well have to travel many miles to an alternative school. At the same time those living much further away but committing themselves to church going ñ willingly or not ñ will often have preference.î
Ekklesia and other faith-based critics of the current system say that selection on the basis of religious affiliation ought to be removed completely in the public school sector.
[Also on Ekklesia: Church of England schools admissions still discriminatory, say critics 03/10/06; Church schools take in fewer disadvantaged pupils 18/09/06; Girl banned over baptism gains place on school bus; Government plans reopen debate on faith schools; Concerns raised about school segregation by race and faith; Why education should not divide on faith; Williams to defend ‘discriminatory’ school policies; Secondary schools convert to church in record numbers Church schools should end discrimination says Government adviser; Concern expressed over discrimination against the non-religious; School student interest in religion raises problem of compulsion Anglican schools ‘will face resentment’ whilst they select on the basis of faith; Church school questioned after giving Lennon no marks; Statement on religious education opens church schools up to the accusation of double-standards; Churches told collective school worship is not on; Call for Christian rethink over religious hatred; Faith and politics controversy ahead of BBC2 documentary; Bishop opens up a debate with ‘Christian society’ claims; Call for non-religious chaplains in education and beyond; Education Secretary hits back over faith-based academies; Girl banned from school bus because she is not baptized; Schools minister says creationism has no place in classroom science]
Church schools policy dubbed ‘un-Christian’ as criticism grows
-04/10/06
Responding to the latest statement from the Church of England on admissions policy for faith schools, the UK Christian think tank Ekklesia has said that the Churchís stance is ìwholly inadequateî and that ìusing church-going as a way of assigning publicly-funded school places is wrong and un-Christian in principle.î
It says that ëa Christian schoolí would be one especially concerned for disadvantaged children in society, not for the special advantage of church members.
Other groups, including the British Humanist Association, have been equally critical from the perspective of educational and social impact.
Recently, leading Jewish Rabbi Jonathan Romain went so far as to say that single-faith schools are ìa recipe for social disasterî.
The chair of the C of E Board of Education, the Rt Rev Dr Kenneth Stevenson, Bishop of Portsmouth, has written to Education Secretary Alan Johnson to say that all new Church of England schools should have at least a quarter of admission places available to non-Christians but Parliament should not expect the same commitment from other faith communities.
But Ekklesia says that the heart of this policy is still discriminatory, and that it is nonsensical to claim that it promotes social cohesion and inclusivity to allow a range of religious schools to practice a variety of admissions policies with religious observance as a criterion.
Say Ekklesia co-directors Jonathan Bartley and Simon Barrow: ìThis is a gesture towards social and educational inclusion in the face of an overall policy which is, at heart, designed to privilege church-goers over others in publicly funded schools. This is wholly inadequate. In our view it is un-Christian for Christians to seek to give themselves advantages of this kind. Self- interest is the opposite of what the Gospel is about.î
The think tank advocates a radical change of direction. Explains Mr Bartley: ìA truly ‘Christian school’ would be one that seeks to be open to all ñ and which pays particular attention to the needs of marginalized and poorer communities. Using church- going as a way of assigning state school places is wrong in principle.î
Opinion polls over the last six years have shown a clear and consistent majority opposed to faith schools, and for many ñ religious and non-religious alike ñ it will be difficult not to perceive the Church of Englandís announcement as mainly an attempt to stem such criticism.
Ekklesia also points out that remarkably, the Board of Education does not know how many of its schools actually operate discriminatory admissions policies.
Andrew Copson of the British Humanist Association is equally sceptical. He declared yesterday: ìWhat has been announced today is not an end to selection by religion – it is the reinforcement of selection by religion. Young people will still be subject to a religious test to gain access to faith schools, only now it will be selection of two different kinds.î
He continued: ìSupporters of inclusive community schools do no find fault with faith schools simply because of their admissions policies. They are concerned about faith schools which can discriminate in their employment polices, which don’t have to follow the same broad and balanced Religious Education syllabuses as community schools – the threat of segregation is only one part of the case against faith schools and their expansion.î
In any case, the BHA points out that these new arrangements will only apply to new Church schools: ìThe vast majority of faith schools, even of Church of England schools, will not be affected,î concluded Mr Copson, BHAís education and policy officer.
Keith Porteous Wood of the National Secular Society added: ìThe Bishop of Portsmouth is proud to say that ëmostí Church of England schools are ëinclusiveí, which could mean
ënon-discriminatoryí, but this is not the case. There is no question of giving a commitment that pupils will be admitted into publicly-funded C of E schools on an equal basis regardless of parentsí beliefs or church attendance. So the child living next door to a church school may well have to travel many miles to an alternative school. At the same time those living much further away but committing themselves to church going ñ willingly or not ñ will often have preference.î
Ekklesia and other faith-based critics of the current system say that selection on the basis of religious affiliation ought to be removed completely in the public school sector.
[Also on Ekklesia: Church of England schools admissions still discriminatory, say critics 03/10/06; Church schools take in fewer disadvantaged pupils 18/09/06; Girl banned over baptism gains place on school bus; Government plans reopen debate on faith schools; Concerns raised about school segregation by race and faith; Why education should not divide on faith; Williams to defend ‘discriminatory’ school policies; Secondary schools convert to church in record numbers Church schools should end discrimination says Government adviser; Concern expressed over discrimination against the non-religious; School student interest in religion raises problem of compulsion Anglican schools ‘will face resentment’ whilst they select on the basis of faith; Church school questioned after giving Lennon no marks; Statement on religious education opens church schools up to the accusation of double-standards; Churches told collective school worship is not on; Call for Christian rethink over religious hatred; Faith and politics controversy ahead of BBC2 documentary; Bishop opens up a debate with ‘Christian society’ claims; Call for non-religious chaplains in education and beyond; Education Secretary hits back over faith-based academies; Girl banned from school bus because she is not baptized; Schools minister says creationism has no place in classroom science]