07 Jun 2013 16 Comments
in Rants Tags: Accord coalition, atheism, community cohesion, discrimination, equality, Fair Admissions campaign, faith, inequality, no faith, religion, secular education, secular parenting, secularism, segregation, unfair
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Jun 07, 2013 @ 22:20:54
This makes me so angry. We’ve just been through the selection process and I still cant quite believe my boys education is being dictated in no small part by the fact I have better things to do with my Sunday mornings.
We also appear to live in a Catholic heartland. Who knew?
Our three local schools are all religious. All with excellent OFSTED reports. All with a selection process that excludes my children.
Thanks for the links, schooling should be secular. Secular and fair to everyone regardless of their parents often bogus beliefs.
Jun 07, 2013 @ 22:28:15
It makes me really angry too and we are few years away from even applying to schools. I am not sure how I will deal with it when the time comes.
Your local situation sounds really difficult, I really feel for you. I hear you on having better things to do on a Sunday morning.
I hope this campaign makes a difference, I just tend to stall when I get this angry but I hope this blog post is the beginning and I can now do a few other things to try and make a difference. We are not the only ones that feel this way!
Jun 08, 2013 @ 06:14:38
I had no idea that this happened! It’s outrageous and I agree that integrating children from different religious backgrounds is the best way forward. As an atheist I don’t feel that religion should be a part of mainstream schooling and they certainly should not be able to discriminate against families who are not of the same religious group (or who don’t belong to any!)
Jun 08, 2013 @ 06:19:49
I know, I was so shocked when I realised this was happening. I wonder how many other parents are not aware of this?
I think it is important for kids to learn about different religions in school from the teachers and from each other.
Jun 08, 2013 @ 07:39:37
I absolutely agree with you. If schools wish to pick and choose their pupils based on religion then they should fund themselves. I don’t think my partner’s (or anyone else’s) taxes should be used to pay for discrimination!
Jun 08, 2013 @ 07:45:57
Yes, to me, the fact tax payers are paying for this makes for a much stronger argument that it needs to stop.
Jun 08, 2013 @ 12:52:25
I knew this happened with Catholic schools but not C of E schools….
My girls go to a C of E school but we are in no way religious….Our school isn’t bothered about what religion the pupils are….A good think I think!
It is pretty shocking this happens….
Jun 11, 2013 @ 21:38:52
That’s good that your school does not discriminate even though it is C of E!
The way I understand it is some set their own admissions policies and some are controlled by the local authority. If it is controlled by local authority then they will be open to all.
Jun 09, 2013 @ 08:31:38
It’s really naughty how they can get away with this behaviour! Several of my friends went down the going to church to get their kids into the ‘best’ school route. Personally I couldn’t do that as would feel like a hypocrite. Great news that there is a campaign going, I’ll def get behind it. Thanks for sharing x
Found you on the #MBPW link up on #BritMums
Jun 09, 2013 @ 09:06:46
It’s very odd to me that the law allows them to do this. I’m not about to start going to church either. Weekends are for Daddy and bean to spend quality time together, it would be such a waste to spend this time pretending we are religious.
Glad to see people getting behind this campaign.
Jun 09, 2013 @ 10:02:05
There are many ways that the admissions systems are unfair- for example housing in catchment areas for good schools is more expensive, pricing some families put of a good education and therefore limiting social mobility. I agree with you that admission should be unaffected by religion. I too know people who have attended church purely in order to get their kids into a school, not an example I want to set my kids!
Jun 11, 2013 @ 21:24:40
Yes, I agree there are other ways the system is unfair. Some of them perhaps don’t become apparent until you actually go through the process of applying for schools and learn more about it. I guess the discrimination on the basis of religion is just so blatant it seems easier to fix, if you know what I mean? Some of the other issues with the system are maybe more subtle and interweaved with other problems which are more difficult solve. Not that I am saying they are less important it’s just the religion thing is so straightforward to me! Just make it stop! I imagine I must be a bit naive to think it is that easy.
Jun 09, 2013 @ 14:52:35
I know exactly what you mean.
I have three schools around me to chose for Cameron next year, 1 is awful, 1 is oversubscribed so chances are slim and the last one which is the best out of all of them is Catholic. We are not catholic.
I think in this day and age where there are lots of children and not enough schools to go round, then they should let children in regardless of religion.
Thank you for linking up with The Weekend Blog Hop
Hope to see you again next weekend
Laura x x x
Jun 11, 2013 @ 21:28:32
Thanks for stopping by! It’s nice to see people commenting who also want the system to change.
I hope the admissions process is not too stressful for you when the time comes and you get Cameron into the school you want.
Jun 11, 2013 @ 21:06:04
This really annoys me too. I live in Northern Ireland so we’re surrounded by sectarianism. I was raised Catholic and my partner Protestant but neither of us are particularly religious so we haven’t baptised our son in any Church and now we are limited to where he can go!
Mum of a Premature Baby
Jun 11, 2013 @ 21:49:19
Sounds like a tough situation for you 😦 Interesting you say neither of you are “particularly religious” This highlights another issue with the current system. Quietly having your religious beliefs is not enough. You have to be “religious enough” The CE school local to me requires 2 years attendance at church at least twice a month. Guess you’re not a proper Christian otherwise.
I hope when the time comes you don’t have any problems getting your son into a school you are all happy with.