You know how a lot of us object to the way church schools run on state money but won't let any old taxpaying atheist in?

[WendyWeber]

Well....

DD1 didn't get a teaching job at a CofE school today because the person who did is a practising Catholic (and DD1 is any old taxpaying atheist).

I don't actually see what the problem is. Whether we should have faith schools or not is a separate issue.

But since it is a faith school, it is allowed to give consideration to whether or not candidates are Christians. I see any number of school ads saying as much - often phrased as 'must be in sympathy with the school's strong Christian ethos'.

If all other things being equal, one candidate's religion meant she was seen as being in 'greater sympathy' with that ethos, that's fair enough, and yes her age and experience might help too.

On the face of it, I don't see any discrimination.

I went for a job in a CofE school once. About 6 candidates. Teacher appointed openly told the interviewing panel that'the Lord told her' to apply for the job. She told us all this as we were waiting together for the decision. Everyone just looked a bit shell shocked by it - it just sounds a bit

Iota- i agree with you. but I think religion shoiuldn't be a part of state education.
I think it's an outrage actually, that for many people, the only choice of state school they have is a church one, and the teachers will be indoctrinating them.
my kids are always coming home with some religious thing they've learnt at school.
I strongly don't believe it is the government's job to tell me or my family what spiritual or religious doctrine to believe.
Children are suceptable, they want to please their teachers. It is seen as rebelious or non conforming to not say a prayer or whatever.

eco- I know it's a different argument, but for the sake of balance, say, in a Cof e school, where parents don't have another state school to go to, it would be healthy to have a secular teacher as well as religious wouldn't it? I'm sure there are non believing families at the schoo in question.
Just because it is a Cof E school doesn't mean they re all Curch going believers, it might just happen to be the only state school, as is the csae in the villages around here- many of the schools are C of E- they are the only school. it's historical that they are church schools.

on the subject of other jobs,
I have often seen ads for jobs with religious charities that specify a preference for being a believer e.g a charity called WorldVision has this ad for an Acquisition Marketing Manager, which includes the following:

"To participate fully in the organisation?s annual Day of Prayer and in relevant devotions, prayer and group meetings as required."

"Vital to the success of this position, the team and the wider organisation is wholehearted support for the organisation?s Core Values and Operating Principles.
The job carries a genuine occupational requirement for an active and committed Christian faith."

There are fascinating conflicts between the law which prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion and that on the grounds of sexual orientation as the two can conflict with religions that believe gays will burn in hell (or what is it they do with them in the Middle East - hang them or whatever or pelt them with stones to death). The fuss last year over catholic adoption agencies having to place babies with gay couples was a similar interesting conflict - the church lost.

Just as you're allowed just to have a live in female domestic servant and advertise for that I think there are similar rights which allow you to hire people of the right faith for that religion which is fair enough except I don't think there should be any religious schools in the state sector.