I WAS both saddened and annoyed to learn that the Government, in partnership with religious groups, wishes to increase the number of faith schools.
It is claimed that "we all share the same goal for a more cohesive society where all faith schools play an important part in building understanding of other faiths and communities".
The whole point of having them is to promote their beliefs, thus accentuating division through faith.
In no way do they add to tolerance.
Northern Ireland is testament to that.
Thomas Jefferson and the founding fathers in the US were well aware of the problems with different faith-based beliefs, unsupported by evidence, when creating the constitution. To this day, rightly, all schools are secular, as, indeed, they are in France.
A major problem is the claim that morals are drawn from and can't exist independent of religions. As an ex-teacher myself, and with a wife who was a deputy head in a comprehensive school, we are well aware of how a sound moral outlook can be fostered without reference to myth or faith.
Can we not stop this unwarranted trend?
John Severs, Durham City.
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