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Original poster

Religious schools discriminating against atheists

407 replies

MNersanonymous · 12/03/2008 21:30

Dh and I are just having a discussion about this. The best state schools in our area are all religious and we, as atheists, feel discriminated against.

Could we take action against our local council under the religious discrimination legislation?!

Just curious really.

OP posts:
Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:12

Onebat, Do you know schools that admissions is based on income or sex, then ? I don't.

onebatmother · 13/03/2008 10:13

the policy to prioritise siblings is a practical one, which is aimed at giving children from one family the best chance of attending regularly and on time.

mrsruffallo · 13/03/2008 10:14

I really resent those with childfren at private school suggesting a campaign against religious schools.
At the end of the day, the reality is that they are a chance for wc kids whose parents acan't afford school fees to get a decant education.
My dd goes to RC school and the stae schools are dire in copmparison.
Do you want to take away any chance of a decnet education from her?
I would say private schools are much more discriminatory - against those who can't afford to pay

Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:14

Edam, serve the public ? but we all want different things. A childless couple want different things to a pensioner, to a parent worried about schools.
And I don't see it as a 'club'.

mrsruffallo · 13/03/2008 10:15

Lots of typos, oops!!!

Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:15

If it is a club, you are invited to join. If you are an atheist and CHOOSE not to, then that is your choice. You do have a choice.

onebatmother · 13/03/2008 10:20

"Edam, serve the public ? but we all want different things. A childless couple want different things to a pensioner, to a parent worried about schools."

oblomov, what is your point re: the fact taht we all want different things?

Are you suggesting that schools discriminate against the elderly? In which case we have truly gone through the Looking-Glass.

institutions are set up for specific purposes to serve one particular aspect of the public good.

Educating children and looking after the elderly are simply different faces of, yes, The Public Good.

onebatmother · 13/03/2008 10:21

faith is not a choice in any meaningful sense, surely oblomov?

One is a believer or one isn't.

Just as one is of a certain race or one isn't.

mrsruffallo · 13/03/2008 10:23

Being born with money or not is not a choice either

Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:26

I didn't mean that schools discrimiante against elderly. I meant we pay our taxes, to fund all services, whether we use them or not.
I use schools, elderly and childless couples don't, but we don't live in a society where we pay for only the services we use, yet.
Or maybe we should .
Then who is going to pay for the large % of the population that is now eldery ?

harpsichordcarrier · 13/03/2008 10:30

are you really saying faith is a choice Oblomov?
that I can "choose" to be Muslim or Buddhist, like I choose a pair of shoes?
and yes I know lots and lots of schools that discriminate on the grounds of sex and income, of course I do. some of them are also faith schools.
religious discrimination and segregation is really very divisive and morally wrong, imo, and the state shouldn't sponsor it and perpetuate it.

mrsruffallo · 13/03/2008 10:35

But the real situation at the moment harpsi is that most religious schools offer a decnt education compared to the state schools in may areas.
At least that is some hope for wc kids. Or should they all go to the poorly performing state schools?

onebatmother · 13/03/2008 10:38

of course we pay taxes to fund institutions that we do not personally use. That is The Public Good.

But oblomov, if you were childless, you would not expect to be allowed into one childless-supporting, tax-funded institution, but not another, would you?

Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:39

Harpsi, Do schools say that they will only take say 16 girls and 14 boys then ? Do they say that if you don't have enough money, or don't live in this postcode, or are a CEo, you can't come ?
My mum decided to become a practicing christian. Some muslims do not practice their faith. I have met many that don't. That is their choice.
People do choose to become muslim, or they find a faith, later in life. Some people do.

harpsichordcarrier · 13/03/2008 10:40

no, they should go to the relgious schools, but the religious schools should not discriminate on the grounds of religion.
why does the ability to discriminate on the grounds of religion have any connection to academic standards? I don't get it.

harpsichordcarrier · 13/03/2008 10:41

Oblomov, yes all of those.
I don't really see your point, tbh.
I cannot honestly believe you think I could choose to be a Muslim.
I either have faith, or I don't, surely?

RubberDuck · 13/03/2008 10:42

There would be outrage if your nearest hospital decided to only let patients in if they had a letter from their local vicar, because the church happened to provide the land a few hundred years ago yet was now fully funded by the NHS...

Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:44

Onebat, you have just contradicted yourself. If you do accept that you don't use all the facilities. Then if there was one, or 100 that didn't apply to you, you wouldn't mind, becasue you have just a minute ago accepted that that is the way it is.

RubberDuck · 13/03/2008 10:49

Oblomov: it's not about not applying to you. This is EDUCATION a basic right. It does apply to all children. But children are being denied a decent education just because their PARENTS won't convert.

Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:49

Harpsi, many people do coveret/accept faith/ what-ever-you -want to -call it, later in life. My mum did - did you net see that in my previous post.
And one of my friends brothers went travelling, and came back, having become a muslim. He did not go, realising that he was looking for any religion, but lots of people becoem religious late rin life, lots.
People go on Alphas course at different stages of life. Some people become take up all the religions.

mrsruffallo · 13/03/2008 10:50

Of course you choose your faith.
Mny people born into religious families choose not to practice that religion and wouldn't send their children to religious schools.

Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:52

And if you were not a CoE, or catholic, why would you want your child to go to a CoE or catholic school? It doesn't make sense.
What you really want is for all the schools in your area to be very good. Then you wouldn't care if the catholic, coe one was crap or brilliant.
If the local school near to you was a BEACON school, would you even care that there was a catholic or CoE one nearby ?
No, thought not.

pruners · 13/03/2008 10:53

Message withdrawn

Oblomov · 13/03/2008 10:56

Harpsi is saying that faith is not a choice. It IS a choice.See below, where I have shown that some people choose ands some choose not to follow ( say their expected/parents faith).

pruners · 13/03/2008 11:02

Message withdrawn