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Original poster

FAITH SCHOOLS! If you don't agree with them, step this way, my dears.

482 replies

onebatmother · 04/04/2008 00:12

What can be done?

It seems to me that many of us don't agree with them, and some of us (not I) are quite knowledgeable about the ins and outs.

Could we not start a movement?

It's all so wrong, really, isn't it?

OP posts:
fiodyl · 04/04/2008 17:10

but we dont have a St.Man Utd Primary or a Chelsea Comprehensive school

UnquietDad · 04/04/2008 17:12

Swedes, I sometimes get the feeling you are a devil's advocate who enjoys arguing for the sake of it !

The "hordes on council estates" often benefit from Arts Council money as far as I can see. They fund arts projects in deprived areas all the time.

(I can't speak for the hoards on council estates though.. who knows what they have in their cellars?)

InLoveWithSweenyTodd · 04/04/2008 17:13

I was just addressing the accusation of "Xtianity" as the source of all evil, fiodyl.
There are things that need to be clarified first before going into practicalities of having freedom of education or not.

Original poster
onebatmother · 04/04/2008 17:17

OH JEEZUM CROW.

out for a bit, and my worst fears have been realized.

These arguments have been rehearsed SO many times. Some think one way, some the other.

But this thread was intended to be a thread for those who don't agree with state-funded faith-based education to discuss if there was anything that could be done.

Shall I start a new thread whose title makes it TOTALLY CLEAR what it's intention is? Those in agreement can come on over. The rest of you can stay here and make each other hiss?

OP posts:
libidoless · 04/04/2008 17:17

Sorry - that was supposed to be tongue in cheek re persecuted. You're a rather serious crowd ...

ODB, re state funding: As said before, there are many, many things that my taxes go towards that I do not believe in. This is not a bad thing. Faith schools (of the kind described by posters here who actually have kids at them) are not a BAD thing. They are usually excellent schools (all that good empirical stuff) and - in my experience - have a very good ethos - they are probably far more sensitive to respecting different beliefs than others.

But selection criteria is tricky. And if state funded they should take anyone. (Although why would anyone who doesn't have faith want to send their kid to one?)

Also agree that if you don't want your kids to know that some people believe in god etc then you should have the choice to send them to another.

Anyway must go and feed the kids now (cauliflower cheese and a good helping of fire and brimstone is on the menu )

(That was a joke - again. Not really feeding them brimstone ...)

UnquietDad · 04/04/2008 17:19

But can't they be just as excellent without being "faith"? Would they be just as excellent if they were "fairy" schools, or "football" schools? What's the difference?

InLoveWithSweenyTodd · 04/04/2008 17:21

please not football ones!! I hate the bloody thing.

fiodyl · 04/04/2008 17:21

well as far as I could see when reading the bible, christianity does actualy encourage acts of evil,IMO

But u are right its up to each individual to decide whether they want 2 go along with it and actually do evil themselves

libidoless · 04/04/2008 17:22

Now isn't that a really interesting question, UnquietDad?? Why do you think church schools generally have such good reputations?

IorekByrnison · 04/04/2008 17:23
Blu · 04/04/2008 17:24

Swedes - HUGE amounts of arts council funded work goes on in schools, and in partnership with organisations specialising in access for a wide diversity of excluded communities. In fact it's pretty damn hard to get Arts Council funding (outside of the 'Royal' or 'National' organisations) unless you can prove that your event is attracting the people you describe as a horde.

fiodyl · 04/04/2008 17:25

lol unquiet dad, dd would probably love it if i put her name down for the local fairy schol

UnquietDad · 04/04/2008 17:25

libidoless - is that my £100 question? I don't need to phone a friend.

It's because they - like other schools with good reputations which aren't faith schools - attract (through "self-fulfilling prophecy") parents who are from the kind of backgrounds where they want their children to go to "that kind of school".

And because they can set their entrance criteria and "keep out the riff-raff". Especially the nasty atheist riff-raff.

Try harder please!

Original poster
onebatmother · 04/04/2008 17:26

Ah Iorek! I'm afraid I haven't read this yet - I was held up in Domestic Science - but I will give it my close attention this evening...

OP posts:
InLoveWithSweenyTodd · 04/04/2008 17:26

I must have snoozed during the Pope's speech where he urges me to kill someone for not believing. Must stay awake next time

MadamePlatypus · 04/04/2008 17:31

I am honestly confused by the argument that we should keep faith schools but build more schools and have more choice. 50% of schools in my borough and the neighboring borough are faith schools.

Is the proposition that we should have 150% capacity? I don't understand how there can be more normal schools without reducing the number of faith schools.

InLoveWithSweenyTodd · 04/04/2008 17:32

And BTW fiodyl, Christianity is not the Bible. But I haven't got time to elaborate on that and I have hijacked the thread long enough.

libidoless · 04/04/2008 17:33

Not trying to tax you, Unquiet - just asking.

By kind of background, you mean believers, right? So people from christian backgrounds go to christian kinds of school. What's the harm?

Unless ... unless ... you're not making this a class issue are you?!!

(Already agreed re selection criteria. Should take everyone.)

Swedes · 04/04/2008 17:36

I know how Arts Council funding works. I apologise profusely for my spelling mistake - it has clearly caused distress. The point I was trying to make was that public money not being representative is not necessarily an evil. Although I don't believe in evil.

fiodyl · 04/04/2008 17:36

Anyone arrogant enough to reject the verdict of the judge or of the
priest who represents the LORD your God must be put to death. Deuteronomy 17:12

Whoever sacrifices to any god, except the Lord alone, shall be doomed.
Exodus 22:19

They entered into a covenant to seek the Lord, the God of their
fathers, with all their heart and soul; and everyone who would not seek
the Lord, the God of Israel, was to be put to death, whether small or
great, whether man or woman. 2Chronicles 15:12-13

fiodyl · 04/04/2008 17:38

so you are a christian that doesnt believe in the bible then sweeney? Please explain

libidoless · 04/04/2008 17:40

fiodyl - you are being pretty obtuse 9and quite offensive). this isnt about faith it's about faith schools.

nametaken · 04/04/2008 17:40

Oh dear, I've heard it all now.

nametaken · 04/04/2008 17:41

Excuse me whilst I go and get my gun, I need to assasinate all non-christians because I attended a faith school.

Pratt

Greyriverside · 04/04/2008 17:42

MadamePlatypus, I was one of those saying build enough non faith schools for everyone and stop funding the faith ones and let them carry on if they like.
What I actually expected is that they would die out naturally as more state schools opened over a period of time, but it was to get away from 'banning faith schools' as such.